A recount in the Hamtramck race for mayor shows that Adam Alharbi has won the election.  Alharbi beat City Councilman Muhith Mahmood by just 11 votes.   Muhith requested a recount because the initial margin of victory was so small.  The Wayne County Board of Canvassers recounted just over 4,000 ballots by hand Tuesday. 

Legal action continues in the case, though.  Mahmood has sued, claiming that 37 ballots found in the City Clerk’s office after the election should be counted. 

Additional headlines from Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Master Plan Meetings 

The City of Detroit is holding a series of meetings this week to give residents more information on its 20-year master plan.

The meetings, held by the Planning and Development Department, will also give Detroiters a chance to provide their input on proposals for land use in parts of the city. 

There’s a meeting for east siders tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Farwell Recreation Center on East Outer Drive.  Another takes place at 6 p.m. Thursday in Southwest Detroit at the Patton Recreation Center on Woodmere.  A virtual Zoom meeting will be held on Monday, December 9th.  Passcode: 900187

Detroit voter suppression sentence 

Two conservative political operatives have been sentenced to probation in a scheme to discourage Black Detroiters from voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election.

This week’s sentencing was the last court hearing for Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman in a multistate effort to generate and distribute thousands of robocalls. The pair were accused of creating robocalls that warned people they could be questioned by police, debt collectors and vaccine advocates if they voted by mail.

Wohl and Burkman pleaded no contest to several crimes after unsuccessfully challenging the charges on free speech grounds.

Ambassador Bridge fee rises 

The price for crossing the Ambassador Bridge will rise next year. 

Tolls for passenger vehicles traveling across the international bridge between Detroit and Windsor will rise to $10 each way starting January first.  That’s up from $9 right now. 

For motorists paying in Canadian funds, the toll jumps from $12 CDN to $14. 

State of Macomb address 

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel will deliver his State of the County address tonight. He’ll speak to an invitation-only crowd at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Clinton Township. 

He’s expected to review events of the past year and preview the year to come.  Macomb County’s Black population is now at 12.4%.  That’s up from just around 1% in 1970.  Tonight’s speech is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.  You can watch it live at WDET.org. 

Cold spell coming 

Detroiters should brace for a deep cold spell over the next few days. 

The National Weather Service says the worst of it in the short run will be now through Friday night.  Lows tonight are forecasted to be around 15 degrees.  Highs tomorrow and Friday will only rise into the mid-20s.  Lows Thursday night will drop to around 6 degrees with wind chills of -2.  

If you’re headed outside, dress in layers.  Make sure you have a hat and gloves to keep you warm and avoid frostbite.

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

Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel delivers his annual address which includes a wide-range of topics, including accomplishments, challenges, partnerships and important initiatives aimed at building the future of the 27 distinct municipalities that make up Macomb County.

The event will air live and can be viewed on the Macomb County website.

https://www.macombgov.org/departments/office-county-executive/2025-state-macomb-county

Michiganders have lived with water insecurity for years. Detroit’s mass shutoffs in the mid-2010s put the issue in the national spotlight, but the struggle didn’t stay in Detroit. Residents in small cities and rural towns have faced rising rates, aging systems, and growing household debt, too.

This year, lawmakers are taking another run at a statewide fix.

A new bipartisan set of bills would create a state fund for low-income water assistance, cap bills for many struggling households, and set firm rules around when water can be shut off. The plan nearly passed last session in the Michigan legislature, but collapsed in the final days. Now it’s back with updated language, a broader coalition, and a place on the Michigan Senate floor.

Democratic State Senator Stephanie Chang has spent years drafting and refining statewide affordability legislation and Sylvia Orduño, a longtime organizer with the People’s Water Board Coalition, has worked on water access and human rights advocacy for more than 25 years.

They joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss why this moment matters, and what Michigan could gain or lose in the months ahead.

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, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

During Thanksgiving weekend, the MichMash hosts got together to look at issues and stories we should look out for in the month of December. In this episode, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss topics such as data centers, the Michigan gubernatorial race, and what items on the legislature’s to-do list are likely to get accomplished.

Data centers

The Michigan Public Service Commission is planning on addressing the increasing amount of data centers in the state in a public hearing this week.

Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT, is opening a data center in Saline Township. Bridge Michigan recently reported there are nine other communities where companies have proposed building these large-scale data centers.

