New music from Yukimi of Little Dragon, a selection from Jordan Rakei’s new live album, Madison Cunningham is about to be a superstar and lots more.
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 November 11, 2025
“All over Me” – Yukimi & Little Dragon
“Lost My Love (DJ Amir & Re.Decay Jazz Re.Imagined Remix)” – Kenny Cox
“White Gloves ii” – Khraungbin
“Mind’s Eye (Live From The Royal Albert Hall)” – Jordan Rakei
“Witches” – Alice Phoebe Lou
“Shut Up Kiss Me” – Angel Olsen
“The Juice” – Causa Sui
“Diving Woman” – Japanese Breakfast
“Sin Dones” – Juana Molina
“Golden Gate (On And On)” – Madison Cunningham
“Who” – David Byrne & St. Vincent
“Motorway” – Goat Girl
“Sad Cowboy” – Goat Girl
“New York, Let’s Do Nothing” – King Hannah
“The World’s Biggest Paving Slab (Daniel Avery Remix)” – English Teacher & Daniel Avery
“Radio Free Europe (Jacknife Lee Remix / 2025)” – R.E.M.
“One Of The Greats” – Florence + the Machine
“Elegantly Wasted (feat. Leon Bridges)” – Hermanos Gutiérrez
“The Revolution Will Not Be Telefonin’” – Tonico 70
“Groove” – Beans
“Magica” – El Michels Affair & Rogê
“Pinball Number Count (feat. Dames Brown & Nicholas Payton)” – Brandon Williams
“I Can Say To You (Toribio Remix)” – Butcher Brown
“Brian” – Alfa Mist
“Dog It” – Digable Planets
“SPOTTIEOTTIEDOPALISCIOUS” – Kassa Overall
“Nothing Without You” – Uma
“Girl Like Me (Kaytranada Remix)” – PinkPantheress
“Maybe I Got It Wrong” – Ruti
“Planet Caravan (feat. David Jimenez)” – Brownout & Brown Sabbath
“A Melhor Saída” – Dora Morelenbaum
“Sorry Sorry (Francois K Remix)” – Femi Kuti
“Coltrane (Crooked Man Remix)” – Cymande
“We Live in Brooklyn, Baby” – Roy Ayers Ubiquity
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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Almost two weeks away from Thanksgiving, Kalasho Education and Youth Services is launching an initiative called MINDful Giving Boxes. These boxes are curated packages of food and essentials to help families experiencing food insecurity enjoy warmth and sustenance.
The organization is partnering with the non profit Advancing Macomb, The National Association of Social Workers, and the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan to nourish families with this effort.
Each box has enough food to feed a family of four for two weeks. Some of the items in the box are rice, lentils, pasta, canned vegetables, peanut butter, hygiene essentials and more.
For more information on how to receive a MINDful Giving Box or to support the cause go to kalasho.org, or you can follow Kalasho Education on social media.
Additional headlines from Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Flights delayed, cancelled due to government shutdown
The government shutdown has affected a lot of businesses all across the country including airlines — and the Detroit Metro Airport is included in that.
There have been major delays and cancellations because of air traffic controllers not being paid since the shutdown began in October. The US Department of Transportation ordered a temporary reduction in flights due to the strain on air traffic controllers and the airline field in general.
According to airline tracking website Flight Aware, 562 flights going into and out of Detroit Metropolitan Airport were delayed, and 119 were canceled altogether since Sunday.
Southfield I-96 ramp closure
If you are planning to drive on the northbound or southbound ramps from the Southfield Ereeway to eastbound Interstate 96….you can’t. A sinkhole has forced closures on those freeway ramps. The repairs are projected to take a week according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
During this time, for those taking northbound Southfield Freeway traffic to use the eastbound I-96, you can use the westbound I-96 as a detour then take exits like Evergreen Road or Outer Drive to turn around and take eastbound I-96 local and express.
Veterans Day events
Happy Veterans Day to all of our men and women who have served. We thank you for your services. Here are a couple of events catered to our Veterans.
