Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover new incentives for utilities to improve reliability. Plus, construction begins on I-696 East.

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Reliability incentives announced for utilities

DTE and Consumers Energy could face significant penalties within two years for missing reliability targets. But they could also get incentives for meeting or exceeding those goals.

The Michigan Public Service Commission says it will impose penalties of up to $10 million on each of the utilities for failing to reduce the frequency and duration of outages after storms. But the companies could also be awarded the same amount of money for meeting or exceeding outage improvement targets.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel along with others say the order is a start, but the penalties aren’t high enough, and don’t begin soon enough. Both utilities say the order supports what they’re already doing to improve reliability. 

MDOT I-696 construction begins

Construction on the “Restore the Reuther” project began today, spanning across eastbound I-696 from Lahser Road to I-75.

MDOT Spokesperson Diane Cross says the two-year project is part of a larger reconstruction of I-696. She says about 100,000 drivers will need to take another freeway. MDOT’s detour takes drivers south on M-10 on the bottom of the Davidson, then back north on I-75 to get back on I-696 East. But Cross says drivers will take a few weeks to find the best alternative routes for themselves, including other local roads like 8, 12 or 14 Mile Roads. 

Survey shows adults over 50 benefit from work

A National Poll on Healthy Aging found 34 percent of Michigan residents over age 50 have jobs. The University of Michigan’s Jeffrey Kullgren is the survey’s director.  

“So we found among working adults, age 50 and older, work has positive impacts on physical health, mental health and overall wellbeing,” Kullgren says. “And interestingly, these outcomes are especially pronounced for working adults age 65 and older.”

Kullgren says people report facing barriers such as a lack of training and transportation, or having disabilities. He says employers can provide more time off for doctor’s appointments.  

Wayne State MFA thesis exhibition to open

A new exhibition opens Friday, March 7 at the Wayne State University Art Department Gallery. “BEYOND” explores the themes of transformation, identity and migration. The artworks feature images of water, landscapes and materials which represent resilience. Artists featured are Michael Brzozowski, Alyssa Grace Olson and Ross Owusu. 

International Women’s Panel

The Detroit Public Library is hosting an International Women’s Day: Storytelling Festival on Saturday, March 8. This free event takes place at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library from 2-4:30 p.m. That’s at 5201 Woodward Ave. Galleria Detroit, MI 48202. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Detroit Youth Poetry Con

The Detroit Youth Poetry Con is hosting a free youth poetry showcase in Detroit this month. Participants will learn how to write poetry and connect with artists. The event is put together by InsideOut Literary Arts with the Wayne State University English Department and the NBA Foundation. There will also be special performances by InsideOut youth. 

The day-long event takes place on Saturday, March 15 starting at 9:30 a.m. Registration closes on Sunday, March 9. For more information, visit insideoutdetroit.org.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

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

Iola Corbett, also known as Sister Ameedah, is the author of the book “Growing Up Muslim and the Journey Continues,” a story about being born and raised in Detroit.

Corbett’s family was a part of the Nation of Islam when she was a child.

“That was unbelievable, because I remember it like my first time going with [my father] to the temple. At that time, because it was we had a restaurant, the temple was right around the corner,” she shared.

Over the years she met Malcolm X, who visited her family’s restaurant in Detroit often.

“My mother was an excellent cook, so he had dinner with my dad every day, so I got to hear him, and I would serve him. He was a big influence in my family’s life,” she said.

As part of growing up in the Nation of Islam, Corbett said she was a part of something bigger.

“It still gave me a purpose of who I was, who I wanted to be close with my community,” she explained.

There were many businesses, an apartment building and a bookstore that were part of the network.

“We were about African American people, because back in the day, and I’m sure when my dad come up here, I was amazed that he came here and drove, you know, because I remember going down south with him, and it was you couldn’t go in the bathroom. You couldn’t drink out of the faucet. So when we got around people that looked like us and were happy to and treated us royally, you couldn’t have anything but love for that,” she said.

“When we got around people that looked like us and were happy to and treated us royally, you couldn’t have anything but love for that.” — Iola Corbett

Her family converted to Sunni Islam as part of a mass conversion under the guidance of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed in the 1970s.

Corbett worked in Detroit in several roles, including as a factory worker and machine operator for the Detroit Oil Company. She also became first Black female president of Local Lodge 82 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW).

“I conduct the meetings and all that. But I also went on a tour of some of the unions around the city. I got to go to Halifax, Nova Scotia, you know, you travel to see what other unions or other of your union members were doing,” she explained.

