Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover updates on Detroit’s finances and immigration rights. Plus, local events for community leaders, dads and journalists.

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Detroit’s finances continue to improve

Experts are predicting Detroit will continue to its rebound from bankruptcy over the next few years. A report from the University of Michigan says by 2029, wages for Detroiters will increase while unemployment decreases by nearly 2 percent.

However, U-M economist Gabriel Ehrlich says policy changes by President Donald Trump could slow that growth.

“Obviously, we got a delay on those announced tariffs recently. But that’s the big wild card,” he says. “Protection for the domestic auto industry should help Michigan and should help Detroit, but other things are not going to be equal when you think about tariffs.”

Ehrlich adds that inflation has come down, leading to cuts in short-term interest rates, which should help Detroit’s auto and finance industries.

ACLU reinforces legal rights for students

The ACLU of Michigan and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center mailed out a letter to parents underlining the rights of children in schools. It’s in response to the Trump Administration rescinding a policy that kept places like schools and churches off limits to immigration enforcement.

ACLU of Michigan Attorney Miriam Aukerman says students have a constitutional right to education regardless of immigration status.

“Schools have the legal responsibility to respect students rights and to protect confidential student information, that also has not changed,” she says. “Schools are not required to let immigration enforcement officers into non-public school areas unless the officers have a judicial warrant”

Aukerman says schools should develop procedures for how to handle immigration enforcement, starting with requiring a judicial warrant for entry. 

313 Day DON Community Awards

Detroit’s Department of Neighborhoods has opened nominations for 313 Day Community Awards. Residents can nominate people, organizations or businesses who embody the “Spirit of Detroit” and are doing impactful work in the community. Nominations are open until Saturday, March 1.  Eligible nominees must impact the city of Detroit. Activities can include, but are not limited to, serving nonprofits, neighborhood groups, schools and faith-based organizations. Nominations can be submitted here.

Dearborn Daddy-Daughter Dance

Deaborn’s Daddy-Daughter dance is this weekend. The dance will be held Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.  The theme this year is Emerald City. The event will feature music, pizza, soft drinks and a keepsake for all daughters. The dance will be in the Lincoln Ballroom at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center at 15801 Michigan Ave. Tickets can be purchased at DearbornTheater.com.

Editor’s note: Tickets are currently sold out for the Saturday, Feb. 8 event.

Detroit Documenter orientation

Detroit Documenters is hosting an orientation for people who want to become a new Documenter. Documenters get paid to take notes or post live updates at public meetings. The workshop is mandatory for Documenters to get paid. Visit detroit.documenters.org to sign up.

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