President Trump announced on Thursday that he will sign an executive order to pay TSA officers during the ongoing shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security.

On his Truth Social platform, he said his order will instruct the Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin to pay the TSA agents in what he calls an emergency situation.

A senior administration official said the money provided by President Trump’s Reconciliation Act, also known as the Big Beautiful Bill, will be used to pay TSA officials.

This comes as the president signed an executive order asking federal contractors to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Since the beginning of his presidency, Trump has targeted public and private organizations over DEI practices despite multiple experts and advocates showing DEI practices help address historic inequities for marginalized groups.

Additional headlines from Friday, March 27, 2026

Netflix raises prices

Netflix is raising U.S. Prices for the second time in less than two years. The new pricing was on their website on Thursday.

The standard plan with ads will go from $7.99 to $8.99. The standard plan without ads will go from $17.99 to $19.99. And the premium plan is going from $24.99 to $26.99.

According to Variety, the higher pricing shows Netflix is confident that they that this increase won’t turn away too many subscribers from the biggest subscription-streaming platform in the world with 325 million customers.

The increased pricing will be applied for both existing and new members.

Sports

March Madness

Both Michigan and Michigan State have made it to the sweet 16. Things will be even sweeter if they make it
to the elite 8.

But first No. 1 Michigan will face No. 4 Alabama at 7:35 p.m. EST at the United Center in Chicago. And No. 3 Michigan St. Will face No. 2 UConn tonight at 9:45 p.m. at Capital One Arena in Washington DC.

NBA

The Pistons dominated the New Orleans Pelicans with the score 129-108. Now all they need to do is win at least five more games to clinch the No. 1 seed of the Eastern Conference.

They are 4.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics. Cade Cunningham, who is out because of a collapsed lung, is projected to get back by mid April according to reports.

The Pistons play again tomorrow against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 5:30 p.m. EST at the Target Center.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers opened up the season with a dominate win over the San Diego Padres. Final score was 8-2. They play again today at 9:40 p.m. EST at Petco Park.

Soccer

Detroit City FC face off against the Charleston Battery tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.

Hip Hop night

And tomorrow, March 28th 2026 is HipHop night at Big Pink. DJs Mobeatz, Auset, and Stardust are on the line up to play some of the best hip hop hits that are circulating playlists.

The event starts at 10 p.m. tomorrow and it’s for folks 21 and up.

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

In this episode of CuriosiD, listener Max Spayde asks the question:

Why is there a boat club and a yacht club on Belle Isle?

The short answer

The two clubs were each founded for different boat-centered sports. The Detroit Boat Club was founded as a rowing club—although many decades ago it developed a “pure” sailing program that’s motorless. And the Detroit Yacht Club was developed as a sailing organization that continued to build on its motor-powered sailing programs.

Belle Isle was an ideal setting for both because of its location on the Detroit River and its connection to the Great Lakes system.

Detroit Boat Club

The Detroit Boat Club was founded in 1839 after Detroit developer Edward Brush fell in love with rowing on a visit to the East Coast. It is the fifth oldest non-academic rowing clubs in the world and the second oldest in the country.

Rowing was the most popular sport in Detroit after the Civil War. There were more than 1,000 rowers in the city by the late 1870s with a boat house district that stretched from St. Aubin to McDougall. Hundreds of thousands of people would come to the river to watch rowing competitions.

Stephen Malboeuf is a rower at the Boat Club, its official archivist and its unofficial historian. He says at that time the sport wasn’t just for the wealthy.

“Both of the stove works—both the Detroit Stove Works and the Michigan Stove Works had boat clubs that were organized by their iron workers,” Malbouef said. “The railroads would have their employees…form boat clubs…and they’d compete in regular regattas.”

But that level of enthusiasm for rowing didn’t actually last that long, Malboeuf said.

“By the 1880s and as early as 1881 the rowers noticed that most of their spectators had abandoned the sport in favor of watching baseball.”

 The first professional baseball team was organized in Detroit in 1881. 

 “In 1879 You’ve got 30 clubs, and by 1893 you’re down to just two,” Malbouef said.

Detroit Yacht Club

The Detroit Yacht Club sets its founding in 1868 and its focus has always been sailing. Its early members are among the most notable names in the city’s history, including the Fords, Dodges, Scripps and Fishers.

The Yacht Club’s Mike Alberts says the DYC had two or three buildings before its current clubhouse. He says inventor Gar Wood was the commodore when the club built it in 1922 after Wood’s win at the Harmsworth Challenge Regatta in 1920 made him a rock star.  

Alberts says even though the Detroit Yacht Club was built by some of the automotive industry’s heavy hitters, boat racing was bigger than car racing in those days. And, he says the DYC was and still is a pioneer in freshwater sailing, power boat racing and competitive swimming.

