BREAKING: Government ordered to pay food stamp benefits during shutdown

FBI arrests multiple people in Dearborn connected to potential terror plot

The head of the FBI says agents thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested several people in Michigan this morning. Bureau Director Kash Patel said attacks were planned for this weekend but offered no other details in an early morning post on X.

Dearborn Police confirmed on Facebook that federal agents conducted operations in the city this morning, but said there’s no threat to the community. Agents from the FBI and the ATF reportedly entered homes in two Dearborn locations, with Michigan State Police also on the scene.

Detroit clerk urges residents to vote in Tuesday’s election

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey is urging residents to get out and vote in next week’s municipal election. At a news conference Thursday, Winfrey said 519,000 Detroiters are registered to vote — but she expects less than 25 percent to actually cast a ballot.

“It’s a sad state of affairs. It’s sad. But unfortunately it’s not just happening in Detroit. The low voter turnout is happening all over our country.”

Early voting began last Saturday and runs through Sunday at 5 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Detroit Fire Department completes national training program

The Detroit Fire Department has completed another round of its Fire Investigation Course, which provides hands-on training in fire investigation. The nationally recognized course gives students field experience in Detroit neighborhoods and helps participants master the science and skill of determining how and why fires start.

The course is taught by current and former members of the department and is structured for two weeklong sessions that can be taken separately or together. The training hours count toward national certification requirements for fire investigators. It’s offered twice a year.

Weekend sports lineup

NFL: The Detroit Lions take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, November 2, at 1 p.m. The Lions will be without All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph, who is recovering from a knee injury. Detroit is currently second in the NFC North behind the Packers.

NBA: On Saturday, the Pistons (3–2) face the Dallas Mavericks (2–3). Mavericks power forward Anthony Davis continues to deal with an Achilles injury and is expected to miss the game, according to reports. Tipoff is at 10 p.m. EST at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.

NHL: The Red Wings lead the Atlantic Division with an 11–8 record and hope to maintain their position as they face the Anaheim Ducks tonight at 10 p.m. EST at the Honda Center.

Halloween in the D

Halloween in the D takes place tonight, with family-friendly activities happening at police precincts, recreation centers, and fire stations across the city. For more information on locations, visit detroitmi.gov.

DIA celebrates Día de los Muertos

The Detroit Institute of Arts is hosting the 13th Annual “Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos” exhibition. The annual showcase highlights Mexican traditions of the Day of the Dead through art and community participation.

For more information, visit dia.org.

In the interior arch of Michigan’s “thumb” lays the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, a group dedicated to protecting and restoring surrounding natural areas. 

The conservancy currