It began in a living room in Southfield. Six people around a table in February, trying to figure out what to do about the federal lawyers who had just leased office space five minutes from their neighborhood.
Those lawyers work for the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, arguing deportation cases on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They are the legal architecture behind ICE’s immigration raids.
The building is One Towne Square, an 18-story office tower on the Lodge Freeway. The owner, a company called Redico, says the lease prohibits law enforcement or detention on the premises.
The neighbors say that’s not enough, and the number of them pushing back is growing. Six people in a living room became 150 at a recent rally. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, State Senator Jeremy Moss, and faith leaders also showed up.
At the center of all this is Lauren Fink. She co-founded the Southfield Neighbors Action Committee in that living room in Southfield with her husband, Cameron. She joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to talk about what it means to be a good neighbor when people around you are in trouble.
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
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State and federal officials want to know why the National Weather Service (NWS) didn’t issue a tornado watch before deadly twisters hit southwest Michigan on March 6, 2026.
A supercell thunderstorm developed rapidly over Cass County, spawning four tornadoes. The strongest tornado, with winds up to 160 mph, killed three people in Union City, MI in Branch County.
Michigan senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin wrote a letter to NWS Director Ken Graham demanding answers.
“Was a lack of staff and/or resources a contributing factor to NWS’s ability to issue a tornado watch alert ahead of the March 6 tornadoes,” the senators asked. “What, if anything, would have allowed the responsible NWS offices to identify the supercell that produced these tornadoes?”
A watch means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in a given area. A warning means a tornado has been detected on radar or by people on the ground.
Anderson says when the SPC issues a watch, local NWS offices work with the folks in Norman to determine when and where tornadoes could form. Then, it’s up to the local bureaus to issue warnings.
“NWS offices across the country are looking at the radar, they’re looking at the environment, they’re looking at storm reports coming in,” Anderson says. “And when we start to see concerning signs of rotation on radar in a certain area in a certain environment that we know is conducive for tornadoes, then we’ll start looking at do we need a tornado warning or not.”
Meteorologists track weather around the clock at the NWS office in White Lake
Anderson says her team has the staff and the tools they need to issue timely warnings.
“Our mission is the protection of life and property when it comes to hazardous weather,” she says. “We’re here keeping an eye on the weather 24/7, 365 days a year.”
Tornadoes can strike without warning
The challenge forecasters face is that tornadoes are, by nature, unpredictable. They can form at any time of day or year. And they sometimes spin up even when conditions aren’t necessarily favorable for them.
“Last year, we had a couple of that happened in environments where you wouldn’t say, ‘hey, I’m going to get a tornado out of this type of setup,'” she says. “So, there are some days that are really sneaky.”
“Even on those days when we don’t have a line of storms coming through, we may have a few areas of storms that are a bit more isolated, but still may have a big impact,” she says.
When the weather service issues any watches or warnings, they go out to local television and radio stations, which broadcast them as soon as possible. Anderson says people can also receive alerts if they have a weather radio or a cell phone. She recommends turning on mobile devices to receive emergency alerts. Anderson says they’re very useful when tornadoes form after midnight.
“It’s really loud and it will wake you up in the middle of the night,” she says.
Spring brings other dangerous weather
Tornadoes are not the only severe weather hazard NWS monitors. Anderson says thunderstorms produce lightning that can strike from miles away. She says people who have plans outdoors should check the weather forecast for thunderstorms first.
“If you can hear thunder, if you can see lightning, you’re at risk for being struck,” she says. “Know where you’re going before those storms strike.”
March 15 to 21 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Michigan. The weather service has information on its website to help people prepare.
Vice President JD Vance made a stop at a robotics manufacturing plant in Auburn Hills this week. The visit was mainly focused on promoting Republican policies ahead of this year’s midterm elections.
The vice president spent most of time touting the administration’s economic policies, which Vance claims have been good for job growth. The most recent report from the Bureau of Labor statistics shows a loss of 92,000 jobs in February.
He made little reference to the ongoing war in Iran during his prepared remarks. When asked by reporters about oil prices, Vance acknowledged they are up.
“I will say,” says Vance. “the president said this and I certainly agree with it, this is a temporary blip.”
Vance promised the crowd gasoline costs would come back down once the U.S., quote, “finishes taking care of business” in the Middle East. He did not say when that would be.
