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.

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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.” 

Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel says Michigan is one of 14 states taking legal action to protect health insurance access for Dreamers from potential court challenges.

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The move comes amid concerns about possible changes to U.S. immigration policies under the incoming Trump administration. The motion to intervene acts as a measure to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from losing health care insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

DACA designation is for people who have come to the U.S. as children and have lived here since 2007. It prevents immediate deportation for two years.

Michigan law allows DACA recipients to apply for insurance under the Biden Administration’s expansion of health care coverage.

“DACA recipients came to the U.S. as children but are now overwhelmingly adults caring for children — affordable health insurance is essential for healthy families and communities,” said Susan E. Reed, director of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, in a statement. “Protecting access to the ACA creates greater stability for the entire health care system and we applaud this action by the Attorney General.”

Other states joining the motion include New Jersey, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Vermont.

Other headlines for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2024:

• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services published a plan this week to improve its foster care system in Michigan.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $60 million to 125 federally funded health centers to expand their hours of operation.
• Tejara, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce’s business incubator program, is hosting a coffee chat from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23 at Bayt al Mocha in Dearborn. Speaker Farah Bazzi, the founder of Marassel Cards, will share marketing tips and insights on brand growth.
• Tejara is also hosting a 9-week boot camp to guide Arab American and first or second-generation immigrants in developing businesses from idea to launch. The program takes from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Friday,s Feb. 21 through April 18. For more information, contact Huda Rahman at huda@tejara.org or call 313-850-2849. Applications are due by Jan. 28.

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

The Hamtramck Police Department is rolling out a new Citizens Police Academy  — a new course for Hamtramck leaders to learn the ins and outs of the department.

Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri says the 21-hour comprehensive course will give the public a working knowledge of the police department’s personnel and policies.

“I really think it’s going to really be a bridge between us and the community because the people attending the Citizens Academy are leaders within the community. That’s who we’re targeting: it’s the doctors, architects, laborers, also activists, religious leaders,” he said.

Altaheri says the course consists of a series of classes held once each week for three hours. People will be provided with coursework, tours, and hands-on demonstrations.

Topics include evidence collection, digital forensics, and patrol. The department hopes to provide tours and ride-alongs as well.

Altaheri says it’s an effort to build bridges between the department and the public.

“We’re going to create a group, Hamtramck police citizens group, and create events every year where we bring all the different graduates from various years together, and we hope that they could be liaisons and be ambassadors for the police department, but also for their own community,” he said.

Altaheri says he hopes youth will also take part in the academy.

“We also want to make sure we get all groups of people from different walks of life. So we’re reaching out to the African American community, the Bangladeshi community, the Yemeni community, so we want to make sure we get a diverse group of people,” he said.  “I think it’s good too, because they also get to know one another.”

People who live and work in Hamtramck are encouraged to apply.

Altaheri says he hopes the course also dispels misconceptions about the police department while creating transparency.

Classes will be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, starting Jan. 29 through March 19. Those interested in participating can register at hamtramckcity.gov or by visiting the department’s Facebook page.

Applications can also be picked up at the front desk of the Hamtramck Police Department, located inside Hamtramck City Hall.

Michigan is working to streamline behavioral health care for Medicaid and Medicare patients with mental health or substance use disorders. 

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Megan Groen, Michigan’s Medicaid director, says the state received a $7.5 million grant to implement the changes over the next eight years. 

“You know, Medicaid and Medicare populations experience a disproportionately high rate of mental health conditions, substance use disorder or both, and as a result, they’re more likely to experience more health outcomes, such as frequent visits to the emergency department, hospitalization,” she said.

Groen says the CMS model hopes to provide a more personalized integrated care to reduce emergency room visits and improve behavioral and physical health outcomes. 

The department also hopes to address health-related social needs such as housing, food and transportation. 

Other headlines for Monday, Jan. 13, 2024:

• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is looking for people to join its Social Determinants of Health Hubs Advisory Council. The council is a part of Michigan’s Roadmap to Healthy Communities, which provides recommendations to improve health and well-being. Applications are due by Friday, Jan. 17. Meetings will be held virtually, starting in February 2025 through December.
• Dearborn Heights homes and businesses will be getting new high-tech water meters to replace ones that are over 60 years old, thanks to state and federal grant funding. The replacements will begin this month and take about 24 months to complete.
• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning residents about possible parking scams around the Detroit Auto Show, taking place now through Jan. 20 at Huntington Place in Detroit.
• The Association of Chinese Americans is hosting a Lunar New Year Community Fair in Detroit from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2, in Shed 4 of Eastern Market.
• Several Asian American organizations are coming together to host a virtual presentation to prepare immigrants for policy changes proposed by the incoming Trump administration. The Asian Americans Advancing Justice Affiliation will go over potential immigrant policy changes and share key information impacting AAPI communities during a webinar set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21.

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

Metro Detroit has a growing Bangladeshi population. That’s why there’s more interest in the region’s culture and food. 

Dina Begum is a U.K.-based food writer and the author of the Bangladeshi cookbook, “Made in Bangladesh: Recipes and Stories From a Home Kitchen,” which features 76 recipes from the country’s eight divisions.

“It was so important to preserve these recipes that have been passed down through generations, from my grandmothers, from my mum, my aunties,” she said. “Similarly, with a lot of the Bangladeshi diaspora — who have kind of grown up abroad — it’s important to preserve those recipes and share them with people who don’t know much about Bangladeshi cuisine.

Begum says she’s been compiling these recipes in her head since she was a child. Begum moved from Sylhet, Bangladesh to the U.K. when she was four years old with her family.

She says the book shares memories of her childhood watching her family members whip up Bangladeshi foods in U.K. kitchens, and a summer in Bangladesh watching how people make meals from farm to table.

“Everything that we had was fresh, kind of just harvested and cooked, the style of cooking was different. So even though we had traditional food in the U.K., the flavors and the way it was cooked and just the stories around them, families gathering, I just love the whole culture of it,” she said.

The book features the six original seasons of Bangladesh, the festivals, culture, and how intrinsic food is to those activities.

She also features dishes from the eight divisions of Bangladesh: Barishal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet.

“It was important to showcase special specialties from different regions to people who are new to Bangladeshi cuisine,” she said. “We’ve got a range of dishes from the north, south, east, west.” 

Begum recently traveled to Bangladesh to do research for her new book, to test her recipes and learn more about the various regional dishes.

She says this book is for people who are familiar with Bangladeshi food, but also for those who are curious about the cuisine. 

“I didn’t grow up seeing a lot of Bangladeshi culture represented, and then I thought this would be an opportunity to present that to people that, not only people that I know, but people internationally, people who are not Bangladeshi, who want to find out more about Bangladeshi cuisine,” she says.

Begum says there’s an expanding interest in Bangladeshi cuisine, with an increase of Bangladeshis migrating to the U.K. who are in search of homemade foods, along with the rise of social media bloggers in the U.K.

She says many Bangladeshis owned Indian restaurants in the U.K. in the 1960s and 1970s, when the country was still a part of India, contributing dishes like the U.K.’s national dish, chicken tikka masala.

“At one point, we had over 50 restaurants along Brick Lane Bangladeshi owned restaurants and run by Bangladeshis. But sadly, they didn’t often sell Bangladeshi food, which was partly due to the fact that when they started opening, it wasn’t Bangladesh,” she said. 

Bangladesh gained independence from India in 1971.

“Often it’s Bangladeshis that started these businesses, but the cuisine or heritage is nowhere to be seen. So it was important to me to highlight that,” she said.

Begum says that cuisine is what Bangladeshis eat at home, and is oftentimes not found in restaurants.

But she says that’s slowly changing, adding that as a food writer, she’s noticed a shift in the past 15 years or so.

“Now I can see more kind of Bangladeshi restaurants popping up. There’s a smaller kind of eateries owned and run by Bangladeshi that sell kind of home-cooked style foods,” she said.