The larger union 698 took over local union 82.

She says she wrote “Growing Up Muslim” as a way to preserve her family’s legacy.

“We need to know things about our history, and I wanted the community to know children and my grandchildren, and now I have lots of great grandchildren. I got to really expound about how I grew up, so they would know. Because, you know, my mom is gone, my dad is gone, so they never met him. I want them to know what great people that they were.”

Corbett said she’s working on a new book expanding on her life in Detroit.

Hear our full conversation with Corbett using the audio player above.

The Dearborn Police Department is investigating a road rage incident that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old Dearborn Heights girl.

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Dearborn Police responded to the incident on Friday between Tireman Avenue and West Morrow Circle. Police believe the conflict stemmed from one car cutting off another. The victim allegedly followed the suspect’s car to obtain the license plate number. Police allege the suspect shot the victim’s car several times, killing the driver. Two passengers were unharmed. 

Police are now looking for more information regarding the shooting. People can call the Dearborn Police Department at 313-943-2225 or leave an anonymous tip through CrimeStoppers by calling 1-800-SPEAKUP. 

“This is a tremendous and traumatic loss for the greater Dearborn community,” said Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud in a statement. “I thank the Dearborn, Detroit, and Michigan State Police officers who responded and assisted at the scene on Friday evening. I have full faith that our police department will dutifully investigate this incident and bring those involved to justice.”

Other headlines for Monday, Feb. 24, 2025:

• Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County says the organization is scrambling for funding after the Trump administration froze spending promised to help resettle refugees.
• The Patton Recreation Center is collecting donations to support people impacted by flooding from a water main break in Southwest Detroit last week. Residents impacted by the flooding should fill out a Notice of Claim as soon as possible at detroitmi.gov/waterdamageclaims or by calling 313-774-5261.
• The Arab American National Museum hosted a meet-and-greet with Palestinian American stand-up comedian Mohammed “Mo” Amer during the museum’s 20th anniversary celebration on Friday. is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
• The InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit is hosting a virtual film screening of “A Road Trip Across a Divided America,” features the voices of 200 Americans across the country, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, followed by a Q&A discussion.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan State Police are encouraging people to pick up free gun locks as part of an effort to raise awareness about safe gun storage.

Last year, nearly 57,000 free gun locks were distributed in the state from $500,000 in funding.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian is the Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan. She says firearms are the number one cause of death for kids.

“This is not just in Michigan, but across the country. When we look at children under the age of 19, firearm deaths are a bigger problem than accidental drownings and pediatric cancers. So this is really a core element of public health, is preventing these types of completely preventable deaths,” she said.

Last year, Michigan also passed a “red flag” law, which allows people to notify authorities if someone with a gun should surrender their firearms if they are a threat to themselves or others.

Bagdasarian says gun violence is a public health concern.

“Gun safety is really something that has not been talked about as a health issue for many decades, and I’m really glad that we’re starting to talk about this as a public health concern, because we know that firearms are now the number one cause of death for our children,” she said.

About 1,500 Michigan residents die each year in gun-related incidents – another 2,900 are injured. Bagdasarian says children are also impacted.

“They either injure themselves unintentionally, or they tend to injure a sibling or a close friend. And for the younger kids, they tend to think that the weapon is a toy. And for the older kids, they tend to think that the weapon is unloaded,” she said.

Bagdasarian says the vast majority of accidental shootings happen among children from weapons that are stored, unlocked and loaded. Guns are often kept in places like a nightstand, under a mattress, or on the top shelf of a closet.

She says having a gun lock, similar to a bike lock, can keep kids safe.

People can pick up gun locks from a local MDHHS office health department or participating police station by checking the Project ChildSafe website.

Todd Bettison has been selected by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to be the city’s next police chief.

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Bettison has been serving as interim chief since James White left the department last fall, and has been credited with fostering a strong relationship with Community Violence Intervention (CVI) groups.

Zoe Kennedy with CVI group Force Detroit says Bettison is the right choice for the community. 

“And I’m glad that they had a man like you to build with, and we didn’t have a police force that constantly attack us and shoot us down. Instead, they stand side by side with us and lift up community,” she said.

Detroit City Council has 30 days to either accept or reject Bettison’s appointment. 