Today to honor those who served, Canton Township is hosting their Salute to Service program tonight at 7pm. This event is meant to salute all veterans living, passed, and those currently serving in our armed forces. Donations will be gathered to benefit Veterans Affairs and local veterans. If you want to participate go to cantonmi.gov.
Also, to honor those who served, The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn invites all active duty military personal, veterans and their families are welcomed to visit the museum for free. All you need to do is present your military ID.
There is a limit to the amount of family members military personnel can bring. To learn more about that and other details go to thehenryford.org.
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Support local journalism.
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.
On this episode of Visions, I journey through the decades from the late 50’s through 2025.
I was really excited to receive an advance copy of a new Griot Galaxy release. Now, if you know Griot Galaxy, you may be wondering how could they release something new? The recording isn’t new, but the release is.
This album was recorded live on WUOM in 1979, but it was just released by a Detroit label, Two Rooms Records. I was also really excited to play another incredible live recording, this time from Jackie McLean, so I built this episode around those two anchors.
I also played classics from Eddie Harris, Grant Green, Toots Thielemans and Lee Morgan; music from Detroit’s Robert Hurst and Russ Macklem; newer releases from Nicole Glover, Kahil El’Zabar, and Kris Davis; and new music discovery from Milena Casado and Amaro Freitas. As I tend to say, this episode is a little bit of a lot of things.
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 Nov. 10, 2025
“Cyclical” (Live) – Jackie McLean
“Fundamental Frequency (with Art Taylor, Kenny Drew, Pepper Adams & Wilbur Ware)” – Toots Thielemans
“Let the Music Take Your Mind” (Live) – Grant Green
“Ill Wind” – Lee Morgan
“Bird Feathers” – Nicole Glover
“Eddie Harris” – The Kahil El’Zabar Quartet
“South Side” – Eddie Harris
“Circles (feat. Val Jeanty)” – Milena Casado
“Heavy-footed (feat. Johnathan Blake & Robert Hurst)” – Kris Davis Trio
“Dona Eni” – Amaro Freitas
“Osiris” – Griot Galaxy*
“Mr. Anderson” – Russ Macklem*
“Spanning (Live)” – Charles Tolliver
“Bob’s Blues” – Robert Hurst*
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Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield ran on several promises: creating job opportunities for young people, improving schools, and investing in neighborhoods.
It’s no question that her platform was appealing, as the candidate won 77% of the vote. Detroit has a lot of poverty, a significant amount of crime, and many residents are in need of better job opportunities.
How are residents reacting to Sheffield’s victory? What do they hope she accomplishes? And, what kinds of organizing and coalition building will the new mayor have to do to live up to her promises?
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.
Reporter Quinn Klinefelter has been inducted into Ball State University School of Journalism and Strategic Communication Hall of Fame.
Klinefelter graduated from BSU in 1986 with degrees in journalism and political science.
During the ceremony, Ball State faculty highlighted Klinefelter’s “deep ability to connect with people from all walks of life and reveal their shared humanity.”
Ball State’s journalism program is one of the most well-respected in the country.
He was inducted alongside longtime Voice of America reporter and anchor Navbahor Imamova.
In his speech to colleagues, family, faculty, and alumni, Klinefelter highlighted the need for journalism now more than ever – while still finding ways for people on the vast political spectrum to find common ground.
The Journalism Hall of Fame plaque for Quinn Klinefelter that will reside at Alumni House on Ball State University’s campus
A well deserved honor
WDET News Director Jerome Vaughn—who has worked with Quinn for more than two decades—was thrilled by the news of Klinefelter’s recognition.
“Quinn is one of the most dedicated and hardest working journalists I know. He has connections everywhere from the presidential candidates, down to the owner of the gas station around the corner. He’s great at talking to people, everyday Detroiters that he meets on the street. And he can get them to talk in authentic, heartfelt ways that few other can. It’s really a gift.
“Quinn has often worked the big story in Detroit over the years, whether it’s presidential candidates coming through the state, or a national story like the conviction of former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, or even leaving a tour with then-Texas Governor George W. Bush to go cover a threat to public safety elsewhere in town.