This surge is a result of a 2024 law that expanded the exemption from the state’s 6% sales tax purchases for the equipment inside these data centers. But despite economic opportunity, there is concern among residents. Questions about environmental impact came up when the legislature passed those bills.

The hearing is set for Dec. 3.

Michigan gubernatorial race

The team also spoke about a major shift coming up in the state gubernatorial race.

Detroit Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan is going to lose a huge asset in having the mayoral megaphone to command attention once Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield takes office. That means he could be losing a lot of news coverage starting Jan. 1. On the other hand, he’ll be able to dedicate his full effort to his campaign efforts. We’ll see how that plays out.

Residents in Saline Township are hoping to create a “critical mass” of concerned citizens  at a virtual public hearing Wednesday night over a proposed $7 billion data center backed by tech giants OpenAI and Oracle.

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is holding the hearing to review DTE Energy’s application to supply power for the 1.4-gigawatt facility. DTE is also seeking approval for an additional $300 million substation dedicated to the project.

Saline Township resident Tim Bruneau is helping mobilize local residents to stop the project’s construction. He says he fears the plan is being pushed through too quickly and worries about how the data center could influence future policy.

“This is going to affect every DTE customer and it might set a precedent for other utilities in our state and possibly even nationally,” Bruneau said.

Bruneau says he had a disturbing conversation with a DTE spokesperson at a recent Saline Township board meeting regardingt how the company would prioritize power during outages.

“He told me that number one priority is hospitals, fire and police stations, and number two would be senior citizen facilities,” Bruneau said. “I asked him if data centers would be number three and he refused to reply.”

In a press release, MPSC Chair Dan Scripps said Wednesday’s hearing will “add an important element of transparency in evaluating DTE Electric Co.’s proposed special contract.”

Find a link to join the virtual public meeting here.

Merchants and organizations in the midtown area have organized a holiday event to keep the spirit of Noel Night going. The annual event’s 51^st run has been canceled. But almost 60 shops, restaurants, and community organizations have come together to launch “Merry Midtown” in the spirit of Noel Night.

City Bird’s Andy Linn says there will be concerts at the Detroit School of the Arts, exhibits at Wayne State, DJs at several sites and more.

“And there’s going to be pop up markets at about a dozen of the larger businesses including a really cool vintage and flea market at the majestic. And then there’s going to be live music at a number of locations including Red Hook and Motor City Brewing Works. There’s going to be so many little surprises.”

Business owners say Noel Night is often one of the most lucrative of the whole year – and also when many people discover small businesses in the area. They hope it returns next year, but Merry Midtown may also be here to stay.

For more information about Merry Midtown events visit citybirddetroit.com/events. 

Additional headlines from Tuesday, December 2, 2025

New Detroit lions

Detroit has welcomed three new lions at the Detroit Zoo.

A 9 year-old African lioness named Amirah gave birth to the cubs late last month. A fourth cub did not survive. The kitty cats are expected to meet the public in a few months.

Go Lions!

Pontiac’s Holiday Extravaganza

Pontiac is hosting its 44^th Holiday Extravaganza Saturday. There will be a 5K Elf Run, a “Run, Little Elf” Run, a holiday parade, pony rides, winter festival, a visit from the Clauses and more.

The event is a holiday celebration for Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Waterford and White Lake. It starts at 8 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. around Saginaw Street in downtown Pontiac.  

Dry autumn

This fall was metro Detroit’s driest autumn since 1998. The National Weather Service’s preliminary data show we got just over four inches of rain, the least amount of precipitation for any fall this century.

That also ranks as the tenth driest autumn in southeast Michigan since the government started keeping records in 1874. 

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

WDET’s Holiday On Air Fundraiser is underway. The weeklong event, running December 2–8, begins with a message of gratitude for the community that has supported the station throughout a challenging year for public media.

More than 12,000 members helped sustain WDET in the past year, with many offering additional gifts. Local businesses and nonprofit organizations also played a key role by underwriting programs, contributing to fundraisers and silent auctions, and providing meals during on-air fundraisers. Event attendees and foundation partners further supported WDET’s broadcasts and community engagement work.

With that strong foundation of support, WDET is now aiming to welcome 250 first-time members this week. Visit wdet.org/give to become a new member.

Give the gift of WDET

Listeners can now give a WDET gift membership to friends or family. When the recipient is new to the station, the gift helps WDET move closer to its goal of 250 first-time supporters. Details are available at wdet.org/holiday.

