Since entering the Detroit mayoral race in December, City Council President Mary Sheffield has become a frontrunner in the race.

According to recent polling, she’s leading the charge in front of Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig.

As the daughter of Rev. Horace Sheffield III — the leader of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations — and the granddaughter of Detroit labor leader Horace Sheffield Jr., Sheffield has been steeped in politics and the Black church for her entire life. She was also the youngest person elected to Detroit City Council when she was just 26 years old. 

Today, the millennial candidate is very social media savvy, often using TikTok and Instagram to connect with city residents. She’s also gained favor from many young people, including big-name Detroit rappers like Sada Baby and Skilla Baby — who both appeared at her annual “Occupy the Corner” events.

But behind Sheffield’s popularity, what does she stand for? She joined The Metro on Wednesday to talk more about the priorities of her campaign and what she’d bring to the table as Detroit’s next mayor.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

Detroit City Council recently approved changes to city ordinances to make the licensing process easier and less cumbersome for small businesses.

The changes, which were unanimously approved by the council, will reduce administrative burdens by cutting redundant licensing requirements that “do not protect health and safety”; allow businesses to renew their business licenses every two years instead of annually; improve the city’s permitting and licensing processes and more.

Hassan Beydoun, group executive of Economic Development for the city of Detroit, joined The Metro on Tuesday to elaborate on what these new resolutions mean for small businesses in Detroit.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

Local nonprofit CitizenDetroit is working with Politics on the Go and Activate Detroit to get Detroiters informed ahead of upcoming city elections.

The collaboration has launched a website with videos from candidates to help voters prepare to elect the city’s next mayor, clerk, city council members and board of police commissioners.

CitizenDetroit will also host a Detroit Primary Election Candidate Forum from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, at the IBEW Local Union 58, 1358 Abbott St., Detroit/

Visit citizendetroit.org for more information.

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

Other headlines for Tuesday, July 15, 2025:

• Two of Detroit’s iconic summer festivals will be taking over Midtown this weekend. The Concert of Colors, taking place July 16-20, is one of the longest-running free global music festivals, attracting tens of thousands of attendees. Also, the Charles H. Wright Museum’s 60th annual African World Festival celebrating the African Diaspora returns to Hart Plaza this weekend, featuring music and dance performances, food and arts vendors, a Children’s Village and more.
• The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is screening the documentary short “I am Potawatomi,” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, along with a language workshop. The film covers the near death and current revitalization of the Potawatomi language.
• The Clark Park Coalition is reaching out to its community for support as it plans another year of youth programs. Summer youth activities include its soccer program and street hockey. The Park has also maintained a hockey program for years — making the sport accessible to Latino and Black youth in the city. It has taken special pride in its girls programs. The coalition says it’s not only looking for donations. Anyone interested in volunteering can also visit clarkparkdetroit.org. 

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

Last week, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison joined Mayor Mike Duggan and other officials in announcing the launch of a new teen violence prevention plan.

Under the new plan, minors age 15 and under must be with a parent after 10 p.m. The curfew for children ages 16 and 17 is 11 p.m. The plan also calls for increased curfew enforcement, illegal block party enforcement, and higher fines for breaking curfews.

The “crackdown” on curfew violations is in response to recent shooting incidents involving children in the city. But how effective can that be in stopping violent crime, and what else is the city doing to stop violence at the root?

Bettison joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss the city’s new violence prevention plan and talk about why violence tends to spike during the summer months.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

The U.S. Census Bureau released new data showing the population of adults 65 and older is increasing, while the population of people 18 and younger is decreasing.  

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

The population of adults age 65 and older rose by 3.1% (to 61.2 million) while the population of those under 18 decreased 0.2% (to 73.1 million) from 2023 to 2024, the data shows.

Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Branch, says those changes affect communities of color most among the 4.4 million people who live in cities like Detroit, Warren and Dearborn.  

“The data in 2024 is showing that the non-Hispanic white population is the only population in the Detroit metro area where younger adults are outnumbered by older adults,” she said.

Bowers says nationally, the number of older adults and children 18 and younger now are similar. 