It was his first visit to the state since last week’s attack on the Temple Israel synagogue, which took place about 30 minutes away from where the vice president was speaking. Vance says he and the president stand with Michigan’s Jewish community.
“We love you,” says Vance, “and we’re proud of how you’ve handled this particular situation because it is tough.”
The suspect, 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali — a naturalized U-S citizen from Lebanon — took his own life during the attack. Vance praised the work of security guards at Temple Israel.
He reassured the crowd that the U.S. government is constantly monitoring to try to stop such attacks before they happen.
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The Metro is closely watching the race for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.
The Republican side is settled. Former Congressman Mike Rogers, who lost to Elissa Slotkin by less than half a point in 2024, is running again. This time, he wants the seat Gary Peters is leaving behind.
The Democratic side is more complicated. Three serious candidates are competing for the nomination, and the distance between them tells you something about where the party is right now.
Congresswoman Haley Stevens has Chuck Schumer’s endorsement and millions in support from AIPAC. She is running on expanding the Affordable Care Act and working within existing institutions. State Senator Mallory McMorrow wants generational change inside the party — new leadership, new tactics — but within the current system. Physician Abdul El-Sayed is running to the left of both. He wants Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, and says Democratic leadership has lost touch with its own voters.
They disagree on healthcare. They disagree on immigration enforcement. They disagree on Israel and Gaza, on whether billionaires should exist, and on who should be leading their own party.
WDET’s Russ McNamara sat down with all three — same questions, same mic — and the answers lay out a party in the middle of an argument with itself. The Metro listened back to that story, then Russ joined Robyn Vincent for some analysis about this moment.
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
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The state conducted a test of its severe weather warning system at 1 p.m. today. It’s part of coordinated efforts to prepare Michiganders for the upcoming severe weather season this week.
Even though we’re still in winter, Michigan has already seen four tornadoes this month. One of them was deadly. Today’s drill was meant to get residents thinking about severe weather and make preparations.
The type of severe weather that Detroiters are most likely to see in the summer are severe thunderstorms. These storms can bring heavy rain, winds of 60 miles per hour or more, hail, and frequent lightning. Occasionally, these storms can generate tornadoes.
Make sure you know the difference between a severe thunderstorm watch and a severe thunderstorm warning. A watch means conditions are right to possibly produce severe storms at some point – and you should keep tabs on the weather. A warning means severe weather is taking place and you should take shelter.
The same language applies to tornadoes. A watch means tornadoes are possible. A warning means take shelter immediately. For a tornado warning, get to the lowest level of your house, preferably the basement. Put as many walls as possible between you and outside. Get under a sturdy piece of furniture or the staircase. Stay away from windows, which could break and turn into flying debris. Take your phone or a battery powered radio with you to keep up with the latest developments.
Michigan averages about 15 tornadoes per year. The last tornado to hit Detroit caused millions of dollars of damage in parts of the city and Highland Park back in 1997.
Make an emergency plan ahead of time and discuss it with your family. Hold your own drills to make sure everyone knows where to go and what to do when an actual emergency occurs.
Gas prices continue to rise
In other news, gas prices continue their dramatic rise. A gallon of self-serve regular averages $3.83 in Metro Detroit. That’s up 8 cents from Tuesday. Prices averaged $2.95 a month ago. The war with Iran is limiting oil production in some Middle East countries, and it’s preventing tankers from traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say they expect prices to continue rising until hostilities are ended.
To save some money on gas, pay in cash. That’s usually 10 cents per gallon cheaper than the credit price. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. And avoid jack-rabbit starts.
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For over 30 years, silent films were a major attraction at theaters. The movies relied on visual storytelling techniques and live musical accompaniment rather than dialogue. But in the 1920s “talkies” were born, making silent films obsolete for the average movie-goer. Despite that, the techniques that shaped the genre inspired the work of talkie films since that time.
The Senate Theater aims to honor that history by bringing the silent film era experience to Detroit.
Dennis Scott, a long-time theatre organist and composer joined the show alongside historian and organist John Lauter. Scott will compose for a screening of the silent film “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans” live at the Senate Theatre. He will also host a hands-on workshop for anyone interested in learning how to play the organ.
