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Detroit’s dry spell: On track for the driest, dustiest September ever

Southeast Michigan is facing an exceptionally dry month, possibly setting a record for the driest September since weather tracking began, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). “It has now been 7 days since Detroit has seen a drop of rain,” NWS Detroit posted to X on Friday. “With only 0.06 [inches] so far this month and a dry forecast for the next 7 days (and possibly beyond), we could be on track for the driest September on record.”

Lawsuit filed after field trip goes horribly wrong at Auburn Hills test track

The parents of two elementary school children who were severely injured when a car violently struck them during a vehicle demonstration at a test track in Auburn Hills in July 2023 filed a lawsuit Monday. The lawsuit was filed in Oakland County Circuit Court against Continental Automotive Systems, Ford Motor Co., the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), and the driver, Linus Gugino.

Michigan inmate wins $100 million judgment against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for sexual assault

A Michigan inmate known for his long history of challenging the judicial system with civil lawsuits has been awarded a $100 million default judgment against embattled entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The award was issued Monday by Lenawee County Circuit Court Judge Anna Marie Anzalone following a temporary restraining order granted to Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, 51, against Combs in August. Combs, who has become the target of multiple lawsuits and criminal investigations in 2024, drugged and sexually assaulted Cardello-Smith in 1997 at a party in Detroit, according to court records.

Metro Detroit students can get a free homecoming dress at this upcoming event

Homecoming season is just around the corner and teenagers across metro Detroit are searching for the perfect outfit. Comerica Bank, in partnership with local nonprofit Jackets for Jobs, is hosting a two-day homecoming boutique to give away free dresses to local students. The event will be held at the Samaritan Center on Detroit’s east side from Sept. 14-15.

Prosecutor Worthy requests funds to investigate cases handled by detective featured in Metro Times series

A little more than a month after Metro Times published a two-part series exposing a former Detroit detective who used illegal tactics to elicit false confessions and witness statements, both prosecutors and police oversight officials pledged to take action Thursday. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy plans to expand a unit dedicated to exonerating innocent people, and the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners is investigating complaints that Detective Barbara Simon engaged in a pattern of criminal wrongdoing.

Exonerated man files criminal complaint against former Detroit detective featured in Metro Times series

Mark Craighead, who was exonerated after spending more than seven years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, filed a criminal complaint Wednesday against the Detroit detective who elicited his false confession in June 2000. Craighead alleges former Detective Barbara Simon engaged in a pattern of criminal wrongdoing by committing perjury, illegally detaining suspects for long periods without a warrant, and assaulting and threatening witnesses. Simon was the subject of a two-part Metro Times series that exposed her aggressive and illegal tactics that led to false confessions and wrongful imprisonment.

Vanguard Community Development Corporation marks 30 years of transforming Detroit’s North End

Thirty years ago, Bishop Edgar Vann of Detroit’s Second Ebenezer Church founded the Vanguard Community Development Corporation with the simple goal of providing after-school programs for local youths. Today, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization’s mission has expanded to all matters of community development and engagement, including affordable housing and commercial development. Vanguard will celebrate its anniversary with a gala and award ceremony from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday at the Henry Ford Health Pistons Performance Center.

Lapointe: Summer playground memories on Detroit’s east side

When playground director Gene Kelty umpired softball games at Hansen Field in the 1960s, he left no doubt about the location of a good pitch. “Stee-RIKE!” he’d call in a voice that carried across the street on Drexel and off the brick walls of St. Martin of Tours church, school, convent, and rectory in Detroit’s southeast corner. “Stee-RIKE!!” Kelty’s voice kept echoing off all those brick houses bordering the playground on Piper, Avondale, and Averhill Court in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood.

Michigan regulators settle civil rights case over environmental racism in Detroit

Environmental activists reached a “groundbreaking settlement” with Michigan regulators following a civil rights complaint over the state’s disproportionate licensing of hazardous waste facilities in predominantly Black, brown, and lower-income neighborhoods. The settlement, announced Thursday, also addresses the approval of a significant expansion of U.S. Ecology North, a hazardous waste facility in Detroit, which has sparked intense community opposition.

