In Her Honor – Detroit is a part of a three-day event using art, storytelling, remembrance and action to honor the mothers lost to maternal mortality. 

The Detroit Institute of Arts hosted a screening of the documentary ‘Aftershock’ to kick off the series.

The film follows stories of loss, grief and advocacy for Black and Brown mothers who have died from pregnancy-related complications. 

Omari Maynard is a Brooklyn-based artist, educator, and advocate. Maynard is featured in Aftershock. Audiences follow along as Omari reshapes his life after the death of his partner, Shamony Gibson.

Maynard created portraits of remembrance for Black and Brown women lost to a lack of support and resources in the maternal health system. 

One portrait turned into dozens. This spring the portraits were on display in Washington D.C. in front of 50 congressional offices, giving a name, face and story to alarming statistics. 

Alongside the portrait series in Her Honor, Maynard is the co-founder of the Ariah Foundation. 

Danielle Atkinson is the founding executive director of Mothering Justice. Mothering Justice is a grassroots advocacy organization. It empowers mothers, particularly mothers of color, to address the critical issues that impact their families and communities. 

Omari and Danielle joined The Metro to talk more about In Her Honor and Aftershock. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming  On-demand. Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR or wherever you get your podcast

More stories from The Metro

Wayne County has reported its first human case of West Nile virus this year.

The Wayne County Public Health Division says the person who contracted the mosquito-borne illness does not live in the county.

Chief Medical Health Officer Avani Sheth reminds residents that mosquito season is not over. She recommends limiting time outdoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active, and removing standing water from properties, where mosquitoes can breed.

Hip-Hop Theater Festival comes to Detroit this weekend

Detroit-based music artist collective Beat Rhymes Everything Detroit, or BRED, is hosting the Hip-Hop Theater Festival this weekend.

The event is the culmination of a 16-day period in which playwrights came together to create four new plays inspired by narrative hip-hop songs.

The festival will feature a hip-hop improv showcase, a hip-hop family hour and an all-ages play.

The festival runs Aug. 28-30 at the Hilberry Gateway, 4715 Cass Ave. in Detroit. Events begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 28.

For more information, visit hip-hop-theater-fest.com.

Art on the Avenue celebrates Detroit art, design and culture

A celebration of art, design, culture and community is coming to Detroit’s historic Livernois Avenue of Fashion on Sept. 5.

Art on the Avenue 2026 will bring galleries, artists, creative businesses and retailers together along the corridor for exhibitions, art showcases, live entertainment and more.

Participating galleries include Jo’s Gallery, Sherwood Forest Art and Art in Motion.

More information is available on the events page at Detroit Month of Design.

Kroger plans two new metro Detroit stores

Kroger is investing $73.5 million to build two new metro Detroit stores in Dearborn and Commerce Township.

Both stores are set to open in 2027 and will replace existing nearby Kroger locations. Together, the new stores are expected to employ roughly 350 people.

The Dearborn store will be located at Ford Road and Mercury Drive and will replace the Kroger at 15255 Michigan Ave. It is expected to open in June 2027.

A third Kroger proposed as part of a mixed-use development in Royal Oak is awaiting full municipal approval.

I-696 access to I-75 to be restored

Access from westbound I-696 to I-75 is expected to be restored Aug. 31.

Motorists traveling westbound on I-696 will regain access to both the northbound and southbound I-75 ramps.

According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, both directions of I-696 and associated ramps are expected to reopen by the end of the year.

Additional work is planned along both sides of I-696 between I-75 and Dequindre Road in 2027.

After nearly a year of back and forth with Flat Rock officials and residents, Huron-Clinton Metroparks is advancing a plan to partially remove the Flat Rock Dam and construct ‘rock arch rapids.’

Located in Flat Rock on the Huron River, the 100-year-old dam is in fair condition, but has a “high hazard potential” rating. Despite the risk, Flat Rock residents and officials strongly opposed the Metroparks’ plan for partial removal.

Flat Rock Mayor Steve Beller spoke at an Aug. 14, 2025 board meeting after Flat Rock City Council unanimously passed a resolution to urge Metroparks not to remove the dam.

To buy, or not to buy

In September 2025, Huron-Clinton Metroparks offered to sell the dam to the City of Flat Rock for five dollars and provide an additional $4.5 million to help pay for fish ladder improvements.