But why Belle Isle?

In the mid-1880s, when clubs were looking for better positions on the river as it became more industrial, the Detroit Park Commission gave the Detroit Boat Club and the Detroit Yacht Club permission to build on the island. 

The clubs are actually not technically on the island. They built the foundations for the buildings next to Belle Isle. And gave them a pretty sweet deal.

“When the Park Commission originally approved the clubs to move to Belle Isle, each club had to furnish a $5,000 bond,” Malbouef said. He said that’s like $125,000 today.

“Then they’d pay an annual lease of $1 a year for property in Belle Isle.”

The one hundred year, one dollar a year leases ended in 1992. Malbouef says the Boat Club went from paying $1 to be on the island to 100,000 dollars overnight. 

Hitting rough waters

The boat club’s membership was around 250 by the 1990s– down from around 1400 in the 60s. It was leasing its building from the city on a month-to-month basis until 2014. When the state took over Belle Isle, the Boat Club got a 30 year lease. 

It hosted about 50 weddings a year before COVID – that money went into trying to keep the building in shape. But just after COVID part of a porch collapsed and the building was condemned. 

Now, a developer is working to restore the building so rowers, sailors and the community can use it.

That’s just a little bit of the histories of the Detroit Boat Club and the Detroit Yacht Club. We didn’t get into the part where they were sued to let Black members in. And Mike Alberts has a great story about the King of Norway.

But we answered Max Spayde’s question: There are two clubs because they were originally focused on different sports – and they made a deal with the city that made it possible for them to stay on Belle Isle for at least 100 years.

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.

We want to hear from you!

More CuriosiD

In this episode

• How are ballot orders determined for the November general election?
• Who is running for Secretary of State and Attorney General for the Michigan Republican Party?

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Michigan Republican Party is holding its endorsement convention this weekend to determine which candidates it will back for key statewide positions. As part of WDET’s weekly series MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben break down the races, the roles at stake, and which candidates are best positioned to win.

Among the contests, attorney general and secretary of state are drawing the most attention. Republicans are aiming to regain control of both offices after longtime holds were broken by Dana Nessel and Jocelyn Benson. Gorchow said the positions carry significant weight: “The secretary of state runs the state’s election machinery, and the attorney general is both the corporation counsel for the state of Michigan. And the attorney general can also sue entities like the federal government and businesses on behalf of the people of the state of Michigan.”

Later in the show, Michigan Republican Party Chair Sen. Jim Runestad discusses the outlook for his party, saying the races for attorney general and secretary of state are expected to be contentious and difficult to predict. He also explained why the party uses a convention instead of a primary, arguing the process is more thorough and less driven by money. “So often, and it’s just a reality, money wins. It wins primaries and wins general elections very often. They go through way more vetting than the primary.”

The convention will be held March 28. 

• More from WDET:

  MI voters to decide if it’s time for a constitutional convention

  New Michigan GOP Chair hopes to unify party

  Women Could Dominate Michigan Democratic Ticket in November

The Belle Isle Casino has reopened for the first time since 2023. The Belle Isle Conservancy and the Department of Natural Resources closed the historic structure for $4.75 million in repairs to the interior and infrastructure.

The casino was one of the first structures build on Belle Isle, originally opening in 1887. But it doesn’t look like a traditional casino.

Amanda Treadwell is an urban field planner with the Department of Natural Resources and helped manage the renovations.

She says the word casino comes from the Italian word “casa.”

“Meaning house or community space, and so that’s something that we are happy to celebrate again today by welcoming the public back here,” Treadwell said.

The casino functions as a gathering space, and is often rented out for events such as weddings, birthday parties, and more.

Improvements to the building included repairs to structural beams, adding ADA-accessible walkways, and restoring the stained-glass ceiling on the second floor.

WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley spoke with Amanda Treadwell about the project.

Interview has been edited for length and clarity

Bre’Anna Tinsley: Can you talk a little bit about some of the changes and the upgrades that were made? You were talking about some stained glass that’s on the second floor.

Amanda Treadwell: Well, there’s been quite a bit of deferred maintenance for this building. So we really worked from the rooftop. Literally threw down the gutters, down spouts into the basement, did a lot of work stabilizing the building and keeping it weather tight, but we did do a lot of interior finishes as well.

And like you mentioned, one of that was the stained-glass medallion that’s on the second floor. It’s a beautiful stained-glass piece surrounded by clear glass, and it’s you can even see it in this first floor. There’s the glass ceiling below that.

Back in 2020 we were noticing that some of the glass was coming separated from the lead, and so to preserve it, all the pieces were taken out. They were all taken apart and releaded or put back together, and then those panels were replaced.