Empower DRIS and emerging storytellers

Wayne State University’s Giving Tuesday campaign is also highlighting two WDET initiatives.
The May Mitchell Royal Foundation is matching up to $5,800 in gifts for DRIS, WDET’s service for listeners who are visually impaired or socially isolated. WDET also aims to raise at least $7,200 to fund internships that support training for the next generation of radio talent.

Daily gift card drawings

Throughout the fundraiser, WDET will hold daily drawings for gift cards purchased from local small business sponsors as a way to celebrate community support during the season. Tune in or follow along on social media to catch each day’s featured gift card set.

Thank you, WDET supporters

WDET thanks all listeners, donors and partners whose contributions make the station’s work possible. You put the people in people-powered radio, and we couldn’t do this without you.

There is still time to support WDET this holiday season

This week we tap in with British-Canadian vocalist and songwriter Rochelle Jordan, who has been quietly carving out her own lane as one of electronic music’s most distinctive voices. She just dropped her third album, the sleek and sophisticated “Through The Wall,” a 17-track ride that moves through deep house, future soul, rhythmic R&B and hazy dream-pop textures.

Across the record she gives a masterclass in restraint. She does not belt; she glides, letting breath, phrasing and tone do the heavy lifting. That approach is on full display on the cut we are about to get into.

Here is Rochelle Jordan with “Ladida” from “Through The Wall” – our Pick of the Week.

That was Rochelle Jordan with “Ladida,” taken from her latest full-length, “Through The Wall.”

If you are into lush, melodic electronic grooves like this, lock in with The Progressive Underground every Saturday at 6 p.m. on 101.9 WDET and online at wdet.org. 

Thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you next time.

More from The Progressive Underground

On this episode of Visions, I play sounds from the now. In previous episodes, I played a lot of music from the 60’s and 70’s, but not many selections from recent decades. This episode highlights music almost exclusively from the 21st century.

You hear from Nubya Garcia, Kassa Overall, Terri Lyne Carrington, Detroit’s Geri Allen and Allen Dennard, and Tomeka Reid. I work one of my all time favorite artists, Meshell Ndegeocello, into the mix with her free-ish jazz record from 2005. And I explore my new music discoveries with Nala Sinephro, Nicola Conte, Joshua Moshe, and Gregory Groover Jr.

There are a few tracks from Terence Blanchard‘s “Malcolm X Jazz Suite” which is coming to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra this Friday, Dec. 5. Blanchard worked on the soundtrack of Spike Lee’s 1992 film, “Malcolm X,” and reimagined the music as its own album which came out the following year. This Friday, Blanchard will play new arrangements from the record with an all new band. Happy listening!

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 Dec. 1, 2025

• “A Little Max (Parfait)” – Terri Lyne Carrington
• “Malcolm’s Theme” – Terence Blanchard
• “The Healer” – Joshua Moshe
• “Hastings Street” – Allen Dennard*
• “Odyssey” – Nubya Garcia
• “C.R.E.A.M. (CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME)” – Kassa Overall
• “Papillon (feat. Matthew Garrison, Federico Gonzalez Pena & Kenny Garrett)” – Meshell Ndegeocello
• “Malcolm Makes Hajj” – Terence Blanchard
• “All Blues” – Mary Lou Williams
• “Go for Broke (feat. Joel Ross, Paul Cornish, Harish Raghavan & Kendrick Scott)” – Gregory Groover Jr.
• “Space 4” – Nala Sinephro
• “Home Grown” – Geri Allen*
• “The Nation” – Terence Blanchard
• “Life Forces” – Nicola Conte
• “Wabash Blues (feat. Tomeka Reid, Mary Halvorson, Tomas Fujiwara & Jason Roebke)” – Tomeka Reid Quartet
• “The Thump (Live)” – Marquis Hill

*Indicates Detroit artists

If you want to understand where the soul-revival movement really lives, you have to look past the big coasts and into the Rustbelt. Detroit is a place where factory sirens and church organs have always shared the same air. It is the city that raised Aretha, Marvin, Stevie and Parliament-Funkadelic, and it keeps producing singers who treat soul music as a calling, not a costume.

Laura Rain is very much in that lineage. Before she ever cut a record under her own name, she did her time in the musical trenches in Detroit and Los Angeles clubs, learning to project over clinking glasses, loud conversations and indifferent sound systems.