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For over a century, women have been playing baseball. Some of the earliest teams can be traced back to the 1890s. For a brief period during World War II, women played in their own league.
Since then, all other attempts to start one have fallen short. Will the new women’s league expected to start this summer last?
Leslie Heaphy, President of the International Women’s Baseball center and Associate Professor of history at Kent State University, joined the show to discuss the past, present, and future of women’s baseball.
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This was a fun one! You’ll hear some jangly indie-rock set to pop-energy tempos with heart-on-the-sleeve emotional ruminations with Sock Jock, and then you’ll get intricate guitar stylings and sweet, groovy psych-rock rhythms with charming, pensive, and sometimes metaphysical lyrics with Waunband!
I’m honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to bring talented members from the local music scene, where we can hear their stories, get to know them, listen to some of their new songs off their latest records and hear them perform live! And the good vibes I see resonating from these artists when they come in to this studio feels emblematic of how vibrant and supportive our local music scene; that supportive energy extends to us, the listeners, the folks in the audience, too! Thank you for listening, by the way.
Sock Jock’s self-made music joins metro Detroit’s scene
Taylor Brown aka Sock Jock is a talented singer-songwriter who has been playing music for most of her life, self-taught on every instrument she plays. She comes to us from North Carolina by-way-of Chicago, settling here after she wrapped up college at Purdue and released her first EP, “anothernovember.”
Solid influential reference points for Brown would include Snail Mail, but you might also hear some Clairo and Soccer Mommy in there too. What’s rad about Brown, too, is that she self-produces and records her music, including her latest single, “Curtain.”
Taylor Brown, aka Sock Jock, background/center
Brown shared how she initially chose this band name as a joke, intended to be temporary, but once one of her early singles went essentially viral and boosted her signal, she decided to embrace it.
We’ll also hear about how the last few years have led Brown to fall in love with the metro Detroit music scene, and we talk about upcoming shows where you can catch her live. During the show, she performed her song, “Sober,” live in-studio.
Waunband combines quirk and good company
Waunband is led by Jeremy Waun, a talented singer-songwriter who’s adjacent to, if reminiscent of, something we millennials used to call “freak-folk,” with a sound that feels warm and inviting, with narrative-rich lyrics and a vaguely classical-richness, but skewed with an appealing bit of quirkiness that might present itself in a turn of phrase, an aesthetic choice of tones, or even Waun’s own distinctive voice with its warbly high-arching hum.
Waun talked about starting out as a solo artist, but how it came to feel right to have a full band around him, particularly for the sense of camaraderie, as he’s known his mates for such a long time. The band includes Brad Potts on bass, Johnny Weeks on drums, and Steve Lofman on electric piano and synth.
Waunband, Brad Potts, Jeremy Waun, Steve Lofman, Johnny Weeks
Waunband releases their new album, “In These Lungs” this Saturday, with a release party that night at the Lexington Bar.
Also on the show this week, some new tracks to premiere, including, some experimental art-rock from Wolf Shambles, who are living somewhere between 90’s Tom Waits and 70’s Genesis—and honestly that doesn’t even come close. We also heard from the melodic indie-rockers Remnants, an ambient jazz project known as Yimes, and the latest from singer-songwriter Mike Ward!
Listen to the full episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.
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One of the most popular programs in the City of Detroit is community violence intervention. It’s a policy that tasks neighborhood residents with intervening in disputes to reduce gun violence and mitigate harm. Many say it’s working.
Now, the city is trying to institutionalize community violence intervention work and programs like it. That’s why Detroit created a new department: The Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety.
What is the scope of the office’s responsibilities? And, how does it believe it can target and alleviate the roots of violence?
Teferi Brent is the office’s first director. He spoke with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says she wants to build one thousand new single-family homes in the city over the next four years.
She also announced changes to the city’s Building, Safety, Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED). BSEED will now offer same day permits for most home improvement projects and pre-approved designs for homes to accelerate construction.
Mayor Sheffield says the changes should make it easier to rebuild the housing stock.
“We have heard our developers in Detroit, contractors and homeowners talk about the challenges that they face navigating the permitting process in our city,” says Sheffield. “And when projects get delayed, we know that investment is delayed and our neighborhoods miss out on the growth that they deserve.”
