In this episode of The Detroit Evening Report, we cover an upcoming exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts centered around Indigenous artists. Plus, where to hear jazz in the Avenue of Fashion this weekend.

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DIA announces Native American exhibit

The Detroit Institute of Arts has just announced that it’s hosting a Native American exhibit in September. According to the museum’s website, “The Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation” exhibit will feature 60 U.S.-based Anishinaabe artists in the first major exhibition on Native Americans at the museum in 30 years.

The artwork will feature jewelry, basketry and painting. Additionally, there will be pottery and woodworking displays.

The exhibition has been curated with an advisory council of Ojibwe, Ottawa and Potawatomi artists. Gallery text will include Anishnaabemowin, a language of the Indigenous communities in the Great Lakes.

People can see the exhibition Sep. 28, 2025 through April 5, 2026.

Jazz on the Ave returns

Mike’s Fresh Market and the University Commonwealth are hosting a block party this weekend. The 17th Annual Jazz on the Ave festival is a customer appreciation block party on Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion, located on Livernois Avenue.

The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 2 from noon to 8 p.m., featuring live music, free food, bounce houses and a parade at 4 p.m. It will also include a car show by Community Services LLC. Jamal Abro, owner of  Mike’s Fresh Market, says this is a way to thank the community.

Learn how to build a rain garden

The City of Dearborn is partnering with nonprofit Friends of the Rouge to host a rain garden workshop next weekend.

Regina Sistrunk is the Community Development Compliance Officer for the City of Dearborn.  She says in a news release that rain gardens are a holistic way to prevent rainwater from entering the sewer system each year. Participants will learn how rain gardens reduce flooding and support wildlife.

The workshop is funded through Dearborn’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds. The “Rain Gardens 101” class takes place on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10–11 a.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. To register, visit therouge.org.

COVID vaccines still recommended

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recommends getting the latest COVID-19 shot every year.

Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, says she wants to dispel misconceptions and confusion about the shot, after the CDC stopped recommending it for healthy children and pregnant women.

“Our recommendations at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, after reviewing all of the data and guidance, have not changed. We continue to recommend the COVID vaccine for everyone aged six months and older, including those who are pregnant.”

Dr. Bagdasarian says the state’s recommendations align with national medical groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

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

EGLE welcomes new chief climate officer

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has appointed Alessandra Carreon as the new officer for the Office of Climate and Energy. Carreon previously served on the Michigan Public Service Commission as the first Asian American commissioner in Michigan’s history.

In her new role, she will lead the implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy efficiency, and expanding renewable energy sources. Carreon begins the position next month.

Bill proposes FEMA basement repair coverage

A new bill introduced in the U.S. House would make basements eligible for FEMA repairs. Currently, basements are only covered if they include a bedroom, and FEMA typically does not cover mold or mildew mitigation after flooding events.

Flooded basements have long impacted Detroit residents. Donna Givens Davidson, president and CEO of the Eastside Community Network, says this bill is a step toward justice for communities that have endured decades of aging infrastructure.

“This bill brings us closer to addressing the cumulative impacts of racist public policy over the years in places like the east side of Detroit, where senior citizens, where low-income people, are already living in homes they cannot afford to repair,” Givens Davidson said.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of Detroit introduced the bipartisan-supported bill. If passed, the bill would expand eligibility and coverage under FEMA’s Group Insurance Policy.

Reporting by Russ McNamara

Balkan House is closing

The Balkan House, a popular Bosnian-owned restaurant in Hamtramck, is closing its doors this year. Known for its döner kebab—a German street food made with lamb and beef—the restaurant has become a local favorite.

Owner Juma Ekic told the Detroit News that business at the Hamtramck location is dwindling, but she plans to focus on the thriving Ferndale location and her food truck, where her business is thriving.

Read more at the Detroit News

Youth Civic Night set for August 1

Detroit’s Department of Neighborhoods Youth Affairs Team is hosting a Youth Civic Night on Thursday, August 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event combines civic dialogue and creative expression with voter education.

The free event will take place at the Detroit Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center, located at 11687 American Street in Detroit. Attendees can enjoy refreshments and live music by DJ Tee Two Times.

Register on Eventbrite

Detroit rental compliance reminder

The City of Detroit has issued a notice inviting Detroit landlords to check if their homes have a certificate of compliance. Property owners can apply online for inspections and to obtain a certificate.

Last year, the City Council passed a law streamlining the inspection process for rental homes to improve safety and simplify the process.

All rental homes must pass an inspection and obtain a certificate of compliance. This year, the inspections will focus on the most severe safety issues.

For questions related to rental property inspections, residents can call 313-628-2451.

View the Landlord Quick Reference Guide (PDF)

Detroit marks 8,000th demolition under Proposal N

The City of Detroit recently celebrated its 8,000th demolition under Proposal N. The proposal was a voter-approved $250 million bond to remove blight across the city. About a decade ago, there were 45,000 vacant land bank homes. The city used $265 million in federal funding to complete the first phase of the demolitions in the most populated neighborhoods.  