Black-owned Sports Rap Radio in Detroit pulls plug less than 3 months after launching

Less than 90 days after its launch, Detroit-based Sports Rap Radio, touted as the nation’s first sports-talk radio station completely owned by and featuring African American talent, has come to an end — for now. Rob Parker, a well-known sports radio host with roots in Detroit, launched Sports Rap Radio in early June, with the goal of adding Black voices at a time when local sports radio is dominated by white hosts.

Savage X Fenty by Rihanna opens first Michigan store in Detroit

Detroit will soon welcome Michigan’s first Savage X Fenty store, the globally renowned lingerie and apparel brand by singer and businesswoman Rihanna known for “championing inclusivity, fearlessness, and confidence.” The new store will be located at 1442 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, a space owned by Bedrock, near other downtown shopping spots like H&M, Nike, and Lululemon. First announced in 2022, the store was originally planned to open in 2023.

Detroit Evening Report: Severe storms cause damage, power outages throughout Detroit area

Some Detroiters are without power and others still cleaning up after severe thunderstorms hit the region both on Tuesday and Wednesday night. 

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The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of more than 75 miles per hour at Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday night, with high winds bringing down tree branches and causing power outages around the region. 

DTE Energy reported more than 200,000 power outages Wednesday morning. Weather on Thursday is expected to be mostly dry and humid, with a high of 81 degrees. Thunderstorms are likely to return on Friday with heat indices ranging
from the upper 80s to mid 90s.

Other headlines for Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024:

  • Outages on the Dearborn-Allen Park border caused problems for motorists trying to get to Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday morning.
  • Detroit has set up cooling centers to keep residents safe during the high temperatures that blanketed Detroit this week.
  • Former Detroit City Council President Saunteel Jenkins is considering a run for Detroit mayor.
  • Wayne State University is holding a special grand opening reception on Thursday for its newest music venue, the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center.
  • The Detroit Lions have made a number of roster changes to get ready for the NFL regular season.

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The post Detroit Evening Report: Severe storms cause damage, power outages throughout Detroit area appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Families and exonerees rally against former Detroit detective accused of misconduct, wrongful convictions

Protesters gathered outside the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, calling for an independent and extensive review of all cases handled by a former Detroit detective accused of putting innocent Black men behind bars for two decades. Demonstrators also urged Prosecutor Kym Worthy to file charges against retired Detective Barbara Simon for allegedly committing perjury and unlawfully detaining suspects and witnesses while working in the homicide division in the 1990s and early 2000s. The protest was prompted by a two-part Metro Times series that showed how Simon confined young suspects and witnesses to small rooms at police headquarters for hours without a warrant.

The recovering addict helping to save lives in Oakland County’s overdose crisis

On June 8, 2023, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) posted a message on social media saying that it had responded to an unusually high volume of calls reporting suicide attempts and overdoses in a 48-hour period. “Many people are facing great personal challenges and there is help available,” the post read. The message came amid a growing crisis of overdose and drug-related deaths.

Protest to target Wayne County prosecutor over wrongful convictions featured in Metro Times

Protesters plan to rally outside the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday to demand a thorough review of all cases handled by a former Detroit detective who terrorized young Black men for nearly two decades. The protest comes a little more than a month after Metro Times launched a series about Detective Barbara Simon, who confined young suspects and witnesses to small rooms at police headquarters for hours without a warrant.

Detroit Marriott sued over alleged sexual assault and hostile work environment

A former employee of the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center is suing the hotel chain after she alleges she was sexually assaulted by a manager and then forced to leave her job. The Dearborn woman, whom Metro Times won’t identify because she was the victim of an alleged crime, claims in the lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court that the Detroit Marriott “created a sexually hostile environment” and failed to protect her. According to the lawsuit, manager Dhurba Koirala invited the employee to his hotel room at the end of her shift at 1 p.m. on Aug. 8 “under the guise that other employees would be present.”

This Detroit beauty salon aims to give stylists a bigger cut

Over the course of her career as a hairstylist, Kelsie Angst says she’s appreciated the camaraderie with her coworkers and the opportunity to learn new skills along the way. That’s the spirit she hopes to cultivate at her new beauty salon Studio Vera, which recently opened in Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood. “I’ve worked in a few salons, and I stayed at most of them for at least three years,” Angst says.

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