Fun fact for people visiting the casino is that that corrugated clear glass and the panels around it, our artisan was looking all around for that glass, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois. We couldn’t find a match, and at that time, we were looking working on the design for the conservatory dome reglazing project, and we said, “You know what? That looks just like the glass we have a whole storeroom full of … in the conservatory. Let’s check it out.” And it was a match. So it was kind of neat that we were able to repurpose it that way. And as you might know, the dome has all new tempered glass now, so it was nice to be able to keep some.

BT: So what are we hoping the DNR is hoping to see happen with this building now in the future, now that it’s restored?

AT: Expect more community, public and private events here, so can reach out to our events folks, and they can help you plan your celebration weekly, the events planner would come and say, “When is this going to wrap up?” Because she had, like, a long waiting list of people who had been looking forward to having their weddings and reunions.

Here, it’s such a beautiful space and has a gorgeous view of the skyline of Detroit and the river. So it’s a real special place.

It’s an intense time of political polarization in the United States. With wars taking place across the Middle East and Arab World, many Jewish and Muslim Americans are feeling those tensions especially strong.

Reports of antisemitism and islamophobia are on the rise, including a recent attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield by a man who had family members killed in an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon.

Just yesterday, Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Adat Shalom told The Metro his temple has pretty much stopped its interfaith dialogue work.

Interfaith groups that include Jewish, Muslim and Christian community leaders are present in metro Detroit and the United States, but how effective are they? How do you talk about hard things during tense, divisive times?

Ben Ginsburg is part of an organization with a response to those questions. He’s the communications director for NewGround, which is a Muslim-Jewish interfaith group in Los Angeles. He spoke with Sam Corey on The Metro about how to have difficult conversations in divisive times.

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

We’ve got music from legends across genres and generations, from Motown icons Eddie Kendricks and Aretha Franklin to the beats of J Dilla. You’ll also hear other iconic voices and musicians, including Leonard Cohen, Missy Elliott, Paul McCartney, and the captivating “West Side Story Medley” by Buddy Rich. 

And for a rainy day boost, we’ve got tracks from Matthew Dear, The Flirtations, and Liz Cooper to keep you moving and inspired. 

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

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for March 26, 2026 

• “I’m Straight” – The Modern Lovers 

• “Lonsdale Slipons” – The Bug Club 

• “Get Me Back in the Game” – LL Burns 

• “You Want It Darker” – Leonard Cohen 

• “Honey” – Matthew Dear 

• “You Put a Smell On Me” – Matthew Dear 

• “Electricity” – Ibibio Sound Machine 

• “Skindo Le-Le (S.U.M.O. Rebounce)” – A Bossa Elétrica 

• “Flowers” – Andrew Ashong & Theo Parrish 

• “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) [Mixed]” – Missy Elliott 

• “I Can’t Stand the Rain” – Ann Peebles 

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

• “Stand On the Word (Larry Levan Mix)” – Joubert Singers 

• “Coming Up (Full Length Version)” – Paul McCartney 

• “Going Back to My Roots” – Lamont Dozier 

• “Girl You Need a Change of Mind” – Eddie Kendricks 

• “Nomalizo” – Letta Mbulu 

• “Bass Is The Space” – re:ni & Biggabush 

• “Survivor” – Chronixx 

• “False Start Dub” – Kings Of High Speed & JKriv 

• “Time” – Ni Maxine 

• “’Rush” – Gerald Clayton 

• “Rico Suave Bossa Nova” – Jay Dee & J Dilla 

• “Pedro Navaja” – Willie Colón & Ruben Blades 

• “West Side Story Medley” – Buddy Rich 

• “Nothing But a Heartache” – The Flirtations 

• “Better Than Ever” – Liz Cooper 

• “No One’s Gonna Love You” – Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators 

• “If You Only Knew” – Gabriels 

• “Roy” – IDLES 

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. 

The state of Michigan and the city of Romulus have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a proposed ICE detention center near Detroit Metro Airport. The lawsuit states that ICE failed to consult Michigan officials and didn’t consider alternative buildings, such as existing prisons.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement a warehouse is not an appropriate place for a large scale detention center. The lawsuit comes after Nessel wrote a letter demanding that ICE halt the project and filed a FOIA request to see records on the purchase and plans for the warehouse. 

Additional headlines from Thursday, March 26, 2026

 FORCE Detroit starts flag football league

FORCE Detroit, a community violence intervention (CVI) organization, is hosting an activation for the newly launched CVI Athletics Program.

The program is starting a youth flag football league with Detroit PAL and Detroit’s Occupy the Summer initiative. The league will have two age divisions: ages 11-13 and ages 14-17.