In 2012, she met guitarist, producer and fellow music historian George Friend, and the chemistry was immediate. Within a week they were writing together, building a band around a lean, organ-driven trio format that merged Memphis soul, juke-joint blues, tough Detroit funk and R&B.

Under the banner Laura Rain & The Caesars, they went from Motor City bars to the international soul circuit: five full-length albums, a run of 45s and digital singles, heavy touring across more than 25 states plus Canada and Europe, and steady rotation on BBC, NPR and CBC networks. Along the way, they picked up Detroit Music Awards in both blues and urban categories, proof that their sound sits comfortably at the crossroads of soul, blues and R&B rather than in any one lane.

What makes their story compelling is not just the retro flavor, but the work ethic and intent behind it. The five tracks we will explore trace that arc: from a raw debut statement to UK crossover appeal, to tracks that double as Detroit-style soul anthems that shows they are still pushing forward. Let’s get into five songs that define Laura Rain & The Caesars.

5 Essential Tracks by Laura Rain & The Caesars

1. “I Don’t Wanna Play”(Electrified – 2013)

We start at the beginning, with “I Don’t Wanna Play” from their 2013 debut album “Electrified.”

This was the record that introduced Laura Rain & The Caesars to the wider soul world: a stripped-down lineup of organ, guitar and drums that captured the feel of a late-night neighborhood bar where the band is playing for keeps.

This track sets out their mission statement. Laura’s vocals are all grit and control, equal parts gospel testifying and blues shout, while George Friend’s guitar laces the groove with stinging fills that nod to Chicago and Memphis without ever sounding like imitation.

2. “Closer to the Win” (Single – 2021)

That was “Closer to the Win,” a track that would see success on UK soul charts and across digital media and help pave the way for their alliance with LRK records. That song also set the tone for the material that would end up on their 5th album, “Rise Again.”

The next track is built on a steady mid-tempo pulse, with horn accents and rich organ swells. This track highlights the core husband/wife partnership between Laura and George. Their writing combines her direct, emotionally honest lyric approach with his deep knowledge and dexterity of musically distilling blues, soul and jazz styles that is more about building a songbook that can withstand time and travel. Let’s check them out on the cut “I Am (Who I Want To Be).”

3.  “I Am (Who I Want to Be)” – Rise Again (2022)

That was Laura Rain & The Caesars with “I Am (Who I Want to Be)” from their album Rise Again. We next move to the title track for that album, where the focus widens to include not just one singer’s journey, but the city that shaped her. This track plays as a love letter to Detroit itself, a city in the midst of its own rebuild and renaissance.

The arrangement is classic Caesar territory: driving drums, melodic bass, warm keys and guitar lines that mingle with Laura’s vocals, her voice tethered to the rhythm with a mix of urgency and assurance. Given their story, the song feels autobiographical. Since forming in 2012, Laura Rain & The Caesars have self-financed tours, hustled merch at the back of the room, been intentional in cultivating relationships and fostering belief in their music with DJs around the globe, and have steadily built a reputation strong enough to earn multiple Detroit Music Awards in both blues and R&B categories.

This track distills that hustle and grind into a sermon about persistence and hope. Let’s check it, here’s Laura Rain & The Caesars with “Rise Again.”

4. “Rise Again” (Rise Again – 2022)

That was Laura Rain & The Caesars with “Rise Again,” the centerpiece of their 2022 album of the same name. From a raw organ-trio debut to UK modern-soul 45s, from affirmations of self to anthems of resilience and late-period slow burners, Laura Rain & The Caesars embody what it means to be a working soul band in the twenty-first century. They write their own material, tour relentlessly, collaborate across genres and keep the focus on real instruments, melodies and thoughtful composition.

For our final track, we move to their most recent work, a single that shows how this band continues to evolve while staying rooted in its core sound. Here’s Laura Rain & The Caesars with “Feels So Right.”

5. “Feels So Right” (Single – 2024)

That was Laura Rain & The Caesars with “Feels So Right,” a recent chapter in a story that is still unfolding.

If this 5-on-5 has pulled you into their universe, be sure to check out more musical journeys into the artists who are shaping modern soul by keeping it locked on The Progressive Underground every Saturday evening at 6 on 101.9 WDET and wdet.org.

More from The Progressive Underground

Packard Plant 

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield announced plans to redevelop the vacant Packard Plant today. The former auto factory near West Grand Boulevard and East Palmer has been empty for more than 60 years and became a symbol of the city’s blight— sometimes attracting outsiders to take pictures of its crumbling walls. 

