Daniel Estrin, NPR

TEL AVIV — The U.S. and Israel have launched strikes against Iran with the goal of toppling the regime, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles at Israel and a U.S. naval base in Bahrain. An Iranian official said all Israeli and U.S. interests in the region were now considered legitimate targets.

The joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran comes after weeks of escalating tensions and a major U.S. military buildup in the region, as the U.S. and Iran tried to negotiate a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program. Trump said those efforts had failed.

“Bombs will be dropping everywhere,” President Trump said, addressing Iranians in a video posted to his Truth Social account. “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations.”

The Israeli military said in a statement its fighter jets were striking “dozens of military targets” in Iran with “full synchronization and coordination” between the Israeli and U.S. militaries following months of joint planning.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of the joint U.S.-Israeli attack is to “remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.”

“Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” Netanyahu said in a video.

A person briefed on the operation told NPR it was expected to last a few days, with Israel’s military focusing on targeting Iran’s missile program.

“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” Trump said.

Israel has closed its airspace to all passenger flights, and civil defense protocols have been activated. Regional military forces remain on high alert.

A 48-hour state of emergency has been declared nationwide. Air raid sirens have been sounding across Israel, with authorities warning civilians to enter bomb shelters.

Trails of smoke streaked the sky above Tel Aviv as Israeli interception systems fired at incoming missiles. A hospital in central Israel began moving operations to an underground fortified compound.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. It’s menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world,” Trump said.

Trump said the U.S. had “sought repeatedly to make a deal” but Iran “rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions.”

Trump told the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to “lay down your arms… or you will face certain death.”

Iranian government media reported rocket fire in parts of the capital, Tehran. State television has broadcast footage showing smoke rising after a blast in the city. The extent of the damage and potential casualties has not yet been confirmed.

The strike follows weeks of speculation about potential military action against Iran, particularly amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

UAW Stellantis workers are reportedly disappointed because they are not getting profit sharing checks from 2025. This follows the company facing a multibillion dollar deficit last year. It’s also the first time Stellantis hasn’t provided a profit-sharing bonus since the recession.

The Big Three has faced obstacles because of tariff uncertainty, Electric vehicle whiplash, interest rates and more, but Ford and GM still provided a profit-sharing checks to their employees. Stellantis says that it expects 2026 and its expanding product wave to bring profitable growth in North America.

Additional headlines for Friday, Feb. 27, 2016

Personnel shortage in behavioral health field

A new report from the Michigan Health Council shows that Michigan doesn’t have enough opportunities for students to become behavioral health care workers. This is contributing to a shortage of certified school-based mental health professionals across the state, according to the council.

This shortage puts a large workload on the personnel in this field. In the 2023-2024 school year Michigan had about 600 students per school counselor, over a thousand students per school psychologists, and almost 500 students per social worker. The report goes on to share that improving vocational programs could introduce thousands of high school students to fulfilling careers in behavioral health.

Sports updates

NBA

The Detroit Pistons face the Cleveland Cavaliers today at Little Ceasars Arena but—like their game against the Thunder—the opposing team is without their best players, with both Donovan Mitchall out with groin injuries and James Harden questionable with a thumb injury.

The Pistons are playing without their full strength with Isaiah Stweart out again because of his involvement in the fight with the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 9. This is his sixth game of his seven game suspension.

Tonight’s game tip off is at 7 p.m. with a following away game against the Magic on Sunday, March 1.

NHL

The Red Wings face the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow Feb. 28 at the Lenovo Center. The Red Wings are currently second in the Atlantic Divison with 34 wins and 19 losses. Game starts at 7 p.m.

Blueberry recall

More than 55,000 pounds of frozen blueberries, some of which were shipped to Michigan, have been recalled because of possible listeria contamination.

The Oregon Potato Company was the distributor of the recalled berries. This shipment was also sent to Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Canada.

The FDA recalled it initially on Feb. 12 and classified the recall as a Class 1 recall on Feb. 24, which means there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Go to your local grocery store to see if your purchase of frozen blueberries was in the mix.

Handmaid’s Tale in Detroit

And the dystopian world of the Handmaid’s Tale comes to the Detroit Opera House. The play, once a hit television series and novel, is a chilling look into a future where America’s democracy morphs into a religious tyranny.

There are showings on Sunday March 1, Thursday March 5 and Saturday March 7.

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

It’s a warm Friday in Detroit, and the music matches the mood. Today’s show features a conversation with Okonski, along with selections from his own music and some of his personal favorites.

The playlist also highlights new tracks from Greentea Peng and Mei Semones, with additional grooves from Roy Ayers Ubiquity, Ahmad Jamal, Bugz In the Attic, Kaytranada, and 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 February 27, 2026 

• “Douwannabwithastar” – GENA 

• “Golden (KAYTRANADA Remix) [Mixed]” – Jill Scott 

• “What’s It Gonna Be (feat. Janet Jackson) [Kaytranada Edition]” – Busta Rhymes 

• “Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong (Re-Work)” – Bugz In the Attic 