The event is being held Friday, March 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the Chandler Park Fieldhouse Dome. 

Sacred Paths of India tour

The Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit is hosting a Sacred Paths of India Bus Tour. The tour will take participants to three houses of worship for the Jain, Hindu, and Sikh faiths. The tour aims to explore the traditions and experiences of each faith community.

Each location will showcase how the religious traditions are practiced today and explore the meaning behind the sacred spaces and rituals.

Tickets are $90 and include a seat on the bus, all three faith experiences and lunch. Seating is limited. The tour is on April 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 Reparation Generation open house

The non-profit group Reparation Generation is hosting a virtual house meeting on Tuesday, April 14 at 8 p.m. The meeting will discuss what they call their “reparations in action” approach, the broader reparation movement, and ways to engage.

The group holds these meetings every other month to share the mission and goal of the organization.

To register visit reparationgeneration.org/events. 

 Bold Women Summit

Non Profit BasBlue is celebrating five years with the 2026 Bold Women Summit on March 31. The summit title is “The Power of Us: Celebrating Women Shaping the Future” and will feature keynote conversations with fashion designer Tracy Reese and Motown Museum CEO Robin Terry.

Since BasBlue launched in 2021, the organization has more than 600 members, with 125 participating annually in its Trailblazer Scholarship program.

For more information visit basblueus.com/summit.

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

As part of WDET’s yearly Essential Music Tour, Ann Delisi welcomed Masha Marjieh into the studio for a live performance in front of an intimate audience in January 2026. The session included an interview and performances of three songs: “Get Down,” “Smile,” and “Come Inside.”

Listen to learn about Masha’s unique influences that contribute to her songwriting, and enjoy the intricate, textured compositions brought to life by her accomplished bandmates.

Credits

Band
Masha Marjieh: Lead Vocal and Guitar
Erik Maluchnik: Lead Guitar
Noah Eikhoff: Bass
David Vaughn: Drums
Peter Steffy: Keys
Adalee Grace Dombroski: Backing Vocals
Mina Amal Dombroski: Backing Vocals

Audio engineers
Conor Anderson
Al Sutton
Jake Hawkey

Special thanks
Rob Reinhart
Wesley Bennet
Baraka Macharia

Whether it’s gravity-defying dirt-bike stunts or Latin beats that catch your eye, we’ve got something for everyone this week in Metro Detroit.

Upcoming events (March 26- Apr. 2)

Joyce Manor 

Majestic Theatre

March 27

$33+

Joyce Manor returns to the mitten this weekend as part of their tour for their recent album I Used To Go To This Bar. The California-based pop-punk band has awarded us with their first record in 4 years and it’s time to show our appreciation with a few mosh pits. This time around, they’re also joined by emerging bands Militarie Gun, Teen Mortgage and Combat. So get out there, kiss your partner, throw a few elbows and have a beer as the rock fuels your heart, just don’t have too many, you wouldn’t want a… constant headache. The show begins at 6 p.m. 

Monster Energy Supercross Championship  

Ford Field

March 28

$33+

Take a ride over to Ford Field this weekend to bear witness to superhuman stunts in round 11 of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship. If motorsports is what you crave, this event has your name carved into it. From high-stakes jumps to whisky-throttle levels of fast-paced racing, if there’s a feat of courage to be accomplished on a bike, it’s going down here. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. 

Latin Night 

Big Pink

March 27

$23

Mexicantown may be on the Westside, but Latin music is practically pouring out of the Eastside this weekend at Big Pink. DJ IZA and SWDEJAY are spicing things up with sounds of Reggaeton, salsa, bachata and more, so kick off your chanclas and lace up those Cortez’s because this set is about to have you grooving to dembow for a week straight once it’s over. The event begins at 10 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. 

The Back Alley 

The Loving Touch

March 26

$26+

Stroll over to Ferndale this Friday and get lost The Back Alley. Preferably the music and not that one spot off 9 Mile and Woodward, but that’s a story for another day. The Chicago indie-rock quintet is on tour and they’re enlisting local band Moravian to help them get their footing. Bring a friend, partner or buy a 12 oz aluminum companion and get set to boogie. The show begins at 7 p.m. and is $5 extra for those under 21.  

MNTRA 

TV Lounge

March 28 

$17+

Channel surf over to TV Lounge in downtown Detroit and get ready to open the Pandora’s box of electronic music. MNTRA is spinning his Detroit debut this Saturday and you’re not going to miss it. From drum & bass to house, get ready for your chest to feel the pulse with some funkadelic, genre-fluid grooves. This set will also be opened by DJs sillygirlcarmen, JMT, Britty and JUNYXX. The event begins at 9 p.m.  