The city demolished portions of it to make way for new development, including a new 400-thousand square foot manufacturing center. 

Part of the changes include reactivating 28 acres of the former site for a public, private and philanthropic partnership. The changes include adding 42 affordable housing units, Detroit’s first indoor skate park and creative community programming areas. There will also be two acres of indoor and outdoor public spaces. 

The project is estimated at $50 million. The Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation is the nonprofit partner and fiduciary. The project is expected to be completed by 2029. 

Additional headlines for December 1, 2025

December starts cold 

December starts cold with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below normal this week. The National Weather Service’s winter outlook for southeast Michigan calls for temps close to normal and above-average precipitation. Meteorologist Trent Frey says La Niña, a cool patch of water in the eastern Pacific Ocean, could bring us more rain and snow. 

“It is important to note that every La Niña is unique. So like I said. The odds are kind of tilted towards the wetter signal, and there isn’t really a tilt for temperatures. But since it is unique each season, you know these outcomes aren’t necessarily guaranteed.” 

On average, Metro Detroit gets 45 inches of snow each winter. 29 inches fell last winter. It’s been eight years since we saw above-average snowfall. 

Reporting by Russ McNamara

Detroit teens detained by ICE 

Detroit teens recently hosted a press conference to call for the release of two classmates from Western International High School from ICE detention. The detained teens and two of their parents were picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials last Thursday morning and are now being held in a Texas detention center, reports Chalkbeat Detroit. Students say they are worried about going to school or being outside due to the recent surge of detentions. ICE arrested the four individuals while they were sleeping, despite them having pending asylum cases. Students at the press conference also called on officials to do more to protect students, including having an immigration attorney on retainer at the school to help students. 

Rising Star Scholarship 

An armored vehicle company is offering its “Rising Star” scholarship. The scholarship will support two students pursuing secondary education in engineering or business, finance, or law. It aims to recognize students who demonstrate strong academic performance and leadership skills in engineering and business. Each scholarship is $2500. The scholarship is open to students enrolled full-time in an accredited university in the U.S. or Canada. Students must have a 75 percent average with valid citizenship, residency or study permit requirements and write an essay. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in March 2026. For more information, visit https://inkasarmored.com/inkas-rising-star-scholarship-program/

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

This week’s episode leaned into our first big snowfall of the season here in Detroit with some holiday and winter songs from Cranes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and All My Faith Lost.

We also heard new music from Acopia, Chokecherry, Fawn, along with your favorite Big Sonic Heaven classics. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above

• “Undenied” – Portishead
• “Chained to a Cloud” – Slowdive
• “Silhouette” – She’s Green
• “Iceblink Luck” – Cocteau Twins
• “Television” – Night Tapes
• “Deus” – Sugarcubes
• “8th Deadly Sin” – Miki Berenyi Trio
• “Pale Trembles a Gale” – The Autumns
• “Like Cockatoos” – The Cure
• “Falter” – Acopia
• “Thursday” – Asobi Seksu
• “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” – Cranes
• “Waiting For the Night” – Depeche Mode
• “Doot Doot” – Fauns
• “Feels Like the End of the World” – Chameleons
• “Nirvana” – Glazyhaze
• “Smile” – State of Grace
• “Nobody Loves You More” – Kim Deal
• “Lie in the Sound” – Trespassers William
• “Setting Yourself Up for Love” – Ashes and Diamonds
• “We Have All the Time in the World” – My Bloody Valentine
• “In the Bleak Midwinter” – All My Faith Lost
• “Sacrifice” – Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke
• “Flood the Harbour” (feat. There’s Talk & Tamaryn) – Kai Tai
• “Thoughtforms” – Lush
• “Goldmine” – Chokecherry
• “All I Want For Christmas.” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• “Fleeting Sun” – Fawn
• “Ulysses” – Dead Can Dance
• “Beauty in all Blue Satin” – Deary
• “Counting Sheep” – Acrylics
• “Wild Horses” – The Sundays
• “The Loony Bin” – Jahrund

Choosing the right tree to plant that will thrive long into the future just got easier.

Michigan’s tree canopy is changing due to climate change. Whether it’s due to invasive species, flooding and drought, or extreme heat, some species will do better than others.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently released a 57 page species selection guide that rates species for climate change resiliency and hardiness using characteristics like size, shade and rainwater absorption.

Lawrence Law is an urban and community forester and partnership coordinator with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He led the development of the Michigan Communities Tree Species Selection Guide.