“But Quinn’s not just a breaking news guy. He uses his witty writing, his curiosity and natural sound to lure listeners in and create stories that stick in their minds for years,” Vaughn said.
Winners of national press and strategic communications awards at Ball State University.
WDET General Manager Mary Zatina echoes those same sentiments.
“WDET listeners recognize Quinn’s voice immediately and they know the reports that follow will be well-researched, true, balanced and illuminating. This Hall of Fame recognition is well deserved and makes all WDET listeners around the world and around metro Detroit very proud,” Zatina said.
Support local journalism.
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.
What’s up, Detroit. Chris Campbell here with The Progressive Underground Pick of the Week.
This one comes from British electronic mainstay Jimpster, known offstage as Jamie Odell. He grew up in a musical household. His father is Roger Odell, the drummer from jazz-funk outfit Shakatak, and those early sessions around synths and tape machines set Jamie on his path.
Jimpster became a keys-first producer who could move a crowd and a studio with equal skill. He co-founded Freerange Records, carved a lane in deep house, and kept stretching into nu-jazz, ambient, and left-field electronica. The live-band approach in his sets gave the music extra lift and helped make him a go-to remixer for names like Coldcut, Kirk Degiorgio, Lamb, and Airto Moreira.
We dive back into his breakthrough album, “Messages from the Hub” with the cut “You Are.” Lush pads, a patient groove, and a melody that sneaks up on you makes it my Pick of the Week.
If ethereal electronica and nu-jazz hit your sweet spot, lock in every Saturday at 6 p.m. on 101.9 WDET and at wdet.org. We take a full-spectrum trip through electronica, nu-jazz, deep house, nu-funk, B-sides, and rare grooves.
For The Progressive Underground, I’m Chris Campbell. See you next time.
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For this week’s pick, we spotlight Mexican and Colombian artist, producer, singer, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist Dani Bojorges-Giraldo, otherwise known as St. Panther.
On this episode ofVisions, I am thrilled, honored, and humbled to return to the Detroit airwaves. I wouldn’t have a home to return to if it wasn’t for Sam Beaubien, Liz Warner and W. Kim Heron who hosted the show, and I certainly wouldn’t be able to come back without the full support of WDET. Thank you to everyone working behind the scenes and behind the mic to ensure that Visions remained resonant.
On my homecoming episode, I cover almost every decade from the 1960’s to the 2020’s. I feature music made right here in Detroit by Kasan Belgrave, Louis Jones III and the Detroit Experiment; take it back to the 60’s with selections from Charles Mingus (solo piano, no less!), Duke Ellington, and a Jimmy Smith organ trio; celebrate the late greats Chick Corea and Jack DeJohnette; highlight Geri Allen as a pianist in a trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian and also as a composer with her song “Unconditional Love,” recently released by Nicholas Payton, esperanza spalding and Karriem Riggins‘ newest trio.
If that weren’t enough, I also have new music discovery that I’ve been dying to play on the airwaves. First from a group called SML whose second album will be released Friday November 7 on International Anthem. I follow that with Mauritanian Griot and singer, Noura Mint Seymali, whose newest record also comes out Nov. 7.
I won’t give everything away, so check out the full episode and enjoy what I’ve selected for you as I celebrate my return to radio, Visions, and WDET.
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 Nov. 3, 2025
“Down 4 the Cause” – Kasan Belgrave
“Caravan” – Duke Ellington
“Citadel” – Tony Williams
“Moon Dance” – Chick Corea
“Lonely Woman” – Charlie Haden & Paul Motian feat. Geri Allen
“Motions” – Louis Jones III
“Spontaneous” – Makaya McCraven
“People Puttin People Through Changes” – Shamek Farrah & Sonelius Smith
“I Can’t Get Started” – Charles Mingus
“Oh No, Babe (feat. Kenny Burrell & Grady Tate)” – Jimmy Smith
“Unconditional Love (feat. esperanza spalding & Karriem Riggins)” – Nicholas Payton
“Taking Out the Trash” – SML
“Guérah” – Noura Mint Seymali
“Space Odyssey” – The Detroit Experiment
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Both of Michigan’s U.S. Senators voted against a procedural move to end the federal government shutdown.