She says people are also hosting super clubs, and pop-ups, and writing about the food, and posting it online.

“Mothers at home, sometimes they don’t speak English, but it’s an amazing way for them to kind of share the food that they, you know, create every day. And through that, people kind of engage with the content,” Begum said.

She says tourism to Bangladesh has also spiked a curiosity in people. 

“Vloggers going to Bangladesh as a tourism has also kind of influenced that as well as people’s interest in Bangladesh cuisine,” she said.

Begum says the book was a labor of love, from figuring out measurements for ingredients to researching stories behind the recipes.

“I’ve tried to keep them as traditional as possible how my mother or grandmother used to cook. So obviously, it’s easier for the home cook to cook. And also, I guess the challenge was to try and write everything down, measure them, time them, which is not the way I grew up cooking,” she says. “Everything was kind of through andaaz or estimation, And it’s a way you feel your way around the kitchen. You kind of know when something’s cooked, when it’s how something smells or something looks, there’s no timers, there’s no, you know, weights, measurements, nothing in the Bangladeshi kitchen,” she said.

Begum says the book is a love letter to herself and others.

“I wanted [people] to open the book and just feel happy looking at it, you know, wherever they came from,” she said. “And also trying to include some Bangla in there as well, in terms of the season’s name and the map. So just to put that in there so people can see, you know, how beautiful Bangla looks.”

Begum is also the author of, “The Brick Lane Cookbook.” The book can be purchased here. 

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy put out an advisory last week about the link between cancer and alcohol use — which he suggests should be clearly labeled on alcoholic products.

Murthy’s advisory comes as research and evidence mounts about the bad effects that alcohol has on human health, but his proposal for a label would require a rare approval from the U.S. Congress.

Murthy notes alcohol consumption is to blame for nearly one million preventable cancer cases in the U.S. over the last decade. About 20,000 people die every year from those alcohol-related cancer cases, the advisory said.

Bottles of beer, wine and liquor already carry warning labels that say pregnant women should not drink and that alcohol consumption can impair someone’s ability to drive a car. But Murthy’s proposed label would go even further, raising awareness about the risk for cancer, too.

Consuming alcohol raises the risk of developing at least seven types of cancer diseases, including liver, breast and throat cancer, research has found. His advisory also notes that as a person’s alcohol consumption goes up, so does the risk for developing those illnesses.

“For individuals, be aware that cancer risk increases as you drink more alcohol,” Murthy wrote Friday on the social media platform X. “As you consider whether or how much to drink, keep in mind that less is better when it comes to cancer risk.”

Even with the Surgeon General’s advisory and new research that shows the dangers of drinking, it’s unlikely Congress would act swiftly to enact a new Surgeon General’s warning on alcohol products.

It’s been nearly four decades since Congress approved the first government warning label on alcohol, the one that says pregnant women shouldn’t drink and warns about the dangers of driving while drinking. No updates have been made since then.

The surgeon general’s advisory comes as the government is in the process of updating dietary guidelines, including those around alcohol, that will form the cornerstone of federal food programs and policy. The updated guidelines are expected later this year.

The current guidelines recommend women have one drink or fewer per day while men should stick to two or fewer.

Reporting by Amanda Seitz, Associated Press. Associated Press writer Carla K. Johnson contributed.

Other headlines for Monday, Jan. 6, 2025:

• Detroit police have arrested the driver who struck and killed an off-duty officer Sunday morning.
• The Hamtramck Police Department is looking for people to join the Citizens Police Academy. Classes will be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 29 through March 19.
• The Neighborhood Vitality Index is a tool to help Detroiters drive change in their neighborhoods. The project  — a collaboration between Community Development Advocates of Detroit, Data Driven Detroit and the JFM Consulting Group — seeks input from Detroit residents to find out more about their health, housing, and transportation needs. The first 4,500 respondents will get a $25 gift card. Participants must be age 18 or older.
• If you’re looking for a way to get rid of your Christmas tree, the city of Detroit is collecting them during the first two weeks of January. Text 313-800-7905 for reminders about trash pickup dates and recycling in the city.
• The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) is hosting an education series featuring City Council President Pro Tem James Tate to talk about tax incentives and other city resources. The presentation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 13 at the James Tate Jr. Community Annex, 21511 W McNichols Rd, Detroit.