Other headlines for Monday, July 14, 2025:

• Seventeen nonprofits, businesses and community groups working to reduce food waste will receive support through the state-funded NextCycle Michigan initiative.
• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says federal funding cuts could strip 300,000 Medicaid recipients of their health insurance. Medicaid is the largest insurer in the state, covering one in four residents. Health department director Elizabeth Hertel says the cuts will also affect her agency’s efforts to protect public health.
• A city building in Dearborn was renamed last week in honor of Dearborn’s first Arab American councilmember, Suzanne Sareini. Sareini served as a council member six terms, from 1989 to 2013. The city’s senior housing building — formerly called the Hubbard Manor East — will now be called the Suzanne Sareini Manor.
• The Detroit Documenters, a program which trains and pays people to attend city meetings, is hosting a photo documenting workshop this week. Cydni Elledge, senior photographer and editor at Outlier Media, will lead the workshop, set for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15.

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

Man, this was a heavy new music Friday to unload. So much stuff! And really all over the place, so consider this a stream of consciousness show because I did not know where we were going — but thanks for letting me drive!

Every show is like that, but this one felt like a rowdy ride, including new music from Wet Leg, Kassa Overall, Indigo De Souza, Shame, NewDad, Folk Bitch Trio and much more. Come along for this wild musical ride with me!

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for July 11, 2025

• “Crossfire / So Into You” – Nai Palm
• “Falador Passa Mal” – Os Originais do Samba
• “Pontos de Luz” – Gal Costa
• “WEIGHT OFF (feat. BADBADNOTGOOD)” – Kaytranada
• “Let it Happen (Soulwax Remix)” – Tame Impala
• “Home (Tom Sharkett Edit)” – LCD Soundsystem
• “Waiting For The Punchline (Swallertrip Extended)” – Franc Moody
• “Butterfly” – Jamiroquai
• “Contusion” – Stevie Wonder
• “REBIRTH OF SLICK (COOL LIKE DAT)” – Kassa Overall
• “Be Like The Water” – Indigo De Souza
• “Telescope (feat. Hiatus Kaiyote)” – Tres Leches
• “DNM” – Mk.gee
• “Pond Song” – Wet Leg
• “What We All Want” – Gang of Four
• “Quiet Life” – Shame
• “Roobosh” – NewDad
• “Is She Weird” – Pixies
• “Like Eating Glass” – Bloc Party
• “Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks” – The Rapture
• “Holiday Destination” – Nadine Shah
• “Holiday In Cambodia” – Dead Kennedys
• “Someone Like You” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill
• “Siesta Freestyle (Frisco version)” – Lewis OfMan & Alicia te quiero
• “Lo Siento (Lido Pimienta Edit)” – Reyna Tropical & Lido Pimienta
• “Reckoner” – Radiohead
• “Looking For You” – Nino Ferrer
• “Cathode Ray” – Folk Bitch Trio
• “The Wind Cries Mary” – Jimi Hendrix
• “If I’m Unworthy” – Blake Mills
• “Tenderly” – Luiz Bonfá
• “Dumb Feeling” – Mei Semones
• “Sometime / Someplace” – Cornelius
• “Prepare Your Coffin” – Tortoise
• “Overlander” – Budos Band

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

A new reporting project from Chalkbeat Detroit, Planet Detroit and BridgeDetroit is exploring Detroit students’ perspectives on safety and violence.

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

Lori Higgins, bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit, says the project is taking a broad look at student safety.

“Safety could come in a lot of different forms, you know. And Detroit, young people in Detroit are struggling with a lot of different things,” she said. “Homelessness can bring about feelings of unsafety. You know, just walking to and from school can bring feelings of unsafety.”

The two-part series will explore safety related to transportation, gun violence, domestic violence and bullying. It also looks at efforts to address violence.

The series is part of Next City’s Detroit News Hub, a reporting project funded by the Kresge Foundation.

Other headlines for Friday, July 11, 2025:

• Arab American community nonprofit ACCESS is hosting a community Narcan training on Tuesday, July 15 at the Henry Ford Centennial Library. Attendees will learn about overdose prevention strategies, how to identify an overdose and how to administer Narcan. Those who finish the train will also receive a Naloxone kit. Register at bit.ly/ASAPNarcanCommunity.
• The Pontiac City Clerk is inviting the community to a “visioning” session on cannabis equity at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at the Robert Bowens Senior Center, 47450 Woodward Ave., Pontiac. Attendees will learn about the city’s plans to launch adult-use marijuana in the city, and residents will have a chance to share their thoughts about social equity initiatives related to ownership and licensing as well as business and workforce development. They will also learn about the Pontiac Social Equity Fund. RSVP at clerk@pontiac.mi.us. 
• State Rep. Stephanie Young (D-Detroit) is hosting a community conversation town hall on Monday, July 14, to collect ideas and concerns around five priorities in the Democratic Vision Project: Affordability, public education, health, labor and neighborhood development, and environmental issues. The event includes a free dinner and will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the James E. Tate Community Center, 21511 W McNichols Rd., Detroit. 
• The 7th annual Detroit Kite Festival is taking place this Sunday, July 13 on the Belle Isle Cricket Field from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

This week, we’ve got several free concerts around the city to check out. Plus, looking ahead to this year’s Concert of Colors. Read on to learn more.