Seven Democrats and one independent joined Republicans last night, taking the first step toward funding the government. GOP Senators agreed to hold a vote next month on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. The deal does not guarantee they’ll be renewed. Democratic senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters say promising to hold a vote on the issue isn’t good enough.
The compromise would reverse the mass firings that took place when the shutdown began and ensure federal workers get back pay.
Additional headlines from Monday, November 10, 2025
Supreme Court order blocks SNAP payments
On Saturday the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency stay blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition from issuing full payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. This pauses benefits for 42 million Americans, including many children and the elderly.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director, Elizabeth Hertel, says she is disappointed by the move. MDHHS began sending out full payments on Thursday, however the new order prevents the department from finalizing payments for Michigan residents who have not yet received their payments for November.
To fill the gap, Governor Whitmer announced an additional $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to feed families including food delivery services for families who are unable to visit a food bank. Dial 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org to find assistance.
Last week, the city of Detroit launched a network of food pantries map with 85 certified food pantries. Mayor Mike Duggan says the city authorized $1.75 million for the project. People can visit detroitmi.gov to find a location near them.
People can drop into the Center for the Works of Mercy on 10301 Woodward Ave in Detroit on Thursdays between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays beginning Nov. 22nd through Dec. 6th between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
According to DetroitCatholic.com, the city of Detroit donated food from Forgotten Harvest to support the center.
The Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan are also asking people to donate unexpired AND nonperishable food on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or provide monetary donations. The group is matching donations up to $20,000 thanks to an anonymous donor. The center is also looking for volunteers.
MSU study brings solar panels and farming together
Michigan State University researchers are building an outdoor laboratory to see if solar panels can improve crop production for farmers.
Anthony Kendall is an Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at MSU. He says the project involves researchers from different fields who can offer a variety of perspectives.
“There’s a real asymmetry of solar installation information that exists right now. And we hope by doing open science with a lot of community feedback, to really just provide better information to everyone.”
He says they’ll also use the project to teach farmers how to use solar panels in under-producing areas of farm fields. The project is funded by a $3.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
MDOT regulations
The Michigan Department of Transportation is still collecting public comment on a set of proposed regulations that could put parameters on how people can protest on MDOT owned roads.
The new rules would require protestors to get a permit before occupying an area such as an overpass or rest stop. MDOT’s Engineer Greg Losch said on the podcast “Talking Michigan Transportation” that the rules are a response to complaints from the public.
“We’ll be responding to the public complaint, like, ‘hey, I stopped at whatever rest area and someone asked me to sign a petition and I don’t really want to be solicited for that. Why why are you allowing this, MDOT?’”
Losch said the regulations intend to ensure public safety. Activists argue that this is an infringement of First Amendment rights. MDOT will be accepting public comments on its website through November 20th.
If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
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.
Seeing a doctor in America comes with numerous costs—the wait for an appointment, the hours on hold with insurance, the pit-in-your-stomach feeling when the bill finally lands and it is a lot more than you expected.
Now, millions of Americans are bracing for another cost they did not see coming.
The federal subsidies that have lowered health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire next year and if they do, premium costs could rise by hundreds of dollars a month.
Healthcare subsidies have been a key point of contention during the government shutdown. Last night, seven Democrats and one independent joined Republicans in a Senate vote that paves the way for an end to the shutdown—but not an end to the debate on healthcare subsidies.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed to allow a vote in December on the expiring tax credits.
But some doctors are rejecting the traditional insurance model altogether. Their alternative is called direct primary care, a type of subscription-based service where patients pay a flat monthly fee and receive care when needed — no billing codes, no middlemen.
Dr. Paul Thomas brought this model to Detroit a decade ago with Plum Health. His clinics promise same-day visits, transparent pricing, and time to actually talk with your doctor.