• “Sun Is Shining (Yes King Remix)” – Bob Marley & The Wailers 

• “Flippin’ Eck” – Nightmares On Wax & Adrian Sherwood 

• “Hercules” – Aaron Neville 

• “Welcome Back My Friend” – The Abadir 

• “Dingaling” – Greentea Peng 

• “Jimtastic Blues” – Greentea Peng 

• “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” – Roy Ayers Ubiquity 

• “Somethin’ Here” – Terrence Parker 

• “What You Won’t Do for Love” – Michael Boothman 

• “Dumb Feeling” – Mei Semones 

• “Diversey Beach” – Resavoir, Matt Gold & Mei Semones 

• “Waters of March” – John Roseboro & Mei Semones 

• “Rain Can’t Reach Us (feat. Tony Allen)” – Yannis & The Yaw 

• “Run (feat. Andreya Triana) [Sofia Kourtesis Remix]” – Quantic 

• “Carry Me Higher (Demo)” – The Blessed Madonna, Joy Anonymous & Danielle Ponder 

• “Lakebridge” – Okonski 

• “Vista” – Okonski 

• “October” – Okonski 

• “Poinciana” – Ahmad Jamal 

• “Easy” – Okonski 

• “Flower Moon” – Durand Jones & The Indications & Aaron Frazer 

• “Clothes Off” – Cousin Kula 

• “Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers – Just The Two Of Us (Remix)” – DJ Yamin 

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. 

February is Black History Month and WDET’s Detroit Evening Report collected stories from listeners for the Black History Listening Project.

Hadiyah Ahmad is the wife of late Imam Nadir Ahmad, founder and director of Al-Ikhlas Training Academy, one of the first Islamic schools in Detroit. She serves as the Administrative Assistant at the school.

In an interview with WDET, Hadiyah Ahmad shares the story of her husband’s life.

Religion brings Ahmad to Detroit

She says they both converted to Islam from Christianity in 1973. They lived in Virginia before moving to Detroit.

Imam Nadir came to Detroit in 1980 to study Islam at Wayne County Community College’s Muslim World Studies program. Ahmad says Imam Nadir was working on writing a book.

“He’s always been an avid reader and researcher. He studied the religion constantly,” she says.

Ahmad says Imam Nadir studied under Dr. Shahbazz from Masjid Wali Muhammad. The mosque was given historical designation in Detroit in 2013. It was the first temple for the Nation of Islam before becoming a Sunni Muslim mosque.

From student to teacher

Nadir Ahmad became an Imam and taught at the Sister Clara Muhammad School, starting as a 5th grade teacher and eventually making his way up to assistant principal and principal.

“He’s always been committed to giving the children an Islamic education,” Ahmad says.

Ahmad says following the closure of the Clara Muhammad school, Imam Nadir opened Al-Ikhlas in 1991 as a space for kids to continue their Islamic education.

“We had our children, and many parents had their children that they didn’t want them to go to public school. So we decided that… we weren’t going to wait. We were going to continue with Islamic education. He said that, well, we’re going to branch out and open our own school,” she says.

In an effort to allow all students to attend, he created a sliding pay scale for tuition.

Family and community focus

Ahmad says Imam Nadir balanced his home life as a father and husband while working for the community.

“He was doing what he loved doing,” she says.

“We worked hard together, and he always let me know what his mission was and where we were going and what the plans that he had,” she says.

The couple was married for 53 years and worked together in the schools.

Ahmad says Imam Nadir did a lot of work behind the scenes.

“Allah had blessed him with so many talents; he could basically do anything that he decided to do. We didn’t hire a lot of different people to do a lot of different skills, but he did most of it himself,” she shares.

After Imam Nadir’s passing last month, several students shared their memories online, saying they were inspired to come together. They also created a fundraiser in his honor to raise funds for the school.

Ahmad says he was a little obsessed with his role.

“He could not even think unless he thought about the children, what they need, when they need it, how they need it. He loved those children,” Ahmad expresses.

A life of service and a lasting legacy

Imam Nadir previously served in Vietnam, having been affected by Agent Orange from his time in service. Ahmad says he got cancer in 1997 and had to remove a kidney. But that didn’t stop him from continuing his work.

“It didn’t really start affecting him until 10 years ago. He had to get on dialysis. He was the type of person that he never really let anything stop him from what he wanted to do in terms of leading the school he was teaching during this time, he was Mashallah,” she says.

Ahmad says Imam Nadir’s legacy is his love of Allah and the love of community. He died in January 2026.

As temperatures drop and snowfall increases this winter, Detroit’s road commissioners break out their plows and salt trucks in order to maintain safe roadways. 

However, the most common road salt used, sodium chloride, has been known by experts and road commissioners to cause damage to surrounding trees.

Dr. Bert Cregg, a Michigan State University Professor in the Department of Horticulture, says that excessive usage of this road salt can lead to tree death. 

Cregg says protecting trees from salt exposure and selecting salt-tolerant species are the first steps to mitigating this issue. 

Identifying salt damage in trees 

Cregg describes salt damage occurring in two ways: acute damage and chronic damage.

Acute damage refers to when tree trunks, branches, and leaves are exposed to salt. 

“If we think about the white coat of salt that accumulates on our cars this time of year, trees and shrubs adjacent to roadways are experiencing the same thing,” says Cregg

Acute damage is the easiest to identify.

In evergreen trees, such as Michigan White Pines, salt damage causes needle browning and can lead to tree death.

In deciduous trees, such as Oak and Maple trees, salt damage commonly causes “witch’s brooms,” which is when the ends of branches repeatedly die and grow back due to salt exposure, Cregg explains. 

Because chronic injury refers to damage that we can’t see as easily, it can be trickier to identify. Chronic injury occurs when road salt leaches into the surrounding soil and creates high concentrations of sodium and chloride.

Cregg says these high concentrations “reduce the plant’s ability to take up water from the soil solution, resulting in a form of drought stress.”