Reporting by Russ McNamara, WDET News

Other headlines for Monday, Feb. 10, 2025:

• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently expanded the Department’s Auto Insurance Fraud Unit to combat auto insurance fraud and criminal auto theft operations.
• Outlier Media is looking for volunteers to participate in phone banking to help Detroiters find out if they are eligible for backpay on auctioned-off homes.
• Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree and the city of Detroit Board of Review is hosting an information session about foreclosure prevention for seniors from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center in Detroit.
• The networking group #muslimprofessionals is inviting local entrepreneurs to come mingle, network and collaborate at their next networking event at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at Haraz Coffee House, 32766 Ryan Rd., Warren.
• The nonprofit BUILD Institute is hosting a citywide Detroit SOUP session — a crowd-funded pitch competition — from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27 at MASH Detroit, 14711 Mack Ave, Detroit. Tickets are $10 on Eventbrite. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The American Cancer Society estimates 13,360 people are diagnosed with and 4,320 people die from cervical cancer every year in the U.S. 

Dr. John Wallbillich is a gynecologic oncologist and assistant professor at Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute. He says cervical cancer, which affects the cervix and other reproductive organs, is preventable and can be caught through regular screenings and the HPV vaccine.

“At least 95 percent, in some cases it’s thought to be 99 percent, of cases are caused by those cancer-causing strains of HPV,” Wallbillich says.

People 9–45 years old can get vaccinated against HPV. 

Wallbillich says people often do not have symptoms of cervical cancer. That’s why it’s important for women in their 20s and up to get routine pap smears, under the guidance of their primary care or OBGYN. 

He said people should see their doctor immediately if they experience any symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, especially in women after menopause.

“There’s a lot of new blood vessel growth involving cancers, and those blood vessels are not well organized, so they can kind of bleed a lot… There can be pain, given that it’s involving the pelvis, it could obstruct the urinary system,” he explained. “The more advanced cervical cancer is, the more symptomatic it is.” 

“The goal, besides trying to prevent it in the first place, would be to catch it before it even has any symptoms,” he said. 

Wallbillich said there is also HPV DNA testing which begins for women in their 30s, which is usually done during a pap smear.

Wallbillich said women of color often contract cervical cancer and die from it at higher rates than white women. 

“Especially in metro Detroit, we see both a lot of white and Black women and other ethnicities, but there’s about a 50% greater mortality [rate] among Black patients with cervical cancer than white patients,” he said. 

Wallbillich said that may be due to a lack of adequate affordable healthcare and comprehensive OBGYN care options for minority and older women, lack of transportation, and geography, with worsening disparities for Black and brown communities in rural counties.  

In the U.S., American Indian and Alaskan Native women have the highest risk and mortality rate for cervical cancer.

Wallbillich said there is a state-wide effort to increase breast cancer and cervical cancer screening — the Michigan Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP). Among younger women, however, he said there is more work to do to reach communities with social disparities. 

“It’s so multifactorial, and there’s a lot of societal disparities. It can be very tricky to really try to make a dent in it, but there are those programs. I mean, people are trying,” he said.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a recent memorial for the late former Dearborn Mayor John O’Reilly Jr; Detroit’s efforts to find a social media influencer to help the city expand its digital engagement strategy and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Community mourns former mayor

A memorial was held over the weekend for former Dearborn Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. O’Reilly served as mayor of Dearborn from 2007 to 2021. In 2022, Abdullah Hammoud was elected as the first Arab American and Muslim mayor of Dearborn, serving as the city’s seventh mayor. 

Detroit seeks influencers

The city of Detroit is looking for social media influencers and marketing companies to join its marketing team. The city’s Media Services Department is accepting bids as it expands its digital engagement strategy. To apply, visit detroitmi.gov/ocp and select “social media influencer” under bid opportunities. The deadline is Feb. 24.

 Detroit CPR & AED training

The Detroit Fire Department has trained 200 Detroit Public Schools Community District employees in CPR and using automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which help restart a heart that has stopped. It’s part of an effort to train more people under the state’s HEARTSafe Community designation. The city hopes to train 15% of the community in intervention and bystander training to help protect people with lifesaving interventions. 

New bus drivers graduate

A new batch of bus drivers just graduated from the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT). The 45 certified Transportation Equipment Operators will begin transporting passengers in Detroit. The new batch of drivers is a part of an effort to expand DDOT’s driving force. 

SAFE group discontinued

The Council on American-Muslim Relations Michigan Chapter says they are concerned about the recent suspension of the University of Michigan student group Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE). The university alleged they violated standards of conduct. In December, several advocacy groups filed a lawsuit on behalf of SAFE and other pro-Palestnian student groups and alumni who have been protesting the university’s stance on divestment from funds going toward Israel in its recent war with Hamas. The lawsuit alleges violations of the freedom of speech and due process. CAIR-MI has designated the University of Michigan as a “university of particular concern.”  