Thomas joined Robyn Vincent to discuss how he believes this model could help heal America’s broken healthcare system.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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.
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a tragedy that is remembered with reverence and intrigue across the Great Lakes every year.
Twenty-nine sailors lost their lives on November 10, 1975, and the exact cause of the sinking remains a mystery. Gordon Lightfoot’s epic retelling, “The Wreckage of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” firmly placed the story of the Fitz’s in the national public consciousness.
But, the Edmund Fitzgerald—the largest freighter on the Great Lakes at the time— was always part of Detroit history. It was built, christened, and launched in the Detroit River. It carried record-breaking loads of iron ore and was known as a workhorse in Great Lakes shipping. It’s intended stop before sinking was Zug Island.
The pop-up exhibition “Gales of November, Rembered” on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.
This year marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, and the ship’s Detroit connection took center stage at several events over the weekend.
Victoria Stewart is Assistant Director of the Humanities Center at Wayne State University.
She created a pop-up exhibition “The Gales of November, Remembered: Detroit and the Edmund Fitzgerald.” It was on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and Mariners’ Church in Downtown Detroit to commemorate 50 years since the ship sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975.
Stewart spoke to The Metro about the ship’s Detroit connections and the timelessness of it’s story.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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.
Darren Revell’s Big Sonic Heaven ruled Sunday night radio in Detroit for over 8 years, beginning in 1995. After leaving the airwaves, the show continued to develop a fervent international following of folks looking for shoegaze, dream pop, brit pop, trip hop, and electronic music with online streaming shows.
WDET is proud to introduce the next chapter in this groundbreaking program with a new weekly radio show every Sunday night from 9 p.m. to midnight. Darren will also be joining the on-air talent team as a support host.
Big Sonic Heaven will begin broadcasting on WDET this Sunday, November 16, at 9 p.m., replacing rebroadcasts of the Don Was Motor City Playlist and Sound Opinions.
More jazz on Saturday nights, and farewell to The New Music Show on WDET
WDET listeners will have more opportunity to enjoy Kaleigh Wilder’s Visions(Monday 8-10 p.m.), with rebroadcasts every Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. beginning November 15.
The New Music Show wrapped up a fantastic run of shows with its last broadcast on Saturday, November 8. We want to thank Shigeto for an amazing 19-month run on WDET.
Fans of the Don Was Motor City Playlist(Friday 8-10 p.m.) will now find an encore broadcast every Monday night from 10 p.m. to midnight (replacing the rebroadcast of Acoustic Café).
The Progressive Underground(Saturday 6-8 p.m.) with Chris Campbell rebroadcasts Wednesday nights, 10 p.m. to midnight.
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 »
On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, the trio from Australia’s Northern Beaches, Sons Of The East, return as our in-studio guests. During their first time in America in 2018, they had only an EP to their name… now, on their second full-length release called “SONS,” they are making their second appearance!
Also, some archived performances from Richard Thompson, Arlo Parks, Joy Clark and much more!
See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.
Acoustic Café Playlist for November 9, 2025
“Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
“Petrichor” – Jon Batiste
“Time In A Bottle” – Lucy Dacus
“Just A Stranger” – Diana Silvers
“Die Alone” – Marcus King
“Black Dog” – Arlo Parks (in-studio performance)
“Mellow Out (demo)” – Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
“It’s Alright” – Sons Of The East (in-studio guests)
“Pour The Wine” – Sons Of The East (in-studio guests)
“A River Runs Through” – R.T. & The Sessionmen
“Instead Of Calling” – Flock Of Dimes
“Fluorescent Light” – Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover
“Falling For Me” – Johnnyswim (in-studio performance)
“The Highway Knows” – Molly Tuttle
“Over” – Robert Glasper ft. Yebba
“Wilderness” – Sarah McLachlan
“Nevermind” – Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel
“Shine” – Joy Clark(in-studio performance)
“Keep Your Distance” – Danny Burns
“Lotteryland – Richard Thompson (in-studio performance)
“The Best of You” – Amber Mark
“After The Ball” – Waylon Jennings
“Time Will Tell” – Sons Of The East (in-studio guests)
“Sweet Thing” – Sons Of The East (in-studio guests)
Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org
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Harmful algal blooms form in western Lake Erie every summer. Scientists monitor the water for toxic bacteria and caution people not to swim in areas where they see green scum on the surface.
Lake St. Clair has its own algae problem. It has fascinated scientists and frustrated lakeshore residents.
What is it?
Its scientific name is Microseira wollei, but folks in Macomb County have their own name for it—the “muck.”
M. wollei has been a problem in the lake since at least 2010. That’s when large mats of algae were seen floating on the surface of the water near the Lake St. Clair Metropark beach in Harrison Township.
It caught the attention of biologists, including Donna Kashian. She’s the director of Environmental Science at Wayne State University. Kashian and three other scientists went to the beach in 2010 to take water samples and study the algae, which had a different name at the time, Lyngbya wollei. Whatever one calls it, Kashian says it’s not hard to spot.
Donna Kashian is Wayne State University’s Director of Environmental Science.
“It forms these little balls,” she says. “When you’re walking along the beach, you’ll see these ribbons, essentially along where the water’s washing up, where you’ll see the muck accumulating.”
How bad is it?
The muck has spread to other parts of Lake St. Clair over the last 15 years. Steve Dobreff owns the Freedom Boat Club in Harrison Township. He says it has grown so thick in some places that people can’t use their docks.
“That guy over there has a boat launch,” Dobreff says, pointing to an area on Campau Bay near the boat club. “This guy over here used to have a dock…that’s gone.”
Algae and weeds have grown so thick in parts of Lake St. Clair that people can’t use docks.
Dobreff says the muck has even fouled the water near the lakeshore neighborhood where he grew up near L’anse Creuse Bay.
“This was beautiful water, and it was all sandy beaches,” he says. “This is where we spent the majority of our time growing up right here on this dock and hanging out right here in this area.”
Now, Dobreff says, the muck has made it unswimmable.
Steve Dobreff owns the Freedom Boat Club in Harrison Township.
How did it get here?
But where did the muck come from? Prof. Kashian says the explanation is murky. She says it turned up in Lake Erie years before appearing upstream in Lake St. Clair, which is kind of backwards.
“Usually things move downstream, not upstream,” she says. “So we don’t know if it was transported by boats or it was possibly there at some low level.”
However long it’s been there, Kashian says removing the muck won’t be easy. She says warmer water, more frequent storms, sewage discharges, and fertilizer runoff are all variable factors in its growth.
“I think we’re going to see patterns where some years we have more of it, and then other years we won’t see it,” she says.
Cutting off its “food” might help
One way to see less muck might be to reduce combined sewer overflows into the lake. Kashian says the algae trap E. coli, a common cause of beach closures.
Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller says her department has reduced CSOs by half since she took office and will expand its infrastructure in 2026 to keep more sewage out of the lake.
“We’re going to be announcing another project, which will take us really just about to 0%,” Miller says. “I mean, you might have an occasional discharge, but we are doing pretty darn good.”
Candice Miller is Macomb County’s Public Works Commissioner.
Miller says she’s working with state and federal agencies to solve the muck problem. The Michigan Legislature set aside $800,000 in its 2026 budget to start the process.
State Representative Alicia St. Germaine sponsored that appropriation. She says that’s how Alabama tackled the problem in its lakes.
“They removed it and then treated it with an algaecide, and they mitigated it by more than 80%” St. Germaine says.
What’s being done about it?
The Army Corps of Engineers published a study in 2023 showing that algaecides are effective at controlling M. wollei. But eradicating the muck is unlikely because it’s so widespread. Instead, the corps has proposed a plan to manage the algae growth and limit its effects.
Rep. St. Germaine says the sooner officials can attack the muck, the sooner people in her lakeshore district can get some relief.
“I have visited several constituents who can’t even go outside and sit on their patio because this algae, this toxic algae, is smelly and gross and even hard to look at,” she says.