The city spent months weighing their options and ultimately decided not to take ownership of the dam. 

Huron-Clinton Metroparks CEO Amy McMillan says the organization respects the City of Flat Rock’s decision:

“No matter how we look at it, this is a change for that community. And so, being transparent and listening and disagreeing where reasonable people will disagree, we’re happy that we’ve come to this conclusion and we’re looking forward to moving forward.”

John Webb, president of the Flat Rock Dam Coalition said in a statement his group supports the partial removal plan, as long as Huron-Clinton Metroparks ensures water levels are maintained. 

“It is critical that the [Huron-Clinton Metroparks] clearly and unequivocally mandate to their engineers and contractors the requirement to maintain existing impoundment waters or preferably raise these water levels.”

Dam removals growing more common

A third of the dams in metro Detroit have “high” or “significant hazard” ratings from the National Dam Inventory. Catastrophic flooding like that seen in Midland with the Edenville Dam failure has drawn attention to questions of ownership and accountability of privately owned dams.

Dam removal is growing more common statewide and nationally. Last year, EGLE announced nearly $15 million dollars in funding for dam removals across the state. To date, Michigan has removed 125 dams. There are roughly 2,500 dams in Michigan.

Proponents of dam removals point to improved river health and biodiversity. They also mitigate the risk of catastrophic dam failures.

In the case of Flat Rock Dam, the Metroparks feasibility study for this project notes improved fish passage for sturgeon, walleye, and salmon to travel up the Huron River to spawn.

Guests:

• Amy McMillan, CEO of Huron-Clinton Metroparks
• Brian Graber, senior director of river restoration at American Rivers. He spoke with the Metro’s David Leins. Dave started by asking why Michigan has so many dams in the first place? 

More stories from The Metro

The FBI put out its 2025 crime numbers this month, and they show the largest year-to-year decline in violent crime rates since estimations began in 1936. Robbery fell 18.5%. Murder dropped by 18 percent — that rate is now tied with 1955 for the lowest ever recorded in this country.

Detroit is part of that trend. The city ended last year with the lowest number of homicides since 1965. Carjackings dropped 46 percent.

What nobody fully agrees on is why. Detroit police credit a mix of strategies: More officers, a different approach to mental health calls, and community violence intervention — those are programs staffed by people from the neighborhoods where the shooting happens.

Andy Arena spent 24 years in the FBI and ran its Detroit division. He now leads the Detroit Crime Commission. He spoke about why violent crime is declining with host Robyn Vincent.

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

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Art opens a window into policy, comedy brightens the end of summer and a pop-up vintage and craft market sweeps through the Majestic Theatre.

Jump into beauty and take part in community this week in Metro Detroit. 

Upcoming events (Aug. 27 to Sept. 3)

What’s So Funny About Detroit?

The Old Miami
Aug. 27
$35 / $30 in advance for WDET members

WDET invites you to have the last laugh of the summer at the Old Miami. Thursday is the final What’s So Funny About Detroit Comedy Showcase, and this 21+ performance is headlined by T. Barb, one of the best comedians to come out of Detroit. Other performers include Andy Peters, Brianna Blackburn, Nicole Melnyk and Jeffrey Ford. The doors open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m. Tito’s Handmade Vodka will be offering signature cocktails on-site.

In Her Honor

Various locations in Detroit
Aug 26-28
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“In Her Honor” is an art series honoring women of color who passed due to maternal health complications. The events around the art, displayed at Mothering Justice’s office in Eastern Market on Friday, aim to uplift information on maternal health and connect participants with solutions to a devastating crisis in maternal health.

Dream Pop-Up: Voting Rights Community Art Project

 Affirmations in Ferndale
Aug. 28
Free

Make a small artpiece in support of voting rights with Stand with Trans and Indivisble Metro Detroit at Affirmations in Ferndale. This event is the second in a program series designed to give young adults from 16-24 a creative outlet while engaging them in community. Art made at this event will be displayed at Art Prize in Grand Rapids. Come join the event from 5-7 p.m. Art supplies will be provided.

Northwoods Improvisers

 Detroit Institute of Arts
Aug. 28
Free with cost of admission

Enjoy live music in the DIA’s Rivera Court. The Northwoods Improvisers have been playing for 50 years, and have had Detroit saxophonist Tony Holland from Griot Galaxy in the lineup for the past year. Let the Improvisers surprise you with their unique performance style starting at 7 p.m.