Storytellers sought for Narratives of Pain showcase

If you’re feeling broken-hearted, there’s a place for you to share your story. The Narratives of Pain is a storytelling showcase created by psychologists and storytellers alike to give people a platform to share their stories in a non-judgmental space. The next showcase is themed around “Broken Hearts and Connections” on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Apothecary Espresso and Coffee Shop in Farmington. People who want to take part can contact organizer Zain Shamoon at zain.shamoon87@gmail.com.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The City of Detroit and community partners came together at Wayne Metro in Detroit yesterday to encourage people to fill out their taxes this year to access credits and money.

The organizations are offering IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA services, for households making less than $67,000 a year. That means people can file their income tax for free if they are eligible. 

Nikhil Patel, Deputy CFO and treasurer at the city of Detroit, says many people may not file a tax return out of fear the IRS will take away money, or due to the daunting income tax filing process. 

“So while other people may have their own CPAs that they can go to, this service through Accounting Aid Society, United Way, and Wayne Metro fills that gap,” he says, referring to coalition partners who will file the taxes. 

Avec O’Brien, chief financial officer at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, says the refund goes back to people’s pockets but also helps the community. 

“Money that our families are using, then to buy goods, to engage in services that in the end and result in making our economy, our local economy, bloom and thrive. So it helps all of us. We are a community,” she said. 

Megan Thibos is the director of community impact innovation at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. She says the coalition hopes to serve people who may not be aware that they are eligible for tax credits or returns.

“As a whole, the coalition, last year served about 24,000 people in the metro area and put more than $26 million into the pockets of Detroiters and Metro Detroiters. So that’s between the two agencies combined,” she said.

Thibos says each year about 20% of people eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit do not file and claim that money.

The coalition is working with volunteer accountants to file tax returns for eligible people.

Thibos says last year the community organizations served about 24,000 people in the area and put more than $26 million into the pockets of Metro Detroiters.

 “There’s tens of millions of dollars that are being left on the table in our region every single year,” she said.

Priscilla Perkins, president and CEO of Accounting Aid Society, says that accounting services through the coalition are available in Arabic, Spanish, Bengali, and other languages through coalition partners. 

“We could not serve the thousands we serve each tax season without the help of well-trained volunteers that come through the IRS. So we are reputable. We have been here at Accounting Aid Society for 53 years doing this good work,” she said.

Perkins says the free accounting services hope to lower barriers for people to file their return. She says the typical refund is about $1,500 on average. 

She says her organization also has a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. 

“If you are behind on your taxes and you’re fearful, we have a process. Assess to help you, you can come in, sit down and consult with one of our expert individuals who can look at your back taxes, help you manage fees and fines from audits,” she said.

Matthew Hetherwick, chief program officer at Accounting Aid Society, says they are working with community organizations to spread the word about their free services.

“Those partners are in various parts of our community that serve different populations, different neighborhoods. So whether they’re a block, club, community development organization, or service organization, we share the information with them, oftentimes in a native language that would be understandable for somebody who is not speaking English firsthand,” he said.

Hetherwick says the nonprofit is also looking for more volunteer accountants. People can sign up for the last training, scheduled for Feb. 8, at accountingaidsociety.org. 

The nonprofit works year-round — as people can file their taxes up to four years later — to receive refunds. 

“We do encourage to get in as early as possible. But we’re here. We’re not just going to close up shop in April and disappear. We’re here to support and help people,” he said.

Community partners say even if you’re unsure whether you should file a return or you don’t owe money, you can still schedule an appointment to learn more by calling 2-1-1 or by visiting getthetaxfacts.org to schedule an appointment before April 15.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a nearly $80 million expansion of funding for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Michigan; upcoming financial literacy workshops in Detroit and Dearborn, and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Whitmer announces small business credit 2.0

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced an expansion of funding for small businesses via the State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0, a federal program designed to increase the availability of capital for small business owners through lending or investment. The funding will provide over $79 million toward historically underserved communities, and entrepreneurs who need support to pursue their business ideas.  

ACCESS to host financial literacy workshops

The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) is teaming up with JPMorgan Chase to host financial literacy workshops in Detroit and Dearborn. 

The eight-week workshops will provide attendees with lessons and resources for financial success. Topics include an introduction to banking, building credit, budget and saving, managing debt, avoiding scams and an introduction to investing. 