Last week, Sheffield highlighted the city’s down payment assistance program that provides up to $25,000 for first-time home buyers. BSEED’s new streamlined process removes some requirements that made the permitting process as long as 30 days for common renovations like replacing windows, roofing and siding. The city says most residential and small commercial renovation projects can be permitted the same day and will still be in compliance.
Al Shahi Palace is hosting a Chand Raat Mela celebration today and tomorrow. The event celebrates the end of Ramadan and the coming Eid al-Fitr festivities.
The venue will be offering food, drinks henna and other vendors from noon until midnight. Al Shahi is located at 4235 12 Mile Road in Warren. For more information, call 313-445-3623.
The South Asians of Michigan Alliance will host its Chaand Raat & Eid Mela event Thursday at the Radisson Hotel in Southfield. It also starts at noon and runs until midnight. There will be a variety of vendors, a food truck and an awards ceremony. The Radisson is at 26555 Telegraph Road.
Dearborn Economic Development hosts branding workshop
The Dearborn Economic Development Department is hosting a branding workshop for businesses at the Henry Ford Centennial Library this month. Brand Magnetism! Storytelling That Pulls People In is from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
Founder of 3 Feet Media LLC Bryce the Third will facilitate. The Henry Ford Centennial Library is at 16301 Michigan Avenue. To register go to Dearborn.gov/BusinessResources
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For today’s St. Patrick’s Day edition of In The Groove, we’re digging into a mix of indie and electronic sounds with tracks from Death Cab for Cutie, Pinback, Mogwai, The Sundays, and Wu-Lu, with more spread across the playlist.
In the spirit of the holiday, we spotlight Irish artists throughout, including Thin Lizzy, U2, Fontaines D.C., The Cranberries, Whipping Boy, and my bloody valentine keeping that thread of luck running through the show.
Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.
In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for March 17, 2026
“Collarbone” – Fujiya & Miyagi
“Riptides” – Death Cab for Cutie
“A Movie Script Ending” – Death Cab for Cutie
“Fortress” – Pinback
“God Gets You Back” – Mogwai
“Eye Contact” – Tussle
“Work House (Titeknots Remix)” – Nubiyan Twist
“Zannik” – Khaled Al Reigh
“Illegal Hit” – Yttling Jazz
“Ikuchi” – Jimi Tenor & Cold Diamond & Mink
“Squares” – The Beta Band
“In the Middle of the Night” – Ronald Langestraat
“Gooie” – Wu-Lu
“Blue Morpho” – Ed O’Brien
“Nothin’ in the World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl” – The Kinks
“If You Change” – Widowspeak
“Here’s Where The Story Ends” – The Sundays
“Linger (Iain Cook Remix)” – The Cranberries
“For the Time Being” – Erlend Øye & La Comitiva
“In the Waiting Line” – Zero 7 & Sophie Barker
“Roscoe (Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve Remix)” – Midlake
“O Mistress Mine” – Michael Thurber, Moses Sumney & Twelfth Night Cast
“Somebody New” – Lucy Michelle
“Where Did You Sleep Last Night” – Wanda Davis
“Pull Your Clothes Off” – Junior Kimbrough & The Soul Blues Boys
“Ride Me High” – J.J. Cale
“Whiskey in the Jar” – Thin Lizzy
“It’s Amazing To Be Young” – Fontaines D.C.
“I Will Follow” – U2
“Twinkle” – Whipping Boy
“only tomorrow” – my bloody valentine
“Cowboy Song” – Thin Lizzy
Listen to In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.
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The cities of Dearborn and Warren, MI have launched Drone-as-a-First-Responder programs. In Dearborn, a drone can now reach a 911 call in about two and a half minutes, often before a patrol car leaves the station.
Police and fire departments in Warren are sharing a fleet of these drones to scout house fires, crime scenes, and missing-person searches before officers arrive on the ground.
It’s fast and efficient. Police chiefs call it a game-changer. But more surveillance and more data come with increased risks and erode privacy and anonymity in public spaces.
Are the tradeoffs worth it? Drone researcher and author Arthur Holland Michel joined The Metro to discuss.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
Right now, across the country, communities are facing growing pressure from the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to the American Immigration Council, six people died in ICE custody in January of this year alone, in Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and California, raising concerns and fears about what could happen next.