Vibrations 

Spot Lite

March 27

$17

If you’re searching for DJ sets but aren’t feeling akin to the sounds of the south, we’ve still got your back. Spot Lite is hosting vinyl sets from Rick Wilhite, Delano Smith, Norm Talley and dej.y this weekend, so be sure to keep a few extra dollars in your pocket in case you see a record in their shopping section and get ready to enjoy a cocktail while the turntable whisks you away to a realm where you don’t have work on Monday. The event begins at 8 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. 

Latin Jazz Ensemble and Band 

Varner Recital Hall

March 27

$10

The Oakland University Latin Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band is coming together this weekend in Rochester for a performance encompassing both classic and contemporary big band works. From drums that soothe your soul to horns that ease your mind, the spirit of jazz is proving to be alive and well here in Southeast Michigan. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Sponge  

Firehouse Pub

March 28

$47

Relive the 90s this weekend and get the mini touring experience with Sponge. The Detroit-based rock band is throwing three shows across Metro Detroit. Not only does one ticket get you access to all three venues, but you’ll be riding with the band from one to the next on their tour bus! They’re set to hit Kuhnhenns, Diesel Concert Lounge and Firehouse Pub. The event begins at 7 p.m. and the bus is slated to leave from the starting location at 8:30 p.m. 

The Detroit Tigers have brought back a franchise legend to help them win the American League Central Division in 2026. 

Justin Verlander signed a one-year contract in February, returning to the city where he started his career in 2006.

Verlander has won three AL Cy Young awards, once with Detroit and twice with the Houston Astros. The Tigers traded him to Houston in 2017. He helped them win two World Series championships in 2017 and 2022.

The 43-year-old right-hander is not the ace he once was. In 2024, he posted a 5.48 earned run average in his final season with Houston. He regained some of his form in 2025, with a respectable 3.85 ERA in 29 starts for the San Francisco Giants.

Cody Stavenhagen covers the Tigers for The Athletic. He says Verlander has two jobs: stabilize the back end of the starting rotation and excite nostalgic fans.

“I’m sure you can expect a lot of packed crowds, a lot of Verlander jerseys in the stands, and a lot of good vibes,” he says. “People are certainly excited to have him back.”

The Tigers open with a pair of aces

Joining Verlander in the rotation is former Houston teammate Framber Valdez. The 32-year-old left-hander was one of the top pitchers on the free agent market in the offseason. Detroit signed him to a contract in February.

Stavenhagen says Valdez is one of the top lefties in the majors. He posted a 3.66 ERA in 2025, started 31 games, and struck out 187 batters. That was good for 3.6 wins above a replacement player.

“He has the best groundball rate in the game,” Stavenhagen says. “This guy is really good.”

Valdez’s signing surprised baseball insiders because of the price. His contract has an average annual value of $37 million.

That’s twice as much as the Tigers offered to their ace, Tarik Skubal. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner is in the final year of his contract. His agent, Scott Boras, and Tigers executives were unable to work out a new deal in the offseason. The team offered him $19.5 million for 2026. An arbitrator awarded him $34 million.

Stavenhagen says this could be Skubal’s last season in Detroit. 

“He’s going to have a good shot to set a record contract for a starting pitcher,” Stavenhagen says. “I wouldn’t be shocked if he commands at least $400 million [in a multiyear deal].”

If the Tigers don’t sign Skubal, he can become a free agent after this season. If he signs with another team, Detroit would get nothing in return. They could also trade him in exchange for several younger players and minor league prospects.

Keep an eye on Kevin

One prospect who drew a lot attention in Spring Training is infielder Kevin McGonigle. The 21-year-old earned a spot on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster and can play several positions. 

McGonigle is the second highest-rated prospect in Major League Baseball. Stavenhagen says he’s one of the best hitting prosects the Tigers have had in a long time.

“He’s the real deal,” Stavenhagen says. “Really good bat-to-ball skills, really good plate approach. He walked more than he struck out.”

World Series or bust?

If McGonigle plays up to his potential as a rookie, he could help the Tigers avoid last year’s late-season collapse.

Detroit led the division by 10 games on Sept. 3 but lost 15 of their final 21 games. They finished one game behind the Cleveland Guardians. The Tigers beat Cleveland in the AL Wild Card round, then lost a heartbreaking 15-inning contest against the Seattle Mariners in the deciding game of the AL Championship Series.

Stavenhagen says that’s all behind them now.

“You didn’t hear a lot about that during Spring Training,” he says. “The hope is that they can be more like the team they were in the first half of last season.” 

Stavenhagen says if the pitching stays healthy, the Tigers can win the division—and maybe the AL pennant.