Fleatroit

Majestic Theatre
Aug. 30
Free

Vintage and craft vendors take over the Majestic Theatre as a part of the “Zania Mania” celebration marking 80 years of the Zania family owning The Garden Bowl. Shop your heart out from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and enjoy some pizza, bowling, and a live DJ set while you’re at it. 

Jazz at the Dossin

 Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Aug. 30
$5

Come out for the last show of the summer concert series Jazz at the Dossin! The afternoon show features the Stephen Grady Jr. Quartet, as Grady honors jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham’s birthday.

Art in the Elements

Meadow Brook Hall 
Sept. 2-3
$25 

Meander through the grounds and interior of Meadow Brook Hall historic mansion and immerse yourself in elaborate floral art inspired by the cosmos. Admission includes a self-guided tour and admission to Dan’s Cabin and Knole Cottage. Join the premiere and evening tour from 6-9 p.m., with final admission at 8 p.m.

The 39th District Court is hosting an amnesty program next month as part of Project Clean Slate. The program will be held throughout the month of September.

It’s designed for people who want to contact the court to discuss balances and payment options. During this period, late fees are waived and warrants issued for failure to pay will be canceled. That’s after payments are made in full. 

People will also have an opportunity to create payment plans to pay off dues. 

People can call 586-773-2010 for more information. 

Additional headlines for Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026

Michigan Reconnect program expands to 21-24 year olds

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is expanding the Michigan Reconnect program. The program now includes Michigan residents between 21 and 24 to get a tuition-free associate degree or skills certificate. Previously, people who applied to the program had to be 25 years old or older. More than 250,000 people have applied with 20,000 graduates. 

The program launched in 2021, helping adults without a college degree to go back to school. The funding comes from a $25 million investment in the Fiscal Year 2027 education budget. 

Detroit x Dearborn Block Party

The cities of Detroit and Dearborn are hosting a block party next month. The community event will have free food,  family-friendly activities and resource tables. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud will be in attendance. 

The event takes place Sept. 19 on the corner of Tireman Ave and Miller Road from 12-3 p.m. 

Check out dearborn.gov/dearbornxdetriot to learn more. 

CAIR safety toolkit

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Michigan chapter released a new safety toolkit for mosques and Islamic schools through its Safe Spaces department. The toolkit was created in response to the deadly May 2026 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

The toolkit includes guidance to institutions on emergency preparedness, accessing safety practices for emergencies and building relations with local law enforcement. 

Mosques and Islamic centers can get a copy by emailing cairmichigan@gmail.com or calling 248-559-2247. 

Michigan economy

Mortgage rates are running between 6 and 7% for the 30-year fixed loans. At the same time, Michigan faces a shortage of affordable housing.

Shreya Valampatti is a senior analyst at the Anderson Economic Group. She says policymakers need to create more housing opportunities for people with lower incomes. “If we make sure that we have enough housing stock for those income groups and demographics, we can make sure that some of the pressure is removed and we can see some easing in mortgage rates.”

State lawmakers are considering bills to loosen local zoning laws so that developers can build more multi-family homes. Many local governments oppose such changes. 

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

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed ran the health departments of both Detroit and Wayne County. Three weeks ago he won a U.S. Senate primary by roughly 15,000 votes statewide, and lost Detroit by nearly 2-1.

Seven miles away in Dearborn and Hamtramck, he took 78 and 82%, respectively.

In Detroit, fewer people voted in this primary than in 2016: About 98,000, which is down from 126,000.

So the question in front of him now isn’t only whether Detroit residents will vote for him — it’s whether Detroit residents will turn out to vote.

Bishop James Williams is founder and senior pastor of Spirit and Truth Christian Ministries, and second vice president of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity— a group that supported Dr. El-Sayed during the primary. He joined host Robyn Vincent to speak about what his congregants make of the U.S. Senate race, and how their political preferences have been shifting.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The City of Warren has planted its first micro forest as part of an effort to increase the tree canopy in the city.   

Warren Mayor Lori Stone says the community rallied for more greenery in the city.

“Warren only had about 19% tree canopy, some of the lowest in Metro Detroit and Macomb County. And so, when I started out, we did a listening tour to really look at what our communities’ expectations were, and environmental sustainability was a priority,” she says.