Upcoming events

On Friday, July 11, the City of Detroit’s Summer Music Series continues with Soul in the Parks. This free concert features a live performance by WDET’s Sounds Like Detroit 2024 winners, Drey Skonie & The Klouds, as well as food trucks, bounce houses and more in North Rosedale Park. The concert goes from 5–8 p.m., and free parking is available in the surrounding areas. For more information, visit Detroit Parks & Recreation on Facebook.

On Saturday, July 12, the Ferndale upcycled fashion boutique Not Sorry Goods is throwing a closing party to mark the end of operations for their brick-and-mortar storefront. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., there will be live DJs, drinks and deep discounts on the entire store. For more information, visit notsorrygoods.com.

Detroit’s annual diversity festival, the Concert of Colors returns for its 34th year on Wednesday, July 16 through Sunday, July 20. Highlights from this year’s lineup include soul legend Mavis Staples, Afrobeat pioneer Femi Kuti and Detroit’s Queen of the Blues Thornetta Davis. WDET will have special programming throughout the festival, including a live broadcast of The Don Was Motor City Playlist on Friday, July 18, a live broadcast of Essential Music on Saturday, July 19, and live DJ sets by Alternate Take’s Liz Warner and The New Music Show’s Shigeto on Sunday, July 20. All events are free and open to the public. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit our events page.

On Thursday, July 17, the Detroit Parks Coalition presents the second concert in saxophonist Marcus Elliot’s “Sounds From The Park” series. The series features original compositions inspired by different Detroit parks, as performed by Elliot and his ensemble. This month’s concert takes place in Clark Park and centers the theme of “Family & Resilience,” celebrating the culture and unity of Southwest Detroit. The concert goes from 6–9 p.m. For more information, visit detroitparkscoalition.com.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a storytelling event at a Detroit birthing center, summer food preservation classes from MSU Extension and more.

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

Mothers invited to share birth stories

Birth Detroit is hosting a Birth Story Circle for All Generations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, at the birthing center, located at 8575 Heritage Place, Detroit. The event will be therapist-led.

Dearborn to host inclusive summer pool party

The city of Dearborn is hosting a summer pool party for kids with special needs later this month. The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, at Ford Woods Park, 5700 Greenfield Rd., Dearborn.

Dearborn launches Summer Connection programming

Dearborn’s Public Health Department and Emagine Health Services is teaming up to offer a free program for parents and children to connect and build social-emotional skills. Summer Connection events will take place at Hemlock Park from 6 to 7 p.m. on Mondays (beginning July 14), and Wednesdays (beginning July 16), until Aug. 13. 

MSU Extension offering food preservation classes through July

Michigan State University Extension is hosting a series of classes on summer food harvest preservation this month. Classes are taking place virtually every Thursday from 1-2 p.m. or 6-7 p.m. Topics include preserving summer fruits, pressure canning, pickling, balancing, and freezing produce. 

Hamtramck Night Bazaar

The city of Hamtramck is hosting a Night Bazaar from 4 to 9 p.m. this Saturday, July 12, featuring local craft and food vendors. The event is hosted by Discover Hamtramck, part of the Hamtramck Downtown Development Authority and the Community and Economic Development department, and takes place at at Pope Park, 10037 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck.

Hamtramck seeking youth council members

The city of Hamtramck is looking for youth between 13-18 years old to join its Hamtramck Youth Advisory Council. Applicants will attend monthly meetings and be on the board for a year. There are eight positions available. The deadline to apply is July 31. Submit an application to Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj to apply by visiting hamtramckcity.gov.  

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

Climate change is affecting the trees in metro Detroit.

The Eastern U.S. experienced an oppressive heat wave recently. There were also a handful of severe thunderstorms that inevitably brought down branches, limbs, or even whole trees across the region. 

In Detroit, fewer than 60% of households have air conditioning, according to American Forests. That makes shade a vital source of relief from the heat.

So how is Detroit’s tree canopy doing in the face of climate change? And if you want to plant your own tree, what species will be resilient for decades to come? To find out, Metro producer David Leins spoke with Lawrence Law, urban forester and partnership coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

Detroiter Donna Jackson is the first Black woman to serve as gallery manager of the historic Scarab Club. 