How to reduce salt damage on trees: protection and selection

Cregg suggests de-icing alternatives, such as beet juice or calcium magnesium acetate, which pose less environmental risk than typical road salt.

While the simple solution seems to be for road commissioners and residents to abandon their usage of road salt, this is an unrealistic approach considering sodium chloride continues to be the most affordable and efficient option for de-icing, and given Michigan’s harsh winters, public safety is often prioritized over environmental concerns. 

Due to this limitation, Cregg emphasizes the importance of creating physical barriers, such as placing burlap wrap or canvas screens around existing trees, to protect them from excessive salt exposure.

These physical barriers would help mitigate damage from the inevitable salt splash caused by cars on the roadway. 

When planting new trees around roadways, it’s important to consider that some tree species are more sensitive to salt exposure than others.

To aid this, Cregg advises homeowners and city planners to select salt-tolerant trees to ensure they can survive in the given environment. 

“Some salt-tolerant trees for our area include Bald Cypress, Kentucky Coffeetree, Japanese Tree Lilac, Dawn Redwood, Horse Chestnut, Hackberry, and Swamp White Oak.”

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

In this episode

• Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State of her tenure. 
• Why did Gov Whitmer thank President Trump?
• What is the “GSD Tour”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered her final State of the State address, reflecting on her tenure and outlining priorities for the remainder of her term. This week on MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben discuss what stood out.

Roth said one of the most notable aspects of the speech was that there were few surprises. She described it as a reflection of Whitmer’s time as governor. One moment that did stand out was Whitmer thanking President Trump for his support of a new fighter mission slated for Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. Kasben said she believes the acknowledgment was intentional.

“I think she is trying to keep the pressure on about it,” Kasben said. “The more that she publicly talks about it and notes President Trump promised this, the more it’s out there that this commitment was made and hopefully makes sure it does happen.”

Less than 24 hours after the address, Whitmer joined MichMash to discuss key elements of her speech, her experience as governor and her plans for the remainder of her term. That includes launching her GSD Tour, which stands for “Get Stuff Done.” She said the effort is focused on making sure residents understand what has been accomplished during her administration.

“Michigan is full of hardworking, good people who have a lot going on in their lives and maybe have not heard about all the things that we’ve accomplished or what is available,” Whitmer said. “I think telling the story of what’s out there, what we’ve accomplished and listening to Michiganders is what the GSD is all about.”

During the interview, Whitmer also reiterated her goal of having state leaders pass the budget by June 30.

Khary Mason is a multidisciplinary artist from Detroit who has spent much of his life living in a state of cognitive dissonance.

For over 20 years, Mason worked as a member of the Detroit Police Department and eventually became a detective for the city’s homicide unit.

Looking back six years after leaving the department, he considers those training years a form of indoctrination and sees the work of “protecting and serving” communities as a means of controlling them. 

He illustrates these reflections in his new exhibition “Friendly Fire: Scenes of Service, Searching for Safety.” It is on display now at Irwin House Detroit through March 15. Mason joined the program to discuss his journey into service and why he chose to get out. 

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

It was medals galore for the U.S. winter Olympic teams. American athletes across many sports brought home 33 medals, which is the second-highest total of any country. Women secured 21 of those medals.

These athletes dedicate their lives to perfecting their craft for a shot at securing a medal.

We reflect on the 2026 Winter Olympics while we look toward Women’s History Month and highlight the hard work and dedication these women athletes displayed in Italy these last couple of weeks.

Ketra Armstrong, a professor of sport management at the University of Michigan, joined the show to reflect on the accomplishments of the women on Team USA.

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

That creamy Reese’s peanut butter cup dissolving on your tongue. The next crunchy Dorito you’re reaching for before you’ve swallowed the last one. The first sip of an ice-cold Coke, with a mix of syrup and carbonation; it hits like relief.

Your brain’s reward center is supposed to keep you alive, but a major new study from the University of Michigan, Harvard, and Duke says the food industry learned how to use it against you — engineering products with the same science as cigarettes.

The playbook is this: optimize the craving, accelerate the reward, and make it nearly impossible to stop.

Ultraprocessed foods now make up roughly 60% of what Americans eat. San Francisco has sued 10 major food manufacturers over the harm.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said these foods are poisoning Americans, but he has stopped short of regulating them.

In Detroit, 69% of households face food insecurity and researchers describe the city as a food swamp, where drive-throughs, party stores and gas-station snack aisles vastly outnumber places to buy fresh produce.

Detroit’s numbers make the question sharper: What happens when engineered food is all that’s there?

Ashley Gearhardt, clinical psychologist, addiction scientist at the University of Michigan, creator of the Yale Food Addiction Scale and lead author of the study, joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss this and more.

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

Editor’s note: Some images in this story contain language that may be offensive. 

Roughly one thousand protesters gathered outside Romulus City Hall this week to voice opposition towards plans for a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. Among the crowd were concerned residents, public officials, faith leaders, and Michiganders from across the state. 

Melody Karr was one of the many protestors picketing the building. She said she lives just an hour away from the detention facility that opened last year in Baldwin and has been to multiple demonstrations protesting it’s opening.

“We don’t need any more concentration camps in Michigan. Anybody that’s paying attention can see that we’re not concentrating on the worst of the worst, that they’re running rampant over our constitutional rights,” said Karr.

City officials say they oppose the detention center

The demonstration preceded the weekly City Council meeting, where a resolution opposing any detention center within city limits was unanimously passed. 