He says some species that are ubiquitous in Southeast Michigan, like Silver Maple (rated 1 of 10), are poor choices compared to lesser-known ones like Kentucky Coffeetree (rated 10 of 10) due to climate adaptability.

“I have seen so many good examples of Kentucky Coffeetree in the area. It’s just a powerhouse. You can get cultivars that are seedless and it’s like boom, plant and forget, almost.”

Law spoke with David Leins on The Metro about how people can use the guide to choose the right tree for their yard or right-of-way.

WDET’s Detroit Tree Canopy Project is supported by a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 

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, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Health isn’t just influenced by the choices we make. It’s also determined by public policy.

That’s the message of a new report that examines how health in Michigan is limping behind others around the country. On average, resident lifespans are shorter, infant mortality rates are higher, and Michiganders are more likely to suffer from cancer and other diseases. 

Why is this the case? And, what is the state’s role in getting us to move our bodies more, and to expand our minds so we can live longer, healthier lives?

Karley Abramson is a health policy research associate for the Citizens Research Council, which published the report. She spoke 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, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Sliding back into the workweek with a high energy show that starts with Atlanta punk darlings Upchuck, puts a spotlight on Momoko Gill ahead of her upcoming debut solo album due out in February from Strut Records and closing down the show with music from Hot Chip and Robyn for a dose of “Dopamine.” 

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 December 1, 2025

• “New Case” – Upchuck
• “Softly” – Mannequin Pussy
• “I Don’t Know You” – Mannequin Pussy
• “S.N.C.” – DARKSIDE
• “Tuesday” – Mary In The Junkyard
• “Number One Fan” – Rocket
• “Sonny The Strong” – Gaz Coombes
• “Cinnamon Sugar” – Gerald Clayton
• “Garden of Inspiration” – Adrian Sherwood, African Head Charge & Speakers Corner Quartet
• “Its My House (Special Disco Version)” – Risco Connection
• “Stand on the Word (1982 Version)” – Joubert Singers
• “Spaced Outta Place Pt. 1” – Sundown
• “TOUCH” – Sparklmami & Les Sons Du Cosmos
• “People Everywhere ii” – Khruangbin
• “Walking In The Dark” – Stefano Torossi
• “BIG FISH” – Nate Smith & säje
• “No Others” – Momoko Gill
• 2close2farr” – Momoko Gill
• “Need To Run” – Matthew Herbert + Momoko Gill
• “One Thing” – Lola Young
• “Market” – Chronixx
• “The Payback” – James Brown
• “Protection” – Massive Attack
• “Underwater Love” – Smoke City
• “Alleys Of Your Mind” – Cybotron
• “Run Free (Nite Version)” – Soul Wax
• “New Body Rhumba” – LCD Soundsystem
• “Devotion (Boys’ Shorts Remix)” – Hot Chip
• “Dopamine” – Robyn

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.”

History and its depictions of beauty are often shaped by those in charge. For centuries, the European archetypes of beauty and desirability have dominated the narrative. 

Venus is the Roman name for the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Images of her— often created and adapted in favor of the male gaze—have been the prevailing image of beauty and love. 

But what happens when Venus imagines herself as something else? What would it look like to have her represent a Black woman? Or simply a whole complete person?

Cydney Camp is a Detroit-based artist who unpacks and deconstructs inherited images. In her latest exhibit, she explores what it means to be a goddess that isn’t perceived as an object.

“Venus Undone” is Cydney’s solo exhibition at M Contemporary Art in Ferndale. It runs through Dec. 6, inviting audiences to rethink how we define beauty and female autonomy. 

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, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Chris Thile (Nickle Creek, Punch Brothers, Goat Rodeo) talks about his new collection of Bach Sonatas & Partitas, and how this set is different from the Bach he recorded in 2013. Chris also explains his “daily practice of Bach” and what it means in his life!