So how are people responding? How are communities making their voices heard? For some, the answer is public art.
Outdoor exhibitions have long had the power to democratize art. Displaying the works outdoors brings it out of galleries and into public spaces. It allows any and everyone to engage in shared cultural experiences and meaningful community connection.
A new installation called “ICEBREAKER”, created by multidisciplinary artist Rogerio Pinto, honors the lives lost to ICE and in detention centers.
He joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to talk more about the exhibition and the impact ICE has had on communities.
“ICEBREAKER” will remain on display at the corner of Harbrooke Avenue and Arbana Drive in Ann Arbor through April 19.
Names honored in the exhibit
Listed below are names featured in the exhibition.
Names of Lives Lost to DHS Enforcement
Genry Ruiz Guillén
Serawit Gezahegn Dejene
Maksym Chernyak
Juan Alexis Tineo-Martinez
Brayan Garzón-Rayo
Nhon Ngoc Nguyen
Marie Ange Blaise
Abelardo Avellaneda Delgado
Jesus Molina-Veya
Johnny Noviello
Isidro Pérez
Jaime Alanis
Tien Xuan Phan
Chaofeng Ge
Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez
Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas
Oscar Rascon Duarte
Silverio Villegas González
Santos Banegas Reyes
Ismael Ayala Uribe
Norlan Guzman-Fuentes
Miguel Ángel García Medina- (shot by a sniper)
Huabing Xie
Leo Cruz-Silva
Hasan Ali Moh’D Saleh
Josué Castro Rivera
Gabriel Garcia Aviles
Kai Yin Wong
Francisco Gaspar-Andrés
Pete Sumalo Montejo
Shiraz Fatehali Sachwani
Isaias Sanchez Barboza
Jean Wilson Brutus
Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir
Delvin Francisco Rodriguez
Nenko Stanev Gantchev
Keith Porter
Ray Ruben Martinez (not included on Fences)
2026
Geraldo Lunas Campos
Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres
Luis Beltrán Yáñez-
Renee Nicole Good
Parady La
Víctor Manuel Díaz-
Heber Sánchez Domínguez-
Alex Pretti
Lorth Sim
Nurul Amin Shah Alam
Emmanuel Damas
Alberto Gutierrez Reyes
Daphy Michel
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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This week on Visions, I continue showcasing women in jazz and improvised music for Women’s History Month. All but two selections are led by women and while a majority of the episode focuses on newer releases, I still get a few classics in the mix.
I play quintessential cuts from Shirley Scott, Jessica Williams, Marian McPartland, Carmen McRae, and Amina Claudine Myers. I play brand new music from Caroline Davis, Ella Grace, Irreversible Entanglements, and Sylvie Courvoisier. I fill it all out with music from Sasha Berliner, Milena Casado, Linda May Han Oh, Patricia Brennan, Allison Miller, Esthesis Quartet, and more.
Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.
Visions Playlist for March 16, 2026
“UMMG (feat. Taylor Eigsti)” – Sasha Berliner
“Yet I Can See” – Milena Casado
“Éclats – for Ornette (Live in Europe)” – Sylvie Courvoisier Trio
“Cherry Blossoms in the Rain // Sailing Through a Cloud (feat. Julia Danielle, Garrett Munz, Aval Stanley, Marion Mallard & Jayden Richardson)” – Ella Grace
“It’s Over Now” – Carmen McRae
“The 23”- Nels Cline
“Portal (feat. Ambrose Akinmusire & Tyshawn Sorey)” – Linda May Han Oh
“Aquarius” – Patricia Brennan
“Doozy” – Marian McPartland
“Of Two Rivers (Part 2)” – Allison Miller
“3/4 of 4/4” – Amina Claudine Myers
“Springtails” – Caroline Davis
“Character” – Yuhan Su
“Hollywood” – Esthesis Quartet
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We’re back to our regular show today following the spring fundraiser, with less talk and more music. We play new music from beabadoobee featuring The Marías and Resavoir, with selections from Tara Clerkin Trio, Azymuth, and The La’s.
Later in the show, we hear tracks from Jill Scott and Jimi Hendrix, while additional highlights include music from Arlo Parks, Charlotte Day Wilson, and Talking Heads.
Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.