“It’s certainly the best all-around roster the Tigers have had in at least a decade,” he says.

There’s a phone call that some people in metro Detroit are dreading right now, one where you find out the place you came from doesn’t exist anymore.

Abbas Alawieh got that call recently. His 91-year-old grandmother’s home in Lebanon was destroyed by the Israeli military. She is displaced, among hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians with nowhere to go. This is not the first time his family has been through this. 

When Alawieh was 15, visiting his grandmother in Lebanon, war broke out with Israel. He spent days in a basement while American-made bombs fell around him. It changed the course of his life and put him on a political path.

Alawieh grew up in Dearborn. He co-founded the Uncommitted movement that mobilized more than 100,000 Michigan voters in the 2024 Democratic primary. 

He is now a candidate for Michigan State Senate in District 2, which covers Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and parts of Downriver. But he did not sit down with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent to talk about his campaign. The Metro invited him because he is experiencing what other families across metro Detroit are living right now — watching war destroy the people and places they love from an American living room.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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

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

More stories from The Metro

Mid-February through March can be an exciting time across southeast Michigan. With spring being around the corner, people are looking to get out once again and connect with nature. One place to do that is the sugarbush. 

The sugarbush is a grove of sugar maples, and the name for an Indigenous practice of harvesting and cooking down sap to make syrup.

For years Indigenous people have used sugarbush as an opportunity gather, practice fellowship, and give back to the land by cleaning the area, removing debris and evasive plants. They utilize the trees for their sap and return the land to the state in which they found it.

A conversation with Rosebud Schneider, a member of the Anishinaabe people, shed light on the community aspect around sugarbush. 

“We have a responsibility to protect this land, protect each other. This is one way to do that,” said Schneider. She added that people coming together for sugarbush gives the older generations a chance to teach the younger generations what they know.

Black to the Land echoes Indigenous ethos

Organizations such as Black to The Land and Friends of Rouge Park keep the spirit of this practice going. Antonio Cosome, Black to The Land co-founder, and lead volunteer and organizer Isra Daraiseh, take volunteers through the process of sap collection, boiling and giving back to the land.

Utilizing the teachings of Indigenous elders, they’ve cultivated a sense of community by bringing people out and sharing the practice with them.

Each year they gather to tap maple trees, collect sap, and boil the sap down to produce maple sugar, maple vinegar, and, of course, syrup. Even the runoff during the boil itself gets reused to top deserts such as ice cream. Though it’s labor intensive, there’s a sense of transformation or enlightenment that comes from the practice.  

And, the products from the boil-down give meetings a sweet touch in the months to come.

The process of making maple syrup is shown in photos of Black to the Land Coalition’s boil down. Click photos to enlarge. Credit: Isaiah Lopez, WDET

Gas prices continue to rise in metro Detroit.  AAA Michigan says the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular hit four dollars today.  That’s up just over a penny from Tuesday and it’s 17 cents higher than a week ago.  You could get a gallon of gas for $2.95 in Detroit just over a month ago.  

Analysts say two factors are causing the price hikes.  The war in Iran is pushing up the price of crude oil,  which is used to make gasoline.  Refineries are also changing over to the summer blend of gas, which is more expensive to produce. 

Additional headlines for Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Severe weather possible Thursday 

Metro Detroiters might experience some severe weather Thursday.  

The National Weather Service has placed much of Southeast Michigan in a category for a “slight” risk of severe weather.  That’s level 2 on a scale of 5.  

Warm air will move into town,  raising temperatures into the mid-60s Thursday afternoon.  But a cold front will quickly follow, bringing rain and thunderstorms Thursday evening. 

Some of those storms could be strong or severe.  A thunderstorm is categorized as severe if it has wind gusts of more than 58 miles per hour or produces hail of one inch or larger.  

Remember, a watch means conditions are such that a severe thunderstorm is possible.  A warning means severe weather conditions exist now and you should take cover.  

Make sure to stay tuned to local media outlets throughout the day to get the latest weather updates. 

NAACP announces new general counsel 

The NAACP announced today that Kristen Clarke will become the organization’s new general counsel.  She’ll direct the organization’s legal strategies.  

The NAACP says Clarke’s legal expertise will help it protect voting rights and continue its efforts to secure civil and human rights for people across the country.  

She previously served as the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Sheffield prepares for State of the City 

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is preparing to give her first State of the City address next week.  

She’s scheduled to speak to a crowd at Mumford High School in northwest Detroit next Tuesday evening.  

Sheffield is expected to talk about several initiatives she’s launched in recent weeks including Rx Kids, which provides cash prescription support for pregnant women and newborn mothers.  Sheffield has also been active in ways to create new affordable housing for Detroiters.  