The local hub for visual, literary and performing arts has been around for over 117 years, but its leadership has yet to reflect Black Detroiters.

Jackson joined The Metro to talk about her vision for the future of the Scarab Club, Black representation and how she plans to engage all groups of people as the city continues to see shifts within its borders.

The Scarab Club is currently hosting its 54th annual Photography Exhibition, juried by the local artist and Womxnhouse Detroit Co-founder Asia Hamilton. The club will also host a Scarab Salon Open Mic on Wednesday, July 16, for local writers to share their work. 

Visit scarabclub.org for the latest programming and events.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

The Shrine of the Black Madonna in Detroit has a long history in the maturation of Detroit’s religious and political scene. The church is guided by Pan-African Orthodox Christianity and was founded at a time when Black Americans were fighting for social and political progress. 

The Shrine’s political arm, the Black Slate, endorses political candidates whom they believe will act in the best interest of Black Detroiters.

Most recently, the group endorsed Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. for mayor of Detroit, and District 2 Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Calloway for city council. 

Kandia Milton, associate pastor at the Shrine of the Black Madonna and chairman of the Black Slate, joined The Metro to share more about the organization and its endorsements. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

The LOVE Building’s monthly LOVE@Nite creative showcase series has helped to shine a light on some of the city’s top up-and-coming artists and creatives.

This summer, the organization launched CONTAINER, a homegrown creative residency platform that nurtures and spotlights Detroit-based artists across music, food, fashion, and visual art through performances, mentorship, and a citywide tour this fall.

The goal of the project is to retain creative talent in the city while giving local artists the tools and space to grow. 

The LOVE Building will host its fourth and final LOVE@Nite: CONTAINER Takeover event this Thursday, July 10, showcasing the 12 local artists in the 2025 CONTAINER cohort. The event will also be a part of the closing festivities for the Global Citizen NOW conference in Detroit.

Kwaku Osei, executive director of The LOVE Building, joined The Metro on Tuesday to talk about the final CONTAINER Takeover and what to expect.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

This week on WDET’s Michigan politics podcast MichMash, Craig Mauger and Beth LeBlanc of The Detroit News join the show to discuss the criminal investigation into Fay Beydoun.

Beydoun, who served on the executive committee for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is accused of misusing $15 million in funds the state awarded to her nonprofit for the purpose of bringing international businesses to Michigan.

Listen and subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Other headlines for Wednesday, July 9, 2025:

• The Detroit City Council recently approved ordinances to help making the licensing process easier for small businesses, BridgeDetroit reports.
• Two R&B legends are coming to Detroit this week: Keisha Cole’s The Way It Is Tour will stop at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, July 10, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the singer’s debut album of the same name. And super songstress Fantasia will perform at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre on Friday, July 11.
• The Detroit Tigers will face off against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park on Wednesday, with the first pitch at 5:10 p.m. following a rain delay.
• Detroit City Football Club will play against Hartford Athletic at home on Saturday, July 12. The team is hoping to bounce back from their 2-0 loss to the Oakland Roots SC 2-0.

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

Listeners voted and now we have a lineup for our Sounds Like Detroit Musical Showcase happening on Aug. 14 at Batch Brewing!

Four metro Detroit-based artists will take the stage: three were pre-selected by WDET music hosts, including myself, along with Liz Warner (Alternate Take) and Chris Campbell (The Progressive Underground). WDET listeners selected the fourth artist in a recent poll; so without further ado, here’s our full lineup!

• Tariq Gardner & the Evening Star (Listener Selection)
  
• Corazon Szell & the North Ingalls Band (MI Local Selection)
  
• Beth (Progressive Underground Selection)
  
• Samuel Nalangira (Alternate Take Selection)

Thank you to everyone who voted! Now it’s time to get your tickets! Mark your calendars, tell your friends, and secure your spot for this impressive lineup!

• “The Beginning” – Marawana
• “It Takes 2” – Motorcity Era & Maraj Virtuoso
• “Garden Dweller” – Tariq Gardner & Evening Star
• “Island Paradise” – Corazon Szell
• “weatherman” – bonnie hook
• “Heavy Weight” – Carbon Decoy
• “109°” – Blasty’s Backroad
• “Panopticon” – Mac Kish
• “Me Gusta” – CHECKER
• “Persona” – Maryiam Kiani
• “Misbehaving” – Ethan Marc Band
• “California” – Ethan Marc Band, live in WDET Studios
• “Short Fuse” – Ethan Marc Band