Following the vote, Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight said he and the city are doing everything they can to stop the development of an ICE detention facility. Citing his letter of opposition sent the previous week to ICE Director Todd Lyons and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, McCraight said a detention center would conflict with current zoning regulations and be too close to residential homes less than a quarter mile away.

McCraight said that, despite not hearing from any officials on the federal level since news broke, he would do what he could to prevent the plans from moving forward.

“While I’m sitting in this position as mayor, we will not issue a permit or certificate of occupancy for this structure unless we’re mandated by a federal judge,” said McCraight.

As the mayor spoke, demonstrators could be heard chanting outside the building. Only 49 of the protestors outside were let into the meeting due to safety codes set by the fire marshal. Those in attendance reiterated their opposition during public comment.

Residents urge more action

Dan Doyle lives less than a mile from the proposed detention center. He urged the city to do more to stop the plans.

“I’m requesting immediate action. Cut the utilities, condemn the building, demo it, take it under eminent domain, whatever you can do. Make it impossible for them to use our neighborhood for these concentration camps,” said Doyle. “This will not be solved by a harshly worded letter or a resolution. We need action.”

Outside in the bitter cold, protestors continued their picket at city hall. Darrin Camilleri, who represents Romulus as a member of the Michigan Senate, was one of many public officials who came to support demonstrators. So far, Camilleri has been one of the only state legislators to reach out to Romulus officials after the plans for a detention center went public. He said he has been working with the city to uncover details about the building purchased by ICE.

“We know that an auto supplier, they put a bid in to buy this building, but ICE came in and outbid the auto supplier. So the Trump administration is literally taking away American jobs from our community that would love an opportunity like that,” said Camilleri. “Now we’re getting stuck with a detention center that no one wants, and it’s down the street from where people live. It’s down the street from where kids go to school.”

The building, located at 7525 Cogswell Street, was previously owned by the real estate investment firm Crestlight Capital. John Coury, managing partner at the firm, said he can’t disclose the selling price or the specific agency the building was sold to due to a signed non-disclosure agreement, according to reporting from Crain’s Detroit Business.

Pattern of quiet-buying

Secrecy surrounding these purchases aren’t unique to Romulus, either. In Social Circle, Georgia, officials were blindsided when they heard of plans to convert a warehouse in the city into a detention center. The previous owner of the warehouse, a commercial real estate firm called PNK Group, said they signed an NDA and couldn’t disclose any information to the city or residents. One month later, a deed for the warehouse was obtained that showed the federal government paid over $100 million more than the most recently assessed price.

When asked by WDET if the Romulus warehouse was purchased for an inflated price compared to the 2025 assessed value of $6,988,500, Crestlight Capital did not respond for comment.

At the time of writing, the city of Romulus has not received any documents indicating how much the property was purchased for.

Southfield ICE offices

Earlier this month, the city released a statement saying offices in Southfield’s One Towne Square were to be leased by the US General Services Administration (GSA) to “support administrative and legal functions associated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” 

The statement aligns with reporting from last year that showed the GSA was working with ICE to acquire offices across the country to expand it’s operations

Statements from REDICO, the landlord of the office space, said the lease was with the GSA, not ICE, and “the lease explicitly prohibits any law enforcement, detention or similar activities to take place on the premises.” REDICO’s statement prompted the city to remove their statement on the purchase from its website.

When asked about the city’s removed statement, Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver said he has only heard from REDICO, not GSA or ICE, and the city doesn’t have authority to intervene in tenant/landlord issues as long as they are compliant with zoning laws.

Still, residents and lawmakers are on edge amid the confusion. During the Southfield City Council meeting that took place the same time as the Romulus demonstration, residents packed the building to speak out against any potential presence of ICE in the city.

Southfield resident Lauren Fink said the city still needs to do more to address the offices potentially used in association with ICE.

“I’ve seen statements intended to calm our anxieties about this office opening here in our own community, telling us that this office cannot house armed and uniformed agents,” said Fink. “There seems to be this idea that the work being done by people in offices like this is acceptable, but the work being done by the people they enable is not. That kind of attitude is what allows the horrors of an authoritarian regime to continue.”

Southfield City Council unanimously passed a resolution “affirming community safety, civil rights, and local policy” during the meeting. The resolution does not mention the lease with GSA or the planned office.

A call for community action

Following the possible expansion of ICE in the metro Detroit area, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib released a statement condemning the encroachment and urging more collective action from the community.

“Across the country, people are coming together and fighting to prevent this massive expansion of ICE’s network of abuse and cruelty. We must organize and use every tool at our disposal to keep ICE out of our neighborhoods,” said Tlaib.

The Southfield office and planned detention center in Romulus come as the Trump administration massively increases the budget for ICE and plans on spending $38.3 billion to turn warehouses across the country into detention centers. Both actions have been made possible through last year’s passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has allocated billions of federal funds for the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda.