The State of the City speech takes place Tuesday night at 7 p.m.  You can hear it on 101.9 WDET FM, at wdet.org, or on the City of Detroit’s YouTube channel or Facebook page. 

Michigan schools move on in March Madness 

March Madness continues to occupy the attention of many Detroiters.  Michigan and Michigan State both have “Sweet 16” games on Friday in their respective quests for a national championship.  

No. 1-seed Michigan faces 4-seed Alabama Friday night at 7:35 p.m.  No. 3-seed Michigan State plays 2-seed UConn Friday night at 9:45 p.m.  Both games will be televised. 

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

About one month ago, Israel and America struck Iran. Now, Israel has enmeshed itself in more violence. 

In Iran, about 1500 people have been killed. Over 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon. Settler violence against Palestinians has been ratcheted up in the West Bank. And, in Israel, as of one week ago, a dozen Israelis had been killed from Iranian air strikes. 

Israel says it is attacking the Iranian regime and Hezbollah in Lebanon to remove existential threats from the region.

In the midst of all this, a man drove a truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. The attacker killed himself before he hurt anyone at the synagogue besides one security officer. He was grieving family that had been killed in Lebanon by Israel.

How are metro Detroit Jews processing this moment? And, what do conversations about domestic and foreign politics look like at this time?

Aaron Bergman is a rabbi at Adat Shalom, a synagogue in Farmington Hills. He spoke about all this with producer Sam Corey.

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.

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Today’s show brings together indie, jazz, funk, and electronic music. We spin tracks from Bronx River Parkway, RIO KOSTA, Cousin Kula, and Parquet Courts, alongside Caroline Rose, Cola Boyy, and Smerz. 

Other highlights include John Carroll Kirby, Common & Pete Rock, Hannah Cohen, The Shacks, and a live version of “Hell Is Near” by St. Vincent with Jules Buckley. 

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

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for March 25, 2026 

• “Song for Ray” – Bronx River Parkway 

• “One with You” – RIO KOSTA 

• “Clothes Off” – Cousin Kula 

• “Gap in the Clouds” – Yellow Days 

• “Walking at a Downtown Pace” – Parquet Courts 

• “One Inch Punch” – Yin Yin 

• “Jeannie Becomes a Mom” – Caroline Rose 

• “Beige 70 (Domenique Dumont Bilingual Remix)” – Cola Boyy 

• “Easy (Astrid Sonne EDIT)” – Smerz 

• “You got time and I got money” – Smerz 

• “In a Dream” – Misha Panfilov Sound Combo 

• “Blueberry Beads” – John Carroll Kirby 

• “Summer Sweat” – Hannah Cohen 

• “Trip To Japan” – The Shacks 

• “Golden Gate” – Miranda Lee Richards 

• “Hell Is Near (Live)” – St. Vincent & Jules Buckley 

• “Mohabbat” – Arooj Aftab 

• “Home to You” – Cate Le Bon 

• “Germfree Adolescence” – X-Ray Spex 

• “Big Dreams” – Amyl and The Sniffers 

• “Punishers” – Die Spitz 

• “Dumb Guitar” – Mount Kimbie 

• “Pressha” – Jill Scott 

• “Dreamin’” – Common & Pete Rock 

• “DAYDREAMIN” – Matthewdavid 

• “Air (feat. DOOM)” – Dabrye 

• “Jasmine (Demo)” – Jai Paul 

• “DNM” – Mk.gee 

• “Play (Objekt Remix)” – james K 

• “So Sheik (Los Hermanos Remix)” – DJ 3000 

• “Cumbia No Get Enemy” – Mitchum Yacoub 

• “Sun Circles (John Beltran Project Remix)” – Gratts 

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. 

After being diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer and being told he’s nearing the end of his life, Dan Austin wants to secure the preservation and advancement of the city he loves. He and his wife found a way to do that with the Austin Past & Future Fund.

Austin, 45, is a storyteller who has spent the past 20 years showcasing Detroit’s architecture, music and history. His work on the website Historic Detroit serves as a comprehensive archive of Detroit landmarks. It’s been primarily funded by Austin himself for the last 15 years, with some help from his audience.

The Austin Past & Future Fund allows for Historical Detroit’s archive to live on after he passes. It also provides scholarship funds to help motivated youth receive an education that will help them build up the city.

Eligible students can range from 16 to 26 years of age and apply to a variety of fields. “Whether they want to be a teacher or an urban planner… there are so many ways that you can make Detroit a better place, make a difference here,” says Austin. The amount of funding those students receive, as well as the number of students benefiting, all depends on donations to the Past & Future Fund in the years to come. Scholarships will be available starting in 2027.