In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for Mar 16, 2026
“Miffed It” – Way Dynamic
“The Woman Who Was Also a Mongoose” – The Dead Milkmen
“Son of a Gun” – The La’s
“Diego” – Gotts Street Park
“Morning” – Azymuth
“Far Cry” – Resavoir
“Uirapurú” – Fabiano do Nascimento & Vittor Santos e Orquestra
“Mother’s Arms” – Ni Maxine
“Bass Is The Space” – re:ni & Biggabush
“Our Time” – Pender Street Steppers
“Beige 70 (Domenique Dumont Bilingual Remix)” – Cola Boyy
“Nomalizo” – Letta Mbulu
“Douwannabwithastar” – GENA
“Golden (KAYTRANADA Remix) [Mixed]” – Jill Scott
“Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong (Re-Work)” – Bugz In the Attic
“Lady Day & John Coltrane (feat. Rahsaan Patterson) [12″ Version]” – Brian Jackson, Kenny Dope & Louie Vega
“All I Did Was Dream of You (feat. The Marías)” – beabadoobee
“Salt In the Wound” – boygenius
“2SIDED” – Arlo Parks
“Selfish” – Charlotte Day Wilson
“I Had a Dream She Took My Hand” – James Blake
“Bittersweet” – Lianne La Havas
“Blues for Monday” – The Emanon “4”
“Lowdown” – Ronald Langestraat
“Loose Fit (Live)” – Happy Mondays
“Crosseyed and Painless” – Talking Heads
“13th Century Metal” – Brittany Howard
“Otis” – The Durutti Column
“Reinita Canadiense” – Mas Aya & Lido Pimienta
“Ansumana” – Susso
“Part 4 (Live at Alexandra Palace, London 8th and 9th May 2019)” – 4TLR
Listen to In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.
Support the shows you love.
WDET’s unique music programs are dedicated to exploring the music and culture of our region and the world. Keep the music going. Please make a gift today. Give now »
Tonight, Big Sonic Heaven featured tracks by Depeche Mode and Beth Gibbons from the “War Child Records Help(2)” charity compilation. “Every purchase, stream, and share of ‘HELP(2)’ supports War Child UK to raise critical funds for children living through the unthinkable.”
Head over to their Bandcamp to buy a track or the full record to support this important cause.
We also heard a new single from Detroit dreampop duo Bluhm, a new English-French art-pop duo called Nonsense Rats, and more, plus your favorite Big Sonic classics.
Don’t forget that every show is available for replay for two weeks at wdet.org. Thanks for listening!
“Trust” – The Cure
“Phosphorous” – Lamb
“Alfie” – Deary
“Cherry-Coloured Funk” – Cocteau Twins
“Universal Soldier” – Depeche Mode & War Child Records
“Scarlet” – Lush
“String Theory” – Lanterns On The Lake
“Violently Happy” – Björk
“The Night Is Quiet” – Nonsense Rats
“Don’t Fade Away” – Dead Can Dance
“South Coast” – Throwing Muses
“Tears” – The Chameleons
“Fear Everything” – Bathe Alone
“Before” – The Giraffe Told Me in My Dream
“The Ghost In You” – Siouxsie & The Banshees
“Sunday Morning” – Beth Gibbons & War Child Records
“2Wicky” – Hooverphonic
“Running Away” – Washed Out
“Come Together” – Primal Scream
“No Longer Making Time” – Slowdive
“Burrow” – AtticOmatic
“Song To The Siren” – This Mortal Coil
“Pink Funeral” – Beach House
“Reel Around The Fountain” – The Smiths
“Faît Accompli” – Curve
“The Lake (Cinematic)” – Fever Ray
“Like Suicide” – ACTORS
“Here’s To All The Ones” – Hunter As a Horse
“You Look So Fine” – Garbage
“Sugar Phantom Blackout” – Bluhm
“Anger is an Acid (with IAMX)” – cEvin Key
“Such A Shame” – Talk Talk
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The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a major immigration case this week. The American Civil Liberties Union argues that the Trump administration’s new mandatory detention policy for immigrants, even those with pending asylum cases or without criminal records, violates their right to due process.
ACLU Senior Attorney Miriam Aukerman says, “It’s the goal of the administration to make people so desperate because they’re detained that they’re gonna leave their families behind. And just leave the country and leave everything they’ve known. Leave their communities… their kids.”