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

Wayne State University’s College of Nursing trained about 600 people in Mental Health First Aid through a $1.5 million grant in the past three years.

Dr. Cynthera McNeill is an associate professor and director of the adult gerontology nurse practitioner program at WSU’s primary care program. She says the program initially started by adding mental health care providers in two Detroit primary care clinics to help connect people to resources and break the stigma of getting mental health care.

“A lot of mental health facilities had since closed due to funding or for whatever reason, and that mental health access was not readily accessible,” she said, with the grant rolling out during the pandemic. 

People were also trained in Mental Health First Aid, or as McNeill described it, “the ability to equip community-based organizations with the actual tools to be able to identify mental health concerns early in certain populations, and then be a bridge to that person getting mental help or mental assistance.”

McNeill says the training is like CPR, allowing people to identify symptoms, intervene, and connect them with resources, such as therapists.

“We initially trained 26 community leaders in Mental Health First Aid as a trainer. So that’s a separate training,” she said. “We trained the trainers first, and then the trainers then went into their communities, and collectively, to date, we trained over 600 individuals.”

The College of Nursing received an additional $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health this year to work with Middle Eastern North African (MENA) and African American communities to address colorectal cancer screening and opioid overdose prevention.

“For the opioid piece, we have incorporated and continue with the Mental Health First Aid, because the Mental Health First Aid does cover substance use,” she said.

She says the training creates sustainable solutions for communities in need.

“I am a strong believer that we need to really start to embrace equipping our communities with the skills that they need in order to implement and sustain interventions, and leveraging the community-based organizations — the entities that are the experts in their population of interest,” McNeill said.

She says the program allows communities to sustain themselves by training others and working with trusted resources within the community. 

“They can continue to offer this to their people and to be able to make an impact in their communities,” McNeill said.

This week on the Detroit Evening Report, we’re reflecting on some of the stories we’ve reported on at WDET this year that show how special the people and places in our community truly are.

We also share some news about what’s happening in the community over the holidays. 

Today, we hear a bit of an interview featured on WDET’s The Metro with Antonio Cosme, co-founder of the nonprofit Black to the Land; and Andrea Di Cresce, program coordinator of Our Global Youth.

They spoke to co-host Tia Graham about the work their organizations do to increase access to the outdoors for Black and brown people in Detroit. 

Other headlines for Monday, Dec. 30, 2024:

Young revelers and their families can ring in the new year without missing their bedtimes at “Noon Years Eve” celebrations Tuesday:

• United Skates of America in Lincoln Park is starting its festivities at 10 a.m. with a ball drop at noon. Attendees can partake in dancing, characters, noise makers and more. Admission is $16 and includes skate rental, pizza and a drink. Tickets are available through Eventbrite. 
• Visitors to the Henry Ford Museum can also party early on Tuesday. Their Noon Years Eve Party starts at 10 a.m. and ends at noon. There will be a story time, crafts, activities and a bubble wrap stomp. Party admission also includes access to the museum. The cost is $34 for non-members 12 and older; $25.50 for children younger between 5 and 11; children 4 and under and museum members are free. For more information visit thehenryford.org/rediscover. 
• The Clarkston Independent District Library will celebrate Noon Year’s Eve from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The free event offers activities aimed at ages ranging from young children to upper elementary-aged kids. 
• Paradise Park in Novi will host a New Year’s Family Bash from 12:30 until 2:30pm. Paradise Park is at 45799 Grand River Avenue. Tickets start at $21.95. For more information, visit paradiseparknovi.com.  

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

Ali Mohammad Rizwan, author of the book, “MetalGhost: Kashif and the Echoes from a Past Life,” explores the life of Muslim superheroes.