Stone says residents want leadership to grow the city’s tree canopy, restore natural habitats, and protect green spaces.

One of those projects was a micro forest created at the Warren Community Center’s courtyard. The project received $30,000 from Green Macomb.

“I’m excited to tout that we planted our first microforest at Julius Park Circle, which is over 5,000 plants from different canopy levels, forest levels, and that was in partnership with a 4-H students, a community organization,” she shares.

Stone says Warren’s Department of Public Works also plants roughly 400 trees on easements annually, additional to the city distributing 200 saplings as part of our Arbor Day and Earth Day initiatives.

“It’s very important in order to grow tree canopy, in order to create those green spaces, … and provide natural spaces to encourage that local residents are also planting trees and providing those opportunities,” she explains.

Warren is also a part of the Rain to Roots program with Center Line, Sterling Heights, supported by the DTE Foundation, to help homeowners install rain gardens, rain barrels and native plants for stormwater management. 

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

It’s only the day after Dolly Parton’s passing, and we still don’t quite have the words, yet, to fully quantify the loss of such an artist, such a human: a songwriter, an actor, an activist, and a shining example of how to forge a career embued with intention, compassion and charming, down-to-earth wisdom. Not to mention, staggering talent. 

On this week’s MI Local, I started off the show with some of the latest releases by artists from around the region, including new singles from Michigander, Bonnie Hook, Mike Ward, and CHECKER, while also checking in on shows that you can catch over the Labor Day weekend. 

But I reached out to some local songwriters to see if they wanted to share their love for the legacy of Dolly and honor her with a cover of a song of hers, one that meant a lot to each of them, “Coat of Many Colors.” Stream the show, but keep your ear out for the last 10 minutes, when songwriters Emily Rose and Audra Kubat provide backing harmonies and vocals to Sodra Jane, who takes lead and plays guitar. It was late at night, after a rough day, with the feelings still so raw, so you won’t hear us able to conjure much as far as conversation or conventional interview back-and-forth, other than the audible brief gaps where you can be assured that tears are being subdued. 

I have always appreciated how sincere our local musicians are, how open and candid they are about the love they hold for the artists that have inspired them. Dolly inspired us all. 

Comedian T. Barb made a name for herself in Detroit. She’s become well known for her “Only in Detroit” social media reels, where she highlights unique scenes from around the Detroit streets.

Now she’s making her way in Los Angeles, where her numerous gigs have included appearances on BET.

T. Barb says L.A. is different from Detroit in many ways — from the way people act to the food they eat. “The dogs even are different,” says T. Barb, “and the reason I say that is because people in California have a dog for companionship. Here, we want our dog to bite you.”

T. Barb is returning to Detroit this week to take part in WDET’s last “What’s So Funny About Detroit” comedy showcase of the summer. The show takes place on Thursday, Aug. 27 at The Old Miami on Cass Avenue.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.  All patrons must be 21+ to enter the venue.  Tickets are available online at WDET.org/events.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand. Never miss an episode – subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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A new cell phone policy in schools takes affect this year.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti in a recent letter sent to parents this week announced cell phone use is not allowed from the entry bell to the dismissal bell. Individual schools will communicate their policy for phones, whether it is to collect and return devices daily or instruct students to turn them off and put them away. The letter says parents who want to reach out to their children during the day should call the school directly.  

Governor Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year signed a law banning the use of cell phones during instructional time. The law addresses research that shows phones are the biggest sources of distraction in classrooms and when student put their phones down, their grades improve. 

There are also concerns about the effects of constant phone use on students’ attention spans, mental health, and social relationships. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026

Survey finds kids eat unhealthy breakfasts 

A survey by the University of Michigan’s C.S Mott Children’s Hospital finds most kids eat breakfast before school. But as it may not be a nutritious meal. The hospital says a healthy breakfast consists of a lean protein, high fiber content and a healthy source of fat.  

Mott’s Poll Co-Director and pediatrician Susan Woolford says parents report three top barriers to healthy eating they face daily.  

“First of all, 44% said that their child is a picky eater, and then just over a third mentioned that their child is a little bit grumpy or slow in the morning, and then about a third said that time was a barrier.” 

Woolford suggests preparing breakfast ahead of time to ensure the meal is nutritious and there is time to eat it.  