Most of the eleven immigrants in the case before the appeals court this week live in Michigan. Government lawyers argue they should be held until they’re deported or their immigration cases are resolved.
The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hosting its monthly community input meeting. DDOT will discuss services, fares, and more. The meeting take place March 19 at 5 p.m. at the Rosa Parks Transit Center or on Zoom.
MDHHS storm tips
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says people should be prepared for the severe weather event this week. March 15-21 is Severe Weather Awareness week. MDDHS is sharing resources for emergency preparedness, including creating an emergency plan.
Last year people in northern Michigan experienced a severe storm leaving 90,000 people without power. It was later declared a major disaster by the federal government.
MDHHS says people can visit their Michigan Prepares website to find resources, including on reducing carbon monoxide poisoning, flood safety and food shortage. MDHHS says people can also sign up for emergency text alerts.
New grants to boost freshwater literacy, innovative STEM education for K-12 students
New Michigan state grants will support STEM education by allowing field trips to freshwater locations. Approximately $156,000 in funding will support freshwater literacy programs and create STEM learning opportunities for students in K-12 education. The funding will also go toward transportation costs for field trips in the 2026-2027 school year.
Faith & City Impact Summit
The City of Detroit is hosting a strategic meeting to connect Detroit clergy to city resources. The Faith & City Impact Summit will be held with Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and city officials. Attendees will learn about economic development, neighborhood support initiatives, and family programs like Rx Kids.
The meeting takes place on Thursday March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Greater Grace Temple located at 23500 West Seven Mile Road. To participate, RSVP by Tuesday March 17. Email Richard.White2@detroitmi.gov or call 313-618-0597.
Skilled Trade Task Force Meeting
The City of Detroit is hosting a Skilled Trades Task Force Meeting on Wednesday. Speakers include Mary Waters, the city councilwoman at large; Renata Miller, city council member for District 5; and Denzel McCampbell, city council member for District 7.
People can attend at the IBEW Local Union 58, at 1358 Abbott St., Detroit MI 48226. The skills trade meeting takes place Wednesday March 18 from 4-6 p.m.
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For tens of thousands of people across metro Detroit, this past weekend wasn’t spent relaxing. It was spent in the dark, listening to 70-mile-per-hour wind gusts. Others were likely watching the water line creep up in their basements after days of rain.
When we talk about environmental risk, we’re talking about the collision between volatile weather, intensified by human-caused climate change, and fragile, aging infrastructure. It is the risk your lights won’t stay on, your basement won’t stay dry, and your utility bills will keep rising.
Nearly 95,000 households lost power in this latest storm. While many of the lights are back on, the frustration hasn’t dimmed, especially since DTE Energy’s $242 million rate hike just went into effect earlier this month.
Today marks the start of SevereWeather Awareness Week. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is urging you to “know your plan.” But for many metro Detroiters, that plan is at the mercy of a grid and a regional geography that feels fragile.
To help us look past the downed limbs and into the systems that are failing, Nicholas Schroeck joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro. Schroeck is the dean of the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Law and a leading expert on environmental policy.
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 streaming on demand.
One-of-a-kind podcasts from WDET bring you engaging conversations, news you need to know and stories you love to hear. Keep the conversations coming. Please make a gift today.
These days, when it rains, it much more often pours. That’s due in large part to climate change. Heat waves are longer, winds are stronger, and rains are heavier.
Meanwhile, much of metro Detroit’s infrastructure is old. And, combined with the downpours, it has led to more flooding. That’s true on Hinds Drive in Wayne County; it’s true in East Dearborn; and it’s true in Jefferson Chalmers, or the “Venice of Detroit.”
In 2021, the eastside neighborhood was declared a “high-risk flood zone” by FEMA after heavy rains flooded many basements and roads.
The City of Detroit recently announced a $1 million pilot program to repair or replace sea walls for low-income residents to protect them from flooding. What do people in the neighborhood make of this plan? What do they need to protect their neighborhood?
Blake Grannum is a longtime Jefferson Chalmers resident. She spoke with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent about that and more.
The Metro reached out to Detroit Council member Latisha Johnson, who oversees Jefferson Chalmers. Her office did not respond to our request for comment.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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