Rizwan, who grew up in New Jersey, has watched and read superhero stories since childhood. But he felt that he couldn’t see himself in those stories.

“I’ve always loved writing, and I’ve always had this idea in my mind where I felt as a Muslim American, I really don’t feel we’re represented properly or enough so, and I wanted to do something about that,” he told WDET.

Rizwan says he began writing his first story over the past eight years.

“Before I knew it, I had a full-fledged novel in my hand,” he said.

As a child, as someone who loved watching and reading about superheroes, he would look for books at the library that had Muslim superheroes. But he says there were none.

“I grew up watching, like all of us, watching this Marvel movies… and read these comics. And again and again, they kept releasing awesome movies and comics and books, but I realized none of the characters, main characters, looked like me or you,” Rizwan said. “I think subliminally, that sends a message, whether they mean to or not.”

Rizwan says he wanted to do something about that. 

“That was my motivation, that I want to tell a story that’s purely authentic Muslim experience but it’s also American at the same time, so people can see this is what a Muslim American goes through,” he said.

The book — inspired by different superheroes — explores themes of love, relationships, family and friends, and loss, Rizwan says.

“I’ve always felt very connected to Superman, because, you know how he says, ‘I’m not really from here.’ That’s his line. And growing up as, like a Muslim American, I always felt we always kind of feel a bit on the outside sometimes because of how, especially after 9/11 and how we’re portrayed in the media and misrepresented, we are kind of sometimes treated as the other,” he said.

But Rizwan says he’s also connected to how Superman and others sacrifice themselves for the greater good, help their neighbors, and support their families.

He incorporates Islamic history and hadith, sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, in the story — which he incorporates into Kashif’s thinking and motivation to save others.

“So we’re taught, there’s 1,000 years of Dark Ages, and then Europe kind of has this enlightenment. Well, in those 1,000 years, the Islamic world was prospering so much,” he said.

“MetalGhost” won the distinguished favorite in the Islamic category by the NYC Big Book Award. Rizwan says he did not expect to get this kind of reception.

“When you’re writing, I didn’t think… I could win awards, would be recognized in any way. So this, it was huge,” he said.

He hopes to write a trilogy in the series and has been approached for a Marvel edition to the book.

“They’re wondering if there is room for making this into a motion production picture or something. I’m definitely interested in that. I honestly, I would love for Muslims to produce this,” he said.

In the meantime,  he says, he’s writing his next book, which will feature comics.

The city of Dearborn has chosen 51 homes as honorees of the Dearborn Beautiful Commission’s winter outdoor decorating recognition program, Winter Aglow.

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The commission presents residential outdoor decorating awards in the spring, fall and winter, as well as “Standard of Excellence” awards in the summer for both residences and businesses.

Each Dearborn Aglow winner will receive a window decal, and will also be invited to have dinner with Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud next month.

Over 150 other homes received an honorable mention this season. For a full list of winners, visit dearborn.gov.

Other headlines for Monday, Dec. 23, 2024:

• The Detroit Fire Department is launching a monthly webinar series on fire prevention and safety, covering topics such as lithium batteries, heating safety, preventing house fires in the winter, and grilling safety for the summer. The first seminar will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6. Visit detroitmi.gov for more information.
• The U.S. Census released a new report saying that the country’s population is growing at its fastest pace in over two decades. That’s a 1% growth since 2023. The Census report states that the numbers have now “recovered from pandemic-era lows.”
• A group of students and alumni at the University of Michigan have filed a lawsuit for actions they say violate the Constitutional rights of pro-Palestinian student protestors.  The University Board of Regents, President Santa Ono, and Vice President of Student Life Martino Harmon were all named in the suit, filed by the Students Allied for Freedom and Equality at the University of Michigan.
• Motor City Match launched Detroit’s first rage room, “The Damage Zone.” The city of Detroit and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation announced and celebrated the opening last week at 15785 James Couzens Freeway. 

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