For today’s Throwback Thursday, we move across soul, rock, jazz, and global sounds, opening with Jorge Ben Jor and playing selections from Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Gipsy Kings, Death, Crumb, Sylvan Esso, and Kokoroko, along with a few special picks from Bridget Everett. Additional highlights include classics from The Stooges, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Elton John, and Wye Oak, and 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 February 26, 2026 

• “O Telefone Tocou Novamente (feat. Trio Mocotó)” – Jorge Ben Jor 

• “All of Your Life” – Shirley Nanette 

• “Betty Lou” – Group Climate 

• “Your Time” – Chiminyo 

• “Stomping Gamay” – Karriem Riggins, Madlib & Jahari Massamba Unit 

• “Politicians In My Eyes” – Death 

• “1969” – The Stooges 

• “Groove” – Beans 

• “Waves” – Ista 

• “Locket” – Crumb 

• “Right Down the Line” – Gerry Rafferty 

• “Tropical Man” – Menahan Street Band & Rogê 

• “Black Crow” – Joni Mitchell 

• “Collage (Greg Foat Remix)” – Lady Blackbird 

• “Not Your Man (feat. Annahstasia)” – A Song For You 

• “Knocks Me Off My Feet (Olivia Dean Cover)” – Stevie Wonder 

• “Chains and Things” – B.B. King 

• “The Thrill is Gone (From Yesterday’s Kiss)” – Aretha Franklin 

• “Burnin’ Coal” – Les McCann 

• “Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen 

• “Crimson and Clover” – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts 

• “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” – Elton John 

• “Three Piece Suit (feat. Azekel” – Kokoroko 

• “Hotel California (Spanish Mix)” – Gipsy Kings 

• “Un Tabaco Para Elegua” – Orquesta Akokán 

• “Coffee” – Sylvan Esso 

• “Logic of Color” – Wye Oak 

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. 

A new affordable housing project celebrated its grand opening this week. The Benjamin O. Davis Veterans Village on Detroit’s eastside holds 50 units designed to help homeless and disabled veterans.

Vouchers from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the Detroit Housing Commission will guarantee rents at 30 percent of the resident’s income. Building amenities include a media room, common dining room and kitchen, exercise room, and an exclusive outdoor dog park.

The complex was named after Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., the Army’s first African American general and a trailblazer who helped lay the foundation for the integration of the U.S. military. 

Additional headlines for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Water bills increase 

Metro Detroiters will pay higher water bills next year. The Great Lakes Water Authority’s board of directors voted to raise rates by an average of almost 6 percent. Customers would pay about 4 percent more on average for wastewater service. The agency says it needs the money to fix aging infrastructure and reduce water main breaks. 

Project Clean Slate earns $200,000 grant 

Detroit’s Project Clean Slate has received a 200-thousand-dollar grant from the Michigan Justice Fund…allowing the program to run for another 2 years. Project clean slate helps Detroiters with legal services for expungement of eligible criminal convictions. The service has expunged more than 19 thousand records. PCS expects the grant to allow for another ten thousand expungements.  

Detroit Women of Comedy Festival searches for acts 

The Detroit Women of Comedy Festival is looking for comedy acts for this year’s show. Organizers are seeking acts of all kinds such as stand up, improv, sketch, and more. The festival is inclusive of all genders and identities.

The mission of the event is to celebrate and elevate women, trans, and non-binary comedy makers in the metro Detroit area. The festival will be held at Planet Ant Theater on May 15 and 16. For more information about submitting an act, email DWCFsubmissions@gmail.com.  

State of Highland Park

The City of Highland Park has announced the date Mayor Glenda McDonald will give the State of the City address. The mayor will give a public update to residents on Wednesday, March 18 from 6-7p.m. New Grace Missionary Baptist Church will host the event at 25 Ford Street. 

Detroit Disability teach in

Detroit Disability Power is hosting a “teach-in” in March, focused on threats to immigrants and people with disabilities. 

Care not Cages: Meeting the Moment with Disabled Detroiters will take place over 2 days – the March 13  event will focus on context; March 20 will be centered around action.

The event is free and dinner is provided.  

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

The Detroit Red Wings are celebrating their 100th anniversary this season. Over the last century the team’s winged wheel logo has become iconic.

But Detroit’s hockey team isn’t the only group using the Red Wing identity. Red Wing Shoes, known for making boots, sports a logo that features similar styling cues.

Scott Deaner, from Petersburg, Michigan, asked CuriosiD if there’s any connection between the two.

“I’ve looked at the Red Wing shoe company logo several times,” says Deaner, “and I’m like, that is very similar to the Red Wings logo. Just add the wheel and it looks very similar.”

The answer to that question is no.

Red Wing Shoes was founded in 1905 in Red Wing, Minnesota. The famous boot maker takes its name from its hometown.

The Detroit Red Wings were founded in 1926, but they weren’t originally from Detroit.

Detroit hockey before the Red Wings name

They were known as the Victoria Cougars. Helene St. James covers the Wings for the Detroit Free Press.  She says the franchise moved to Detroit from British Colombia when the old Western Hockey League fell apart.

The thinking was ‘keep the name the same,” says St. James. “Let them be known as the Detroit Cougars.”

The team played under the Cougars moniker for four seasons with little success.

“They decided in 1930, they were renamed the Falcons,” she says. “But that wasn’t any better.”

The Red Wings didn’t become the “Red Wings” until 1932, after being purchased by Canadian-American businessman James Norris.

Origins of the “winged wheel”

Jeremy Dimick is director of collections and curatorial for the Detroit Historical Society. He put together an exhibit celebrating the Red Wings’ 100th anniversary that’s on display at the Detroit Historical Museum through November.

Dimick says it was Norris who came up with the now famous Winged Wheel. He says the amateur athletic club Norris played hockey for growing up in Montreal had at one point been known for bicycle racing.

“And so their club emblem became this bicycle wheel with wings on it,” says Dimick, “as like a shorthand for speed.”

That imagery stuck with Norris but the Red Wings logo isn’t exactly the same what he wore growing up.

The Montreal Amateur Athletic Associations logo featured two wings oriented vertical against the wheel. The orientation of the wing changed and the bicycle wheel was replaced with one that was a little more representative of the Motor City.