Also, in-studio archives from Grammy nominees Molly Tuttle and Southern Avenue, plus newcomer Treanne, a peek at the upcoming Jose Gonzalez album and 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 30, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Afraid” – Flock Of Dimes
• “Off Broadway” – Rachael & Vilray ft. Stephen Colbert
• “I’m Listening” – Josh Ritter
• “I Fell In Love” – Treanne
• “Old Me, New Wig” – Molly Tuttle (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “We Got To Have Peace” – Mavis Staples
• “Gavotte” – Chris Thile (in-studio guest performance)
• “Allemanda” – Chris Thile (in-studio guest performance)
• “Robin’s Egg” – Iron & Wine (w/I’m With Her)
• “Emily’s Song” – Daniel Caesar
• “Pajarito” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Music By Men” – Florence & The Machine
• “Beck N Call” – Waterbaby
• “Hold On To The Light” – Jack Johnson, Hermanos Guiterrez
• “Long Is The Road” – Southern Avenue (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Does My Ring Burn Your Finger” – Buddy & Julie Miller (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Pretty Ideas” – Amber Mark
• “Baby Man” – Fruit Bats
• “If God Is A Woman” – Larkin Poe
• “Gentle On My Mind” – Alison Krauss
• “I Made This For You” – Chris Thile (in-studio guest performance)
• “Allegro assai” – Chris Thile (in-studio guest performance)

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

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, family bands and family members making music together! From The Jackson 5 to Dolly Parton, oklou to The Brothers Johnson, Detroit’s The Jones Girls and some fun family in-studio performances from Acoustic Cafe.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for November 29, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “The Hard Way” – Jimmy Cliff
• “Many Rivers To Cross” – Delta Spirit (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Family” – Aloe Blacc
• “Family Affair” – Sly & The Family Stone
  
• “Let’s Celebrate” – The Jones Girls
  
• “Alien” – Chris & Trixie Whitley (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “You Can’t Fail Me Now” – Loudon & Lucy Wainwright Roche (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Evona Darling” – Linda & Teddy Thompson (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Family Time” – Ziggy Marley (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Upside” – Southern Avenue
• “Ode To My Family” – The Cranberries
• “Family & Friends” – The Isley Brothers
• “friends & family” – oklou
  

• “We Are Family” – Sister Sledge
• “Family Reserve” – Lyle Lovett
• “Smoky Mountain DNA” – Dolly Parton & Family
• “I’ll Be Good To You” – The Brothers Johnson
  
• “I Want You Back” – The Jackson 5
• “Back In Your Head” – Tegan & Sara (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Close The Door” – The Holmes Brothers (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Key To The Highway” – Phil & Dave Alvin (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Family Bible” – Willie Nelson & Family
• “Family Table” – Bill Withers
• “Family Ghost” – Jeff Tweedy
• “Nothing Compares To You” – The Family
  
• “Let’s Do It Again” – The Staple Singers
  

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

The College Football Playoff’s last two national champions collide in Ann Arbor on Nov. 29.

Ohio State won the CFP title in January 2025. Michigan won it in 2024 and has beaten the Buckeyes four straight times, including last year’s contest in Columbus. 

OSU was heavily favored to win that game but lost to unranked U of M 13-10.

Head coach Ryan Day’s team recovered and roared through the playoffs, beating Notre Dame in the championship game.

Michigan lives rent-free in OSU’s head

Columbus Dispatch sportswriter Joey Kaufman says the Wolverines seem to have a psychological edge in this long-running rivalry.

“It just feels like, for whatever reason, Michigan has been in Ohio State’s head,” he says.

OSU hasn’t beaten its archrival since 2019. The two teams did not play in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kaufman says this year, the scarlet and gray are treating it as a normal game.

“They’ve tried to structure their routine to be more akin to a typical game week rather than ‘Michigan week,'” he says.

That does not mean the game will be less intense. OSU players and fans, still stinging from last year’s defeat, despise “the team up north” as much as ever. 

People have covered up the letter “m” with red “x” stickers on signs throughout Columbus. And Kaufman says many fans are still sore after Michigan players planted a large, blue block “M” flag in the center of Ohio Stadium.

“Even though the rivalry has meant less than ever in terms of the on-field stakes and the national championship, the bitterness is evident,” Kaufman says.

“The Game” or just “a” game?

During the latter half of the 20th century, the winner of this game invariable won the Big Ten Conference championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Since 2001, conference realignment and the playoff system have lowered the stakes. It’s possible to lose the game and still win a national title. 

In 2025, Ohio State enters Michigan Stadium unbeaten and ranked first in the College Football Playoff rankings. Michigan, at 9-and-2, is 15th. A fifth straight win could earn the Wolverines a berth in the 12-team playoff field and a trip to the conference championship in Indianapolis on December 6. OSU is a virtual lock for the playoff, but beating the maize and blue would solidify their position as the tournament’s top seed.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon at the Big House.