She also suggests parents with picky eaters let the children help choose healthy options for their meal.  

Mayor Sheffield announces plan to bring rentable housing into compliance

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield wants to bring thousands more rental units up to code. The goal is to increase the compliance rate for single- and double-family units from 14% to 25% within a year.

Most of Detroit’s rental properties are 1 or 2 family units. Sheffield says the city will help small-scale landlords get their compliance certificates.

Six months ago, the mayor launched an effort to bring 65 senior apartment buildings up to code by now. The city has surpassed that goal, issuing 88 compliance certificates.

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

“Has it ever been easier to complain publicly about something without trying to change it?”

That’s one of the credos that Panda Bear and Sonic Boom have adopted for the upcoming release of their second collaborative album, “A ? of When,” which came out July 10 via Domino.

It’s a fist-waving-in-the-air against strictly online culture, where a lot of context gets lost. And a lot of musical memory is so brief that it’s easy to feel defeated as an artist.

So it makes sense that, like a lot of musicians, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom are struggling with how to release an album in the digital age. Fair enough. You spend all this time writing and pouring yourself into something. You release it. The internet gobbles it up in mere minutes. The cycle moves on. Did you even release an album? There’s already something else coming down the pipeline…

That’s where a sense of physicality comes in—a physical release like an actual piece of vinyl you’ve got to buy at the store. And, in the case of Panda Bear and Sonic Boom’s upcoming album, you can’t even stream this thing online if you wanted to. They’ve made the choice to keep it off of streaming services and to make a bit of an in-real-life-only event. 

All the concern about battling internet release schedules and creating a tangible, physical release also means the title track, “A ? of When (Ultimate Drive Time Mix),” sounds like the full-throated rock and pop records of the late 1960s and 1970s. 

There are elements of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, mostly due to Panda Bear’s uncanny vocals that remind me so much of Wilson. Massive guitars call back to Pete Townshend’s best and biggest work with The Who. Plus, the “Ultimate Drive Time Mix” edit actually takes out the sirens and some of the background clutter from the original version that makes it more suitable for actual radio play – talk about nostalgia!

There’s a throwback sound to the whole affair that makes as much a battle against streaming services as it is a throwback time machine to making music sound a lot like it did back in the day when you had to get up and buy the record and sit and listen to the whole damn thing in your bedroom while reading the liner notes.

And I’ll do just that.

This article was originally published on Midbrow. 

A week ago, the Dearborn City Council moved its meeting to the public library because they expected a crowd. Police were outside in riot gear. Wayne County sent officers on horses. By the next morning, 22 people had been arrested from across Michigan, and from as far as New York and Tennessee.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud told the council his own daughter didn’t go to daycare that day. Some businesses stayed closed. Sports practices were rescheduled.

What brought all this on was a man with a megaphone who told the council that Muslims had come here to steal, and that their time in this country was running short.

Jake Lang doesn’t hold office. But his words are not far from the ones spoken by people who do. Three weeks ago, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. Within hours, a sitting U.S. Senator called him a terrorist. A sitting congresswoman called every Muslim holding public office in America “a Trojan horse.”

Last year, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, logged over 8,600 complaints nationwide, more than in any year since the group started counting in 1996. In Michigan, the chapter recorded nearly 500 — also a record, up 25% from the year before. These are complaints people brought to an advocacy group, not hate crimes confirmed by police. But they’re climbing, and they have been for three years running.

Amy Doukoure is the lead staff attorney for CAIR-Michigan, a nonprofit dedicated to combatting anti-Muslim hate locally. She spoke with host Robyn Vincent about why anti-Muslim hate is rising, and what can be done to stop it.

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

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Few artists have navigated the music world as adeptly and gracefully as country music icon and philanthropist, Dolly Parton.

Coming from humble beginnings, Parton stayed true to her passion for music and her keen mind for business throughout her career. As a result, she’enjoyed both commercial and critical success, resulting in millions of record sales, 50 Grammy nominations, and the 2005 National Medal of Arts, the highest honor of excellence in the arts by the U.S. government. Her enormous talent was matched only by her kindness and capacity to give.

Parton died in Nashville on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 at 80 years old.

She may have only been 5 foot 2 inches but Dolly Parton was a larger-than-life, walking, talking, singing ray of sunshine, whose curiosity set the stage for the big life she dreamed of.