“The wheel that’s chosen is pretty darn close to a Model T wheel,” Dimick says. “And what better car to kind of represent Detroit’s auto industry.”

The color red

As for why red was selected for the Wings, that is believed to have been influenced by Norris’ business interests. Dimick says the color was associated with the Upper Lakes Shipping Company — a fleet of Great Lakes freighters that Norris owned.

“Their kind of club flag that they flew on all their ships and had on the smokestacks of all their ships,” Dimick explains, “was this bright red kind of crimson pennant with a black diamond in the middle. And that red is eerily similar to the red that ends up being the Red Wings’ red.”

Thus, the Detroit Red Wings name and emblem were born. The imagery remains pretty much the same as it is today.

While the Red Wings hockey team and the Red Wing shoe company brands share some styling cues, they arrived independently from one another.

WDET’s CuriosiD series answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

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What does it take to start over?

For thousands of people leaving Michigan prisons every year, it can come down to one piece of plastic: A photo ID.

This month, the Michigan Department of Corrections hit a milestone, having distributed thirty thousand government-issued IDs to incarcerated people since 2020.

That matters, because without an ID, you can’t get a job, sign a lease, open a bank account — you can’t even prove you’re you.

One in five people who leave Michigan prisons end up going back. The state says that’s the lowest it’s ever been. But what does a second chance actually look like when you walk out the door with so little?

Rick Speck knows this firsthand. He was released in 2014 after 15 years in prison. He didn’t have an ID. Now, he’s the deputy director of Nation Outside — a Michigan reentry nonprofit run by those who were formerly incarcerated.

He spoke with Robyn Vincent about his experiences and what our state and culture would look like if we believed more deeply in second chances.

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

When someone is in distress, who should respond to the call for help? Police officers or social workers?

After the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter Movement, police departments reformed. Throughout the country and around Michigan, police hired mental health professionals — or co-responders — to respond to 911 calls, alone or with cops. 

Now, the question of who should take the lead on distress calls has become all the more pressing. Last month, this query was thrust into the public eye once again. That’s when Ypsilanti residents became upset after a SWAT team had a 30-hour standoff with someone they say was experiencing a mental health crisis. 

Hillary Nusbaum is a co-responder supervisor for the Oakland Community Health Network. Her organization partners with Oakland County police departments by having co-responders work alongside police officers. 

Producer Sam Corey spoke with Nusbaum about what a co-responder does and when they should be called to take action on a 911 call. 

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

February is Black History Month and WDET’s Detroit Evening Report has collected Black history stories from listeners.

We’re sharing the story of Walter Greene Sr., one of the first Black politicians in Detroit and Walter Greene Jr., who was a Buffalo Soldier during World War II.

WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley spoke with Walter Greene III, also known as Trey. He starts by explaining Greene Sr.’s role as a ward constable in the City of Detroit.

The following interview was edited for length and clarity.

Trey Greene: At the time that the state hadn’t figured out some of the relationships between the city and the county and the state. And so it was, in effect, the person who went and served warrants and actually evicted people on behalf of landlords and maintained order for it on behalf of the County, besides what the police department was doing. His ward number was number seven.

One of the interesting things about it was that Black Bottom, at the time he got here, was beginning probably what was it ended up being its most rapid change, and he ran and won in a ward in 1931 that was Jewish predominantly, but that was becoming Black rapidly. And he was light skinned enough that, depending on what kind of photograph you used in the campaign, I’m sure there were many, many Jewish people who thought they were voting for a Jewish guy named Greene to be ward constable. And didn’t have any particular problems that where they’d have to deal with him, where they needed to know the difference and to get involved with it.

So, he ended up being elected seven times. In that sense, I think he’s probably one of Michigan’s most successful Black politicians in history.

Bre’Anna Tinsley: I want to move on to your father, Walter Greene, Jr. So clarify for me, your father was a Buffalo Soldier?

TG: That’s correct, the Buffalo Soldiers were the troops that the United States Army decided they needed to keep in service after the Civil War was over.

During the Civil War, one of the facts that people are not very well aware of is that the number of Negro troops, 180,000 of them for the North in the Civil War, ended up being the thing that turned the war. Abraham Lincoln finally had to concede that that was the case after he had not accepted the advice of Frederick Douglass to do it. But ultimately, when Robert Smalls also said, ‘you need to allow us to help fight this war,’ well, that turned the war around in just, you know, a few months. Then they decided they needed to keep a small number of Negro troops in the army.

When the Civil War was over, those ultimately came became two infantry regiments and two cavalry regiments, and they mostly served out west to engage in oppressing the Indigenous people. Which is a whole ironic, weird thing that nobody ever talks about in this country. But the way, of course, we treated the people who were here first has been and continues to be unfair. And in the way America works, you get the Black folks to do the dirtiest of the work one way or another.

BT: Did your father share any of the stories of what led to his promotion to Second Lieutenant?

TG: Well, one of the things that had to happen was he had to go to Fort Custer first, to be trained as a soldier at all. Then later after that, to be sent down to what was called Fort Benning in Georgia, to Officer Candidate School. One of the signal things of that is being on the train from Detroit on your way to the South, and the train stops in Cincinnati, so that before you go across the river, everybody black who might be sitting in any car that they could afford to pay for on the train has to move to a black car to drive over into Kentucky.

And because he had not grown up with Jim Crow at all, that was some of the first of his exposure to American Jim Crow. And then he got down to Georgia, and he managed to get through Officer Candidate School.