Workshops in both Detroit and Dearborn will be held every Thursday beginning Jan. 30. The Detroit workshop will take place from 1-2 p.m. at West Warren Career Center, 16427 W. Warren Ave. Workshops in Dearborn will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the One-Stop Employment & Human Services Center, 6451 Schaefer Rd. This location will also have Arabic translations available. Space is limited and attendees must register in advance on the ACCESS website.

White House Spanish-language page shut down

The White House took down its Spanish-language website, hours after Trump’s inauguration last week. The site now shows a 404 error message. The Associated Press reports that Hispanic groups say this is a step in the wrong direction. Many Spanish-speaking voters helped reelect Trump. The White House’s Spanish X profile was also taken down.  

The Trump administration took down the Spanish resources from the White House website during his last term. The Census Bureau reports that over 43 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish at home.  

Wayne County seeking nominations for residents to ‘highlight’

Wayne County is looking to highlight residents who have had a positive impact on the community. Residents can nominate people they know through the county’s Instagram page. 

Nominees can be individuals, groups, organizations, or businesses. Submissions can be made via a Google Form in the county’s Instagram bio or by emailing waynecountycommunications@gmail.com. 

Hamtramck vs Dearborn Charity Basketball Game

Hamtramck and Dearborn residents will once again compete against each other for a charity basketball game at 6 p.m. Feb. 7, at Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn. OZ Media is hosting the 4th annual charity game, with donations going toward charities in Lebanon, Palestine and Yemen. Many city leaders will be a part of the game, including Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Dearborn Superintendent Glen Maleyko, Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin, Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, Hamtramck influencer Dulla Mulla, and many others. 

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under.  

Bollywood High Tea at Detroit Shipping Co.

Detroit Shipping Company will host a Bollywood-inspired “afternoon and high tea” event from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1. The event will be hosted by food blogger Alina Alam, known by her handle @foodiesnapper, and feature stories from South Asian culture, karak chai, Kashmiri pink tea, cookies and samosas.  

WDET’s Zahra Hassan contributed to this report.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently shared a report before Judge Nancy G. Edmunds of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan about the state’s foster care system. 

It’s part of the Modified Implementation, Sustainability, and Exit Plan, or MISEP, a process to get out-of-court oversight of the department since 2008. 

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel says the department has been making improvements over the years. 

“The monitors as well as the plaintiffs agree that we’re making significant progress in those areas, and we are going to be able to move some of the requirements into a non-monitoring section,” she said.

Hertel said that will allow the department to focus on a few areas to get out of the consent decree. 

The report is a result of a 2006 lawsuit leading to a consent decree and federal court monitoring of foster care in Michigan. 

The department has passed five out of 26 points of compliance.

“We’re really proud to say that we’ve brought on almost 1,000 new foster families in the last year so that children are able to stay in a home environment instead of going to a residential facility.”

–MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel

The changes include: adding more foster parents to the system, reducing caseworker loads, increasing kinship care and improving services.

“We’re really proud to say that we’ve brought on almost 1,000 new foster families in the last year so that children are able to stay in a home environment instead of going to a residential facility,” Hertel said.

That’s to care for about 10,000 kids in the foster care system, with 200 youth seeking adoption.

Hertel said the department is monitoring maltreatment and care, keeping kids safe when they enter the foster care system.

“Sometimes families don’t understand the requirements when a child’s removed from biological parents that they need to have supervised visits or that sort of thing… Grandma will let mom take the child, and that really, maybe is against what the court order is,” she said.

Hertel says there is also an effort to keep kids in homes that are culturally sensitive to their unique needs, which she says usually happens when family members can step up to care for the youth.

“We know that there is a focus on whatever culturally appropriate needs they might have: the same religion, maybe the same school system,” she said. “Grandma, grandpa, aunt uncle may already know what that is.”

She says it’s important for children to feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe. 

“We continue to work toward that,” she added.

The state is also working to minimize the movement of foster care placements and to help keep kids out of the system in the first place.

“We want everyone to understand it is best for everyone if children can stay with their families, with their parents in a safe environment,” she said.

Hertel says the department is taking steps to leave federal monitoring.

“Our Children’s Services Administration, the governor, has prioritized ensuring that things are adequately funded, and we have service provision. We would really, really love to see that court oversight removed by the end of the governor’s tenure,” she said. “We really think that we have the momentum and the resources and the staffing to be able to do this.”

The focus, she said, is on keeping the kids safe.

“So we’ve really spent a lot of time thinking about where in the system these improvements can be made to ensure that families first are bypassing the system all along and staying safely together with some assistance, and if they do get to the point where they are entering the system, that they have the services that they should be getting to make sure that they can stay together safely.”