Like the algae that grow in Lake Erie, M. wollei can produce toxins that can cause liver and neurological damage. Prof. Kashian says she and her colleagues looked for the gene that produces those toxins and did not find it in this strain of algae.
For now, the muck has given Kashian and her classes at Wayne State plenty to study.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
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.
Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming 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.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is giving money to 25 communities and organizations to help grow local urban tree canopies.
Awardees include the cities of Oak Park, Ferndale, Port Huron, and St. Clair Shores, as well as non-profit groups like Arboretum Detroit and Detroit Horsepower.
Kerry Gray, who works with the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program, explains that these grants are part of a long-standing partnership with the DTE Energy Foundation.
“The DNR has worked with the DTE Energy Foundation since probably almost 30 years now, providing grants to communities and organizations for tree planting to help expand their tree canopy and strengthen local green infrastructure,” Gray says.
She says one goal of the grant is making sure the new trees are species diverse to help prevent problems like the widespread tree loss caused by invasive pests.
“I think we’ve all seen the devastation that happened when the emerald ash borer came in and attacked [a] species that we had an overabundance of, which was ash,” Gray says. “We really focus on making sure that all of our grantees are using a diverse palette of species…we work with them and provide support to help them select species that are suitable for their sites and locations.”
More information about Michigan’s tree canopy initiative can be found through the Mi Trees program, which aims to plant and care for 50 million new trees across the state by 2030.
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has directed its SNAP EBT vendor to start issuing full benefits to recipients pending delivery from the federal government. This all comes after a district judge ordered the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to issue full SNAP benefits by today, Friday Nov. 7.
According to the MDHHS, SNAP recipients who usually receive benefits on the 3rd, 5th , or 7th of each month should get their full SNAP allotment within 48 hours of the state receiving their funds. This news comes as the Trump administration is asking a federal appeals court to block a judge’s order to distribute November’s full SNAP food benefits during the government shutdown.
This is all going down as some states are moving to take care of low-income residents. The court back and forth has created uncertainty in the food program services that serves 1 in 8 Americans. Approximately 1.4 million people in Michigan are on SNAP.
Additional headlines from Friday, November 7, 2025
DDOT drivers get raise
The City of Detroit and the Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26 agreed on a new contract to give DDOT bus operators a $6 per hour wage increase.
Pending approval from the City Council, more than 500 operators will now have start and maximum base wages in line with what SMART bus service currently offers their drivers. There are even incentives for good attendance and safety.
In addition to those improvements, drivers will also receive an annual cost of living increase each July 1st during their contract. This new contract will be submitted to Detroit City Council for approval before the Council meetings end for the year.
Sports update
The Detroit Lions try to bounce back from their loss against the Vikings last week as they look to face the Commanders Sunday afternoon. The Commanders will be without starting Quarterback Jayden Daniels who suffered an elbow injury. The Lions are hoping to build and get their offense going after struggling as of late. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. at Northwest Stadium.
The Red Wings face off against the team from my home state, The New York Rangers. Game starts at 7:00pm at Little Caesars Arena. The Red Wings then play against the Chicago Blackhawks also at Little Caesars Arena NBA The Pistons go agains the Brooklyn Nets Tonight at the Barclays. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m. and then they stay on the road to face the 76ers on Sunday Nov. 9 at the Wells Fargo Center.
All Things Detroit Holiday Shopping
And this Sunday November 9th you get the chance to experience the event titled All Things Detroit Holiday Shopping. This unique marketplace is taking place at Eastern Market Sheds 3,4, and 5.
Small businesses from all across Detroit will come through with interesting items to purchase right on time for the holiday season. For more information go to allthingsmarketplace.com.
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
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The Huron River is one of the most prominent in our state, and 650,000 people live in the watershed. But you can’t eat fish from the Huron River. After years of unregulated industry, dumping and pollution, PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’ are part of the Huron.
There’s also a toxic Dioxane bloom moving through groundwater towards the Huron River—the source of drinking water for Ann Arbor.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Awareness about PFAS is increasing, and so are the solutions that can improve river health. Some are policies being introduced at the state level, like so-called “Polluter Pay Laws” introduced by Michigan Democrats and supported by environmental organizations.