But from then on, through the rest of the war, he was in trouble all the time, because so much of the stuff that is involved with Jim Crow is so backward, so awkward, so stupid, so nonsensical, that if you’re not skilled at it, quote-unquote, you’re going to be making little mistakes. And he was the kind of guy making mistakes all the time and being accused of being a troublemaker.

BT: I have the book that you left for me earlier with your father and your grandfather on the cover of it. Actually, can you talk a little bit about that particular book and how that photo came to be on that cover?

TG: Yes, it’s a wonderful book. It’s published by the Johns Hopkins University, and it we have it because a guy named Robert Jefferson, who’s a very senior member of the history faculty out at the University of New Mexico and now was hired at Wayne State as he finished his doctorate at Michigan. And I happened to be in a position to have seen his paperwork before being hired here at Wayne and to call the History Department to tell the guy to come see me, since his book was about my dad’s unit during World War II, that I’d like to meet him and welcome him to Detroit.

And he finished his dissertation and finished everything that went into the creation of that book, and used the photo on the cover of our family in 1943 when my dad was home, before he went to Arizona, before he went to the South Pacific for the war.

BT: Was there specific mentions of your father in the book?

TG: No, the book is really about the things going on at home, including, for instance, my mom having to go out to Arizona and California to be with her husband before he went overseas during the war, and lots and lots of disruptions like that. But I recommend that book to everybody, Professor Robert Jefferson, and the title of the book is “Fighting for Hope: [African American Troops of] the 93rd Division in World War II [and Postwar America].”

President Trump lashed out at the U.S. Supreme Court after it ruled his use of certain tariffs was illegal.

Trump noted he had other options, including blocking all trade with other nations.

“I can destroy the trade. I can destroy the country,” the president said. “I’m even allowed to impose a foreign country-destroying embargo. I can embargo. I can do anything I want. But I can’t charge $1.”

Trump later said he would impose a new global 15% tariff, though it initially began at 10%.

Congress would have to extend the tariff in about five months. The president could potentially get around that provision by announcing a new round of levies at that time.

Many businesses are weighing the impact of the tariff upheaval, including Detroit’s Big 3 automakers.

The head of the trade association MichAuto, Glenn Stevens, Jr., says car companies had anticipated the High Court’s decision.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length. 

Glenn Stevens, Jr.: It was pretty much assumed that the justices would rule this way based on some of the preliminary arguments. We also felt that there would be a response from the administration that they might use additional or new tools if the Supreme Court ruled this way. And we have seen the president state that. I think it does reaffirm the power of Congress according to the U.S. Constitution, in the case of this particular act. But it leaves a lot of uncertainty with our industries and in our economy.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: The High Court ruled on the reciprocal tariffs on other countries. But they’re still allowing levies imposed ostensibly to protect national security. The 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts still stands, except for imports covered under the North American trade deal. So, how do you see the Supreme Court decision affecting the auto industry in particular?

GS: It affects a portion of it. But not by any stretch all of the tariffs and trade deals that have been put in place since Jan. 20 of last year when the America First Trade Policy Act was issued. Yes, the national security tariffs remain in place. The unfair trade practice tariffs remain in place. Those are very tied heavily to China. Those are significant. But anything that did deal with this Emergency Powers Act has been struck down now.

What happens from here, we don’t know. There will be court challenges. The question of whether companies will be able to get a rebate, so to speak, on what they paid, there was no direction from the court on that. So, again, we have a lot of uncertainty moving forward. And then we have a new wild card, which we anticipated, where the president said that he’d use fair trade and anti-dumping subsidy tariffs. And there’s a whole process for that.

QK: And how would that affect the auto industry?

GS: It’s such a complex supply chain. It depends on where the vehicles are assembled. It depends on what is the country of origin where the components come from. For example, a lot of the parts and the components are still exempt on this continent under the current USMCA agreement. But if you’re importing parts from other countries outside of that agreement, it does impact you, the 25% on imported vehicles does apply. So it’s actually quite complex and has been for some time. And this may muddle it up a little bit more.

QK: The trade deal between the US, Mexico, and Canada was coming up for review this year. It’s vital for automakers in particular, considering the cross-pollination of parts and vehicles between the three countries. But with this new Supreme Court decision, do you think the president may have a lot less leverage to push for a new USMCA deal that he would like?

GS: I’m not so sure about the less leverage. What I do know is our organization and many others that are related to the industry, we remain steadfast that we need to get to a renewed and strengthened USMCA agreement. We are stronger together with Canada and Mexico in the current supply chain.

Are modifications and some things needed to be adjusted? Yes. Where that goes, we’re not sure. Discussions are at a bit of a stalemate. But we have quite a bit of runway yet up to July 1st with regards to that.

QK: Canada reached a deal recently with China to sell some Chinese vehicles in that country. The Ford Motor Company has talked about perhaps trying to set up their own deal with Chinese automakers. General Motors has said they did not want that type of a thing. In light of what’s happened with tariffs now, how do you think all that might play out?

GS: Let’s look at the Canada situation first. Prime Minister Carney has a tentative agreement with China to import a small quantity, a very controlled number, of electric vehicles. That was a significant development that has drawn some criticism from the White House. It may complicate things. Again, I underscore that it’s tentative. There are a lot of other things going on with regards to trade and we’re not really certain where this is going right now.

QK: Some automotive analysts have forecast that the impact of tariffs would force car companies to raise prices on new vehicles this year. Now we have this Supreme Court decision. Even if it only affects the auto industry to an extent, as you said, it does not totally rid it of any of the difficulties companies might suffer from having tariffs. So where do you see it going now in terms of potential price increases?