Only a small portion of money is needed to keep Historic Detroit online as a resource. All donations to the site since the beginning of March go to the Austin Past & Future fund, and are tax-deductible.

Austin will also be auctioning off his extensive vinyl collection and donating the proceeds to the fund this summer.

“All I’ve ever wanted to do is give back to the city, because the city has given me so much,” said Austin. “So being afforded this opportunity, this vehicle to continue giving back to the city even after I’m gone… It’s more than I could have hoped for.”

Go to austinfund.org to learn more and donate.

The state has released a new strategic plan to address sickle cell disease. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says it developed the plan with input from those affected by it.

Its six strategic goals include ensuring access to high quality services, improve patient outcomes, changes to implementation of disease-modifying therapies and increasing awareness of best practices and available resources. 

Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to form in a sickle or crescent shape that can block blood flow. The disease may cause pain, infections, strokes and organ damage. An estimated 4,000 people in Michigan are diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

African Americans are most likely to have the disease, but people of Middle Eastern, South Asian, Hispanic and Mediterranean descent are also affected in significant numbers. 

The MDHHS Lifecourse Epidemiology & Genomics Division leads implementation of the 2026-30 Sickle Cell Strategic Plan. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/sicklecell. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Proposed data center in Detroit

A developer has submitted a proposal to build a data center on Detroit’s east side. The Detroit News reports the project would cover more than 14 acres of city-owned property on Shoemaker Street between the Coleman A. Young Airport and the Jeep plant. The report cites members of City Councilwoman Latisha Johnson’s staff.

Last week, the council passed a resolution urging Mayor Mary Sheffield to put data center proposals on hold for two years.

No Kings 3 

A “No Kings” rally is planned for downtown Detroit this Saturday. The local event is organized by a coalition of labor, civil rights, community and grassroots organizations calling itself No Kings Detroit.

Saturday’s rally is scheduled to run from 3-5 p.m. in Grand Circus Park and to coincide with rallies across the country protesting a range of Trump administration policies and actions, including those related to immigration, voting, the environment, economic issues and the war in Iran.  

Professional Women’s Hockey League plays in Detroit

The Professional Women’s Hockey League returns to Little Caesar’s Arena this week. The New York Sirens face the Montreal Victoire Saturday at 1 p.m.

This week’s game will be the first nationally televised PWHL game in the U.S., airing on ION and available to more than 126 million households. 61 PWHL players competed in the recent Winter Olympics – earning 41 medals, including the women of Team USA who got the gold. 

The three year old league has broken its attendance records each time it has played in Detroit—with an enthusiastic crowd —often expressing its desire to have PWHL team based in Hockey Town.  

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

Michigan, like the rest of the country, has faced polarizing political winds. Because of all the disagreement, fewer policies are making it through the state legislature. 

But that doesn’t mean political change isn’t possible in the state. A major vehicle for policy change has been ballot initiatives. Cannabis legalization, the end of gerrymandering, and the expansion of reproductive freedoms all were passed by ballot initiative over the last 8 years. 

And that leaves a pressing question now: Why have so many ballot initiatives from the left failed to make it to the ballot this year? Already, the initiative for ranked choice voting, an effort to tax rich people to fund Michigan schools, and a campaign to create one minimum wage for Michiganders all failed to make it on the 2026 ballot.  

Why? And, what does this say about the state of liberals and the Democratic Party in Michigan?

Colin Jackson is a Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He spoke about this with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent.

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

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Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is prioritizing anti-poverty measures in her 814-page proposed budget. 

The budget comes as more than a third of Detroit residents experienced poverty in 2024, the highest rate the city has seen since 2017. More than half of Detroit’s children are living in poverty, and the poverty rate among seniors reached its highest point in a decade.

Sheffield’s budget responds with new spending on multiple fronts. It promises free year-round bus rides for kids to reduce chronic absenteeism, higher pay for bus drivers, and a new office for senior affairs, with a $750,000 food access program for older Detroiters. It includes $2.2 million for after-school programs, a $500,000 increase to the Grow Detroit’s Young Talent summer jobs program, and a new $40 million Human, Homeless and Family Services Department. It also expands the city’s affordable housing fund, and provides a living wage for city workers.

But the city has 34 million fewer dollars than it did last year. So what makes it in, and what gets cut?

Detroit Documenters are sitting in on all 47 budget hearings alongside reporters at Outlier Media and Bridge Detroit.

Noah Kincade, coordinator of the Detroit Documenters program at Outlier Media, joined Robyn Vincent to discuss.

Editor’s note: The Public Lighting Authority director who used ChatGPT to respond to councilmembers’ budget questions is Beau Taylor. The broadcast version of this story misidentified him.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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

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

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