Other headlines for Monday, July 21, 2025

47 artists bring life to Detroit’s alleys

Detroit’s Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship office is opening nine art alleys. The Art Alleys feature mosaics… sculptures… and murals created by 47 local artists. The Detroit Arts Alleys Initiative is a project that hopes to renovate alleys into community spaces through public art. It’s also a part of Mayor Duggan’s Blight to Beauty campaign.  

EGLE seeks input on Line 5 pipeline permit

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy or EGLE, has opened public comment for a permit related to work on the Line 5 project in the Straits of Mackinac. The tunnel would replace a 70-year-old Line 5 oil and gas pipeline on the lakebed. Indigenous communities… say the Line 5 project trespasses through protected tribal land… which is used for livelihood… cultural and spiritual practices. Native communities and environmental activists also say the pipeline will have catastrophic consequences in the Great Lakes region if it ruptures… citing multiple leaks from the previous pipes. People can make a public comment from July 16 to August 29 about Enbridge Energy’s bid to work on the Line 5 tunnel project.  

Two virtual meetings will be held regarding the project… one as an informational session… and the other is a public hearing to collect comments on the record. People can also leave a comment online on EGLE’s public notice page.

West Nile detected in Michigan, no human cases yet

Health agencies report new cases of West Nile and similar viruses in mosquito samples around Michigan. Wasthenaw County health officials confirmed a positive sample of Jamestown Canyon virus, and Kent County reported three samples of West Nile virus from routine mosquito surveillance.  

No human cases have been found in Michigan so far this year. The uptick in mosquitoes is typical for this time for year but health officials are asking people to take precautions like using repellent and removing standing water around homes.  

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

The city of Detroit is notifying people about a free sewer repair program for residents who experienced basement flooding in June 2021.

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The Private Sewer Repair Program (PSRP) reaches 97 neighborhoods across the city and is available to residents who were hardest hit by the severe flooding.

To apply, households must be a single-family residence, they must be located in one of the eligible neighborhoods, and must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). They also need to be able to demonstrate damage from 2021 flood.

Residents who previously received benefits are not eligible. To apply, email PSRP@detroitmi.gov, visit detroitmi.gov/psrp, or call 866-313-2520.

Other headlines for Wednesday, July 16, 2025:

• The InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit is hosting its 13th annual Urban-Suburban Interfaith Picnic from 1 to 5 p.m. this Sunday, July 20, at Palmer Park. The picnic will feature food from different religious traditions, a health fair, musical performances, games and more.
• The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced eight awardees who received $7.9 million in solar grants for clean energy projects though the MI Healthy Climate Challenge. In Wayne County, Hope Village Revitalization plans to retrofit homes in Detroit and Highland Park, and the North End Woodward Community Coalition will expand its Solar Neighbors initiative.
• Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County and the Elam Family are hosting a neighborhood revitalization event in Pontiac this week. Over 80 volunteers will work on cleaning up yards, and removing trash at 14 worksites during “Rock the Block,” taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 17.

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

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.  

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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.

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.

Michigan has seen some extreme weather the past few weeks, with temperatures rising recently into the upper 90s and a heat index pushing 100 degrees.

Older adults are more susceptible to heat exhaustion or heat stroke during these periods of extreme heat.

Temperatures are expected to remain high this week in metro Detroit. The National Weather Service is projecting a high of 88 degrees on the Fourth of July, and a high of 94 degrees over the holiday weekend. 

Dr. Pragnesh Patel, chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center, says older adults are some of the most vulnerable to becoming ill from extreme heat.

“With aging, there are changes, and they have multiple comorbid conditions that can put them at risk from higher temperature,” he said. “That can lead to some serious consequences if they don’t take precautions.”

Some of these illnesses include heat exhaustion, which can then lead to heat stroke, a dangerous condition where the body can no longer control its temperature’

Heat exhaustion symptoms include headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, cramps and elevated body temperature. Patel says in addition to these symptoms, people with heat stroke can run a high fever of 104 degrees or more and not perspire.

“Despite the excessive high temperatures, you’re not able to dissipate that heat through the sweating mechanism. And they also become very confused, become disoriented, have rapid heartbeat, palpitations and shallow breathing — just a severe form of exhaustion,” he said.

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If left untreated, it can cause permanent disability or death.

Staying hydrated is among the best ways to prevent heat-related illnesses. Patel says older adults should stay hydrated even if they may not feel thirsty. He also suggested that people stay indoors in cool areas, wear lighter, loose-fitting clothing, and reduce caffeine intake.

He says older adults are often hospitalized for dehydration, which is why they should take extra precautions during extreme heat events.

“They come with symptoms of heat stroke, and a lot of older folks are susceptible to this because they also have other conditions, or they may be taking medications that puts them at higher risk,” Patel said.