A songwriter from the start

Born on January 19, 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee, Dolly Parton was the fourth out of 12 siblings. She described her family as “dirt poor” and says they lived in a one-bedroom cabin. Despite this adversity, Dolly’s father instilled a level of business-minded grit in her that has served her throughout her career, while her mother bestowed her love of music onto a young Dolly Parton.

Dolly began writing songs at a young age. Her first performances were in the church, and she has maintained her deep religious faith throughout the course of her life. At the age of 10, she recorded “Puppy Love” and appeared at the Grand Ole Opry. Dolly continued her studies and graduated from Severe County High School in 1964. She moved to Nashville the very next day to pursue her career in music.

Country girl at heart

Dolly got her start in the music business as a songwriter for other artists. Within two years of beginning her career, her songs made their way as top ten hits.

The burgeoning performer wanted to sing country music, but her record label felt adamant about keeping her in pop music. The label continued to resist until Dolly appeared as an uncredited backup singer on her own composition, “Put it off Until Tomorrow,” defying her label’s direction to stick to pop. The song became a hit on the country charts, establishing Dolly as a country artist.

Soon after, Dolly Parton met her soon to be husband, Carl Thomas Dean. Their relationship has fascinated the media and her fans for decades, as Dean largely stayed out of the limelight. He passed in March, 2025.

Dolly makes it big

Dolly released her debut album, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” in September, 1967. Her first country single from her debut album was the song “Dumb Blonde,” written by Curly Putnam. Her big, blonde hair, curvaceous figure, lavish makeup and flashy clothes may have created an image of a “dumb blonde,” but she was anything but.

Following her successful debut album launch, Dolly signed with Porter Wagoner at his label, RCA Victor. The two released their first duet, “The Last Thing On My Mind” in 1967, launching a six-year streak on the top 10 songs for the duo. Parton went on to record the Jimmy Rogers song “Mule Skinner Blues,” which became another top 10 hit. Following the success of “Mule Skinner Blues,” Dolly scored her first number one country hit as a solo artist, “Joshua.”

While collaborating with Porter Wagoner, Dolly recorded “Jolene,” a timeless song that’s on Rolling Stones’ Top 500 Songs of All Time and has been covered by numerous artists, including The White Stripes, Olivia Newton-John, and Dolly Parton’s Goddaughter, Miley Cyrus.

The enduring legacy of “I Will Always Love You”

After seven years of performing and recording with him, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner parted ways in the mid-1970s. As a parting gesture, Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You,” arguably the most monumental and successful piece of work of Parton’s career.

Soon after she released the song in 1974, it became a hit. Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, expressed interest in Elvis record the song on the condition that they get half of the publishing. Dolly trusted her business instincts and declined the offer, retaining her full publishing rights.

That turned out to be one of the best business decisions she ever made. In 1992, Whitney Houston turned the cover of the track on the “Bodyguard” soundtrack into one of her most memorable vocal performances. Her version went on to become internationally-acclaimed and produced a multi-million-dollar profit for Dolly.

Heart as big as her hair

Dolly continued to blossom in her entertainment career, stepping back into the world of pop music with “Here You Come Again,” and trying her hand at acting in 1980’s film 9 to 5.

In spite of her non-stop career, Dolly has still found the time and energy to give back to those less fortunate than herself, making good on a promise she made in 1977 to make millions of dollars and start initiatives that would create opportunities for others.

She started a non-profit organization, the Dollywood Foundation, dedicated to providing scholarships and supporting numerous non-profit organizations to improve the quality of life for children in need.

Along with Dollywood Foundation, Parton created Dollywood – a tourist site and amusement park based in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee which employes 4,000 people and has received ample recognition for how the park operates. Dolly also founded the Imagination Library in 1995, with the goal of delivering one million books per month to schools across the United States.

Dolly has raised and donated millions of dollars for numerous charities, including the Red Cross, HIV/AIDS-related charities and for cancer research. In 2016, she hosted a telethon to raise $9 million for the victims of the Great Smokey Mountain Wildfires.

Dolly was celebrated for donating $1 million for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine research. Throughout the pandemic, Dolly engaged with children worldwide on YouTube by reading bedtime stories.

Eighty years of Dolly Parton feels far too short. In the wake of her passing, may we hold on tight to the hope and optimism she instilled in us.

