A fire tore through the basement and first floor of the Checker Bar in downtown Detroit early this morning, fire officials say. The damage “unfortunately sounds fairly significant,” Corey McIsaac, a spokesperson for the Detroit Fire Department, tells Metro Times.

Michigan ranks near the bottom in a recent study measuring racial integration and progress across the U.S., highlighting significant disparities between Black and white residents. The state ranks 46th in racial integration and 39th in racial progress, according to the study released Tuesday by WalletHub. In the employment and wealth category, Michigan stands at 46th place for integration and 45th for progress.

Jonathan Nokielski, a beloved local comedian known by his stage name as Jaded Jaden, has unexpectedly died, leaving fans and fellow performers in shock. He was 43.

At Pistons’ basketball games, even over the television, you can clearly hear the chant of “Jar-ed GOFF!” At Red Wings’ hockey games in the same Little Caesars Arena, the fans repeat the name of the Lions’ quarterback: “Jar-ed GOFF!! Jar-ed GOFF!!” When the Tigers open baseball spring training next month — right after the Super Bowl — the fans in Florida may indeed echo the name: “Jar-ed GOFF!!!

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday that it has denied a warrant request in connection with allegations that rapper Nicki Minaj assaulted her former employee, Brandon Garrett, after a concert at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Detroit Police Department had submitted the request as part of its investigation into the alleged incident, which occurred on April 21, 2024, following Minaj’s performance on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour.

A cold, pulse-less darkness spreads across the frozen landscape. Superstitious peasants shutter their hovels and pray to ward off frightening evil.

This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here. This coverage is made possible in part through a partnership with Grist and Interlochen Public Radio in northern Michigan.

A large part of the fun of being a baseball fan is speculating about the future of our favorite team. Many of us believe that we could ultimately mastermind success for our “local nine” like we attempt to do with our fantasy baseball teams.

A daily tradition turned into a life-changing moment for a Wayne County man after he won $1 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s Wild Cherry instant game. The 50-year-old winner, who chose to remain anonymous, bought his lucky ticket at the Way Station in Plymouth.

What day is it, y'all? Wednesday? No, that's Prince Spaghetti Day.

The director of a Flint-based chemical company is facing a slew of felony and misdemeanor charges after an alleged failure to maintain critical systems resulted in the discharge of 15,000 gallons of an oil-chemical mixture into the Flint River in 2022. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the arrest and arraignment of Rajinder Singh Minhas, 60, of Rochester, who served as president, treasurer, and director of Lockhart Chemical Company.

Mayor Mike Duggan continues to distance himself from allegations that his office oversaw the destruction of critical prosecutorial files during his tenure as Wayne County prosecutor, despite mounting evidence and growing calls for accountability. The controversy stems from accusations that Duggan, who served as prosecutor from 2001 to 2004, presided over the purge of records now deemed essential by families of incarcerated individuals seeking to prove their innocence.

In a hall where weddings, christenings, and eulogies have taken place were now remnants of chaos. Even blood could be spotted in the aftermath of an unlikely event at the Gaelic League of Detroit Irish American Club in the same room where a children’s Irish dance class was scheduled the next day. Yet the 104-year-old Corktown fraternal organization and members-only watering hole had been booked by Ohio-based Ruthless Pro Wrestling, a company known for face-offs by “Hoodfoot” Mo Atlas and “The Carnivore” Remington Rhor.

The parents of two Black middle school students in Portage have filed a federal lawsuit against the district, alleging their children endured relentless racial harassment from peers and a school bus driver, while administrators failed to take meaningful action to address the behavior. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court last week, contends the Portage Public School District fostered an environment where racial harassment is pervasive and largely unaddressed. The children were so ruthlessly mocked that their parents, Adam and Nakia Baylis, removed them from Portage West Middle School, according to the lawsuit.

Pro-Palestinian students and alumni filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Michigan on Friday, alleging the school violated their constitutional rights to free speech, due process, and equal protection by silencing them. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court, claims the university engaged in a pattern of targeting pro-Palestine protesters with retaliatory disciplinary actions.

Democrats appear to have reneged on a pledge to pass legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants the ability to obtain a driver’s license, drawing strong criticism from supporters of the bills. Instead of taking up the Drive SAFE bills this week, the Democratic-led House is planning to adjourn for the year.

The Damage Zone, Detroit’s first and only rage room, has opened its doors in the Bethune community, offering customers a space to safely release stress and emotions through controlled destruction. The facility, founded by Zienethe “Zina” Holifield, combines entertainment with stress relief and community impact, making it a unique addition to Detroit’s small business landscape.