People can call 2-1-1 or their local health department to find a nearby cooling center.

More than 6,000 signatures have been collected by a group seeking to change Dearborn’s city council format from an at-large body to holding district-based council elections.

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Dearborn Wants Wards filed the petition with the Dearborn City Clerk’s Office on June 18. If the language is approved, the city would have council members per district and only two at-large seats, for a total of nine council members.

If the language is approved, the city would have council members per district and only two at-large seats, for a total of nine council members. 

Campaign spokesperson Mona Mawari says the changes are overdue and necessary for equal representation of the city’s east and south sides. 

“So most of the seats are won by folks from the west side; and the East End has only one person on city council, and the South End has none,” she said. “So that’s when I decided to create this campaign where we will be going to change the structure of city council to a more equitable structure.”

If all the signatures are certified and election language is approved, voters in Dearborn will see the measure on their ballot in November.

Changes to the city council and charter commission would go into effect in 2029.

Other headlines for Monday, June 30, 2025:

• A series of bills were introduced in the state Senate that aim to make renting more accessible. The bills would cap rental application fees at $25, eliminate junk fees that occur after a lease is signed, and seal eviction records.
• The city of Dearborn will be increasing its police presence this Fourth of July weekend to combat a rise in illegal fireworks usage. Parents of children caught mishandling and using illegal fireworks will also receive citations as well. Police are reminding residents that fireworks are only allowed on private property from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. between June 29 and July 5.

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

Michigan’s Iranian American community is concerned about the recent escalation of hostilities with Iran. 

The U.S. bombed several sites in Iran on Sunday, joining Israel’s war aimed at destroying the country’s nuclear program. 

Camron Michael Amin, a professor of Middle East and Iranian diaspora studies at University of Michigan-Dearborn, says some people were not able to get in touch with their loved ones due to an internet outage in Iran. 

“Communication seems to have improved over the course of the week, but many people couldn’t reach anybody starting sort of a week ago,” he said. “Sunday, it was hard to reach people, and that seems to have been largely driven by internet outages.”

Amin says many Iranian Americans are nervous about any escalations in the war, especially those with loved ones in Iran.

“I can’t speak for everybody, obviously, but generally speaking, Iranian Americans are nervous about and wary of anything that escalates and prolongs the war. However they feel about the Iranian government, however they feel about the issues between Iran and the United States… because they have people they know or people they care about in Iran that might be at risk they themselves visit when they can,” he said.

Amin says recent polling shows that Iranian Americans frequently keep in contact and travel to Iran as tourists or to visit family.

“So anything that makes that more dangerous or more fraught is unwelcome,” he said.

Amin says one concern is getting dual-national Iranian Americans out of Iran during the conflict.

“Certainly, dual nationals in Israel, from several countries, including the U.S., have ways to get out of that country during the fighting. And I think there’s a similar concern about dual nationals, who are Iranian Americans, who might be stuck in harm’s way during the fighting right now,” he said. 

Amin says Iranian Americans are looking to policymakers and legislators to prioritize helping people stuck in Iran.

President Donald Trump announced Monday that a ceasefire had been reached between Iran and Israel, after the deal initially faltered. 

An extreme heat warning will be in effect for much of southeast Michigan through 8 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service, dangerously hot conditions with a heat index above 100 degrees are expected across Genesee, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

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Detroit’s Health Department is also advising residents to take precautions, with Tuesdays high projected to reach 94 degrees.

Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo says residents should stay indoors during the middle of the day if they can.

“That’s typically between 11 a.m. towards the evening. So if you are outside, just drink plenty of water, wear lightweight, loose fitting clothing and avoid strenuous activity during peak heat hours,” he said.

The Detroit’s Northwest Activities, Patton, and Heilmann recreation centers will be open until 8 p.m. daily as cooling centers throughout the heat wave.

All other recreation centers and Detroit Public Library branches are open during normal hours and will be available as cooling centers as well.

–Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley, WDET News

Other headlines for Monday, June 23, 2025:

• Most of Detroit’s riverside parks will close at 8 p.m. on Monday for the Ford Fireworks show, but Belle Isle, Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza are open for viewing. City officials recommend claiming a spot early. The fireworks are scheduled to start around 10 p.m. and last 24 minutes.
• Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers is scheduled to review petition language for the “Invest in MI Kids” campaign. The proposal is asking voters to approve a 5% state tax that would be assessed on individual high earners’ income over $500,000, and assessed on income over $1 million for joint filers. Organizer Rachelle Crow-Hercher told Michigan Public the state’s poor test scores show the need for more funding.
• The Motor City Doula Association is hosting “A Healthy Start” workshop for expecting moms to share information about how one’s environment can shape their health and pregnancy. The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June, 25, at the Leaders Advancing & Helping Communities building, 5275 Kenilworth St., Dearborn.

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