This tribute to Dolly Parton was published in 2021 and has been updated to reflect her passing on Aug. 25, 2026. 

The Michigan Natural Resource Commission approved new regulations for deer hunters. The policy changes are reigniting long-standing tensions between hunters and the state.

‘One Buck Rule’

Starting in 2027, hunters in the Lower Peninsula will be limited to harvesting one antlered deer (buck) per season. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is encouraging hunters to take more does, which could help the state curb exploding deer populations in the southern portion of the state.

The rule could also help younger bucks live longer, meaning more mature bucks in the herd.

End of the line for the rifle line

Starting November 15, 2026, hunters will be able to use high-powered rifles in southern Michigan, below the ‘rifle line,’ an area which had previously been restricted to shotguns, muzzleloaders and straight-wall cartridge rifles.

Kevin Vistisen hosts the Deer Hunter Podcast and he says tension between hunters and state bodies Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and governor-appointed Natural Resources Commission (NRC) have been an issue for years.

“A lot of people in this country are just like, mentally wounded by being lied to by establishments for decades, and does that trickle down to state level policy? Yeah certainly.”

Vistisen joined Owen Armentrout on The Metro alongside MDNR specialist Brent Rudolph to discuss the recent deer hunting policy changes in Michigan, and how hunters are responding.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education has appointed 25-year-old youth advocate Jeremiah Steen to serve on the board for the rest of the year. 

Steen is filling the vacancy for Board Member Dr. Iris Taylor, who died in July at the age of 74. 

Taylor served in several roles, most recently as the Board Treasurer and former president. 

Steen is the founder of the Steen Foundation, a youth-oriented social group that promotes inquisitive thinking, helping teens advance community through creativity. He was formerly a member of the Skillman Foundation’s inaugural President’s Youth Council. He was the first youth board member. 

School Board President LaTrice McClendon says the board is proud to welcome Steen who will serve until Dec.31.

Additional headlines for Monday, Aug. 24, 2026

Arab American Chamber of Commerce fires executive director

The American Arab Chamber of Commerce has fired its Executive Director Bilal Hammoud on allegations of missing funds according to a statement released Friday. The chamber says it has retained an attorney to investigate.  

The Detroit News reports the investigation is due to $1 million in missing funds. Hammoud also served as the CEO of Tejara, a nonprofit business incubator powered by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. 

This comes after the previous executive director Fay Beydoun allegedly diverted a $20 million grant by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation intended for the chamber to Global International Link, another company she created. She is now facing 16 felony charges. 

Bilal Hammoud has not yet publicly commented on the incident. 

MDHHS changes baby formula distributed by WIC

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is changing infant formula distributed by the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Beginning Nov. 1, Michigan will begin carrying Mead Johnson Enfamil products. WIC is ending its contract with Abbott Similac products.

WIC provides supplemental nutrition for pregnant and postpartum women. About 187,000 people participate in WIC each month. 

For more information about baby formula changes, visit michigan.gov/wic.  

Annual block party  

The Detroit Health Department is hosting its fifth annual Block Party.  The event will feature free food and beverages, health screenings and back-to-school vaccinations. There will also be a safe space walk-n-rally at 11 a.m.

The event takes place Sept. 12 from noon to 4 p.m. on 100 Mack Ave., between John R and Mack and Erskine Streets. 

Mural in Eastern Market tells story of healthcare in the U.S.

A new mural at the Eastern Market by artist Oshun Williams depicts the rising cost of healthcare. It’s part of the “One Nation, Overcharged” campaign, a national grassroots movement seeking a healthcare system which puts people over profits. The mural was unveiled over the weekend on Saturday.  

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

What should we make of the climate movement’s accomplishments over the last decade?

On one side, the Inflation Reduction Act and Chips and Science Act helped distribute clean energy across the country. Those policies dropped solar prices — 90% over the last decade. Battery storage costs fell by the same amount from 2010 to 2020. 

But the Green New Deal never passed, and many Republicans in Michigan and across the U.S. are against a clean energy transition. President Donald Trump has consistently said climate change isn’t real and the world continues to warm at a rapid clip. 

Jay Inslee has been at the center of the climate movement. He was governor of Washington for three terms, and a presidential candidate in 2020 when he pushed Democrats to take climate change more seriously. 

What does he make of our climate politics today? And where should the climate movement go next?