On Wednesday, November 12, the Huron River Watershed Council will host a one-day conference, “State of the Huron” to discuss the health of the Huron River and chart its next chapter.
Rebecca Esselman, Executive Director of the Huron River Watershed Council, joined the Metro to talk about the present and future health of the Huron River.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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.
Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield had a historic win on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to be elected Mayor of Detroit. In this episode of MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben are joined by BridgeDetroit reporter Malachi Barrett and Detroit One Million founder Sam Robinson to discuss how Sheffield might govern in her new role.
Not only is Sheffield the first woman to become mayor for the city of Detroit, but she had record turnout in comparison to her predecessor.
“Duggan is talked about as this electoral juggernaut, especially in his re-election campaigns. He never had above 75% or even hit 75,000 votes,” Barrett said. “Sheffield had both.”
Barrett also said Sheffield was more present in the community and had better relationships than her opponent, Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr.
Sheffield’s trajectory
From here, Sheffield’s career could go in many different directions. But according to Robinson, Detroit is the main focus for the young politician.
He recounted stories from her election night afterparty and says he believes she aspires to be a candidate like former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young. Robinson also said that her representation as an African American woman has inspired a lot of people.
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.
A new judicial task force report calls for an overhaul in how Michigan’s local courts are funded.
The report says the local jurisdictions rely too much on fines and fees to fund their operations. The report says that is not only unfair, it undermines faith that courts and judges are more interested in dispensing justice than collecting money.
Court costs and challenges
State Court Administrator Tom Boyd says it’s no secret that confidence in policing and the fairness of courts is under challenge. “It isn’t that folks that come before the courts aren’t paying their fair share, it’s that they’re paying way more than their fair share. And, so, the report tries to get at a mechanism to ensure that people pay the right amount and that the people that assess that revenue aren’t motivated by profit.”
Bonsitu Kitaba-Gaviglio is the acting legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. She says Michigan’s court problematic funding system could be vulnerable open to a constitutional challenge. “The obligation to tax, assess, to fund the operation of the government is a responsibility of the Legislature, not the judiciary, and so that’s a constitutional concern, and second, it raises serious due process concerns.”
She says people can’t always expect fair treatment when judges have a vested financial interest in guilty verdicts and imposing fines and fees.
Tom Boyd, the state court administrator, says in some jurisdictions, courts are so flush with revenue it helps fund other parts of local government. Meanwhile, in other places courts barely break even. “I challenge you to go hang around district courts where you live today and stop people and ask them what they think the government wants from them and the overwhelming answer is going to be money.”
One potential solution
One of the recommendations is to take all the fines, fees and costs collected by all the courts and put it all into one pot to be shared statewide. The state would also develop a plan to prioritize based on the needs of local court systems, including how busy they are and the types and complexity of the cases.
Monroe County Administrator Michael Bosanac was part of the task force. He says all that money from fines, fees and costs would go into a state-managed fund, and could only be spent on local courts, and not diverted for other purposes.
“We’re not saying that those functions are not important. They’re really important. We’re just simply saying that in this new model that they should not be funded from court resources and revenue. They should be funding those from some other source of money.”
There’s hope these recommendations will give the Legislature a framework to comply with a court decision.
An on-going effort
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled nearly a dozen years ago that local courts cannot arbitrarily impose court costs on defendants to fund their operations. The Legislature has voted itself multiple extensions since then and there is bipartisan interest in finalizing a solution.
”It’s a super-important issue that we, I’m hoping that the Legislature can finally get resolved,” says State Senator Stephanie Chang. She’s a Democrat who chairs the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
Chang says a resolution is overdue to resolve the conflict between the fair administration of justice and leaning on defendants to provide a major source of funding. “So how can we make sure that we have a stable funding system that funds our trial courts in a way that gets rid of that conflict?”
It is a big and complex task, but Chang says she is optimistic that even in a divided political environment, the Legislature can reach a bipartisan solution by the end of next year.
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