GS: That’s hard to say. It’s probably not going to impact things too directly. At this point, most of the companies have absorbed as much of the increases they can within their supply chains. Affordability of vehicles is an issue. The average in our country is about $50,000 for a new vehicle. That’s a high number. Anyone who sells, distributes, or makes vehicles in this country is very hesitant to raise those prices any further. We have seen some creep.

We’ve seen some certain charges increase, like destination charges on the delivery of a vehicle, and that’s been one way the extra cost has been passed through. But there haven’t been significant increases. Most of the time in any type of consumer product, when prices go up, they don’t tend to come down too quickly. So that’s not good for the consumer.

QK: One of the things you’ve mentioned several times is the uncertainty of the situation. I’ve heard many business executives over the last year or so complain that one of the hardest things about tariffs is the uncertainty they create for people trying to make a business plan. Now we also have this Supreme Court ruling. In your view, is this making it even more uncertain now?

GS: It could, yes. The key words the in last year have been instability and uncertainty. If you apply those two words to just about anything, they’re not good. Especially if you apply them to the automotive industry. It is a long lead time, complex supply chain business that requires stability and certainty to make capital decisions, to look at its workforce, to look at supply chains. We do have new tariffs now. That doesn’t give stability and certainty.

Whether you’re a gearhead, political advocate, artist or house-head, we’ve got you covered this week with the finest club experiences and family functions the city has to offer. Put on your Saturday night best and try to keep it clean for Sunday morning, Detroit!

Upcoming events (Feb. 26 to Mar. 5)

Autorama 

Huntington Place 

Feb. 27-Mar. 1 

  General Admission: $30, Kids 6-12: $10, Kids 5 & Under: Free 

Come down to Huntington Place to experience Detroit’s 73rd Autorama! Check out over 800 unique works of art encapsulating hot-rods, muscle cars, trucks and motorbikes. The event will feature live music, celebrity appearances, famous movie cars, a pin-up contest, and more. The event will run from Friday to Sunday. 

Ground Zero 

TV Lounge 

Feb. 28

$35

The weather isn’t the only thing heating up this weekend. TV Lounge is hosting Ground Zero with performances from DJ Dextro, Redax and Lofila, spinning techno until your heart gives out and legs collapse. Dextro, known for his work on Missile, CLR and Mutual Rhythm, is sure to make this Saturday night one to remember…or not. The event will begin at 9 and go until “late.” 

Art March 

215 W Nine Mile, Ferndale, MI 

Mar. 1-Mar. 31 

Free

Celebrate and connect with Ferndale artists for the second annual Art March! Meet with gallery owners, local businesses and more as you enjoy live music, food vendors and a cash bar. There will be a wide variety of events available throughout March, but the opening takes place on the 1st from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

State of the Mama 

Jam Handy

Mar. 5

Free

Come down to Jam Handy next Thursday for the Mothering Justice Action Fund’s State of the Mama. This year’s theme is “Rooted in Resistance: Mamas Decide,” honoring generations of Black resistance while advocating for mothers to make their voices heard to contribute to Michigan’s political future. There will be a panel discussion with State and Federal candidates as well as Michigan advocates, including Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow, Eboni Taylor, Nyah Phillips and more. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and go until 8 p.m.  

Dilla World 

Lincoln Factory

Feb. 28

$23

It’s been 20 years since J. Dilla passed and Detroit remains hungry for donuts. Dance your way down to Lincoln Factory for the 5th annual celebration of Dilla’s life and legacy with artists Blaaqgold, Meftah, Big Tone and more. Best to start this set with a pre-function coffee because this event starts at 10 p.m. and goes until 5 a.m. 

Donovan Glover & Jeanine Styles 

Big Pink

Feb. 27

$23

Warehouse raves made Detroit notorious for its nightlife in the 90’s and 2000’s, and today’s no different…well, perhaps it’s a bit more up to “legal standards” now, but you get the gist. Join DJs Donovan Glover and Jeanine Styles for an evening of high BPM house and dance music over on the east side. The event starts at 10 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. 

The Planet D Nonet 

Cliff Bells

Feb. 26-Mar.1

$25

If you’re not a fan or tired of Detroit’s electronic side, perhaps you’ll be better off getting acquainted with its older-spirited cousin. Hop, skip and jump over to Cliff Bells between Thursday and Sunday to witness The Planet D Nonent perform their acclaimed album, “Echoes of Harlem: A Salute to Duke Ellington, Vol. 2.” Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner and 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for show seating.  

Peter McPoland & Girl Tones 

The Shelter

Mar. 3

$35+

Peter McPoland takes on The Shelter with Girl Tones in tow this upcoming Tuesday. Vermont clashes with Kentucky on stage as these two budding alternative rock powerhouses visit our not-so-little city as part of McPoland’s Big Lucky Tour that began earlier this month. The event begins at 7 p.m. 

FRAMEWORK 

Northern Lights Lounge

Feb. 28

$23+

Now, if you’re saying to yourself, “Come on Owen, I know you’ve got to include a bit of variety, but I was hoping for a bit more EDM,” I’ve got you covered. Pop out to New Center for some more electronic-fueled, intimate debauchery with DJ sets by Detroit’s own Rick Wade, Shigeto, Ryan Spencer and Todd Modes. The event begins at 9 p.m. and goes until 3 a.m. 

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post was published without mentioning State Sen. Mallory McMorrow’s attendance of the State of the Mama event. We have amended this omission to better be in accordance with our value of fair coverage.