The Metro’s Sam Corey recently spoke with Inslee when he was in town stumping for Jocelyn Benson in her bid for governor.

The Metro has reached out multiple times to the campaign for Republican John James for governor. They have not yet given us a time when the candidate is available to join us.

A few notes about this conversation:

Inslee mentioned a Washington ballot measure on climate that won 62 percent of the vote. That was a 2024 vote on whether to scrap the state’s climate program — the one that makes big polluters pay for what they emit. Voters chose to keep it.

He also cited a Washington vote on electric school buses. That wasn’t a ballot measure — it was a bill, passed by the Legislature in 2024.

He said President Trump’s White House construction and renovation projects will cost $800 million. According to Reuters, those projects are now more than $900 million.

Inslee said that 80% of rural voters supported a clean energy ballot initiative in Washington. We could not verify that.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Overdoses are down across the country and in particular here in Michigan. 

Oakland County saw a 37% decrease in overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024. The county also reports the distribution of more than 2,300 Narcan kits to harm reduction clients. So far, its resulted in 430 overdose Narcan rescues between January 2023 and June 2025. 

The 25th annual International Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31. This year’s theme is “25 Years On. Still Needed.”

Although numbers are trending down in Michigan, education, the distribution of Narcan kits and peer recovery groups remain top priority for local organizations. 

The Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities launched in 2003 with support of Oakland Counties Office of Substance Abuse Services.  Since its inception, the Alliance for Coalition of Healthy Communities has grown to include over 20 community prevention coalitions. They are currently serving more than 55 local communities. 

The organization has a drive-up Naloxone training resource fair planned for Aug. 31. It’ll take place at 5505 Corporate Drive in Troy from 9 a.m. to 5p.m.

Jonathon Maxgay is an Overdose Prevention Specialist with the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities.

Maxgay joined The Metro to talk more about the 25th International Overdose Awareness Day and how he’s personally been impacted by substance abuse. 

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

We featured lots of new music for you in Big Sonic Heaven tonight including two Shoegaze singles, one from Canada’s Prepare My Glider, featuring Gouachepaint on vocals, and another from Swedish band Kallsup. We’ll also heard the lovely cinematic dreampop of Flower Face out of Montreal, along with another new Echo and the Bunnymen track.

Plus, from Italy, Steffano Guzetti’s 4AD-inspired compilation has just been released and I shared a couple tracks from that, featuring Emma Anderson, Heidi Berry, and Ian Masters. We also gave the Singaporean artist Shye another spin, and of course, many of your favorite shoegaze, dreampop and post-punk tracks, including a Creation Records set.

View the playlist below and listen to the show recording above for up to two weeks after it airs.

Big Sonic Heaven playlist for Aug. 23, 2026

• “Hyperballad” – Björk
• “Alfie” – deary
• “Blood Spilled” – Blonde Redhead
• “The Light That Surrounds You” – Echo & The Bunnymen
• “Baby Talk” – Lush
• “Bleed” – She’s Green
• “Boyfriend” – Majesty Crush
• “Hurt” – The Haunted Youth
• “Last Dance” – The Secret French Postcards
• “Skin Of The Night” – M83
• “Living In Another World” – Talk Talk
• “I Wanted It To Be You” – Shye
• “Catch The Breeze” – Slowdive
• “On My Own” – Ulrich Schnauss
• “You & them & missing” – BlauDisS &Tilly
• “Falter” – Acopia
• “To Here Knows When” – My Bloody Valentine
• “Does This Hurt?” – The Boo Radleys
• “It’s a Fine Day (feat. Ian Masters)” – Stefano Guzzetti
• “Lilac Wine” – Jeff Buckley
• “Chimär (Gbg)” – Kallsup
• “Magic Only” – Panda Riot
• “Change” – Prepare My Glider
• “Tristan / Sanvean” – Dead Can Dance
• “Bad Dream” – Flower Face
• “White Light” – Locust & Olive Kimoto
• “St. Swithin’s Day” – Dubstar
• “Brussels Is Haunted” – Echo & The Bunnymen
• “Deep Ocean Vast Sea” – Peter Murphy
• “Love’s Riddle (feat. Emma Anderson & Heidi Berry)” – Stefano Guzzetti
• “Face” – Moev
• “Take Forever (feat. Robert Smith)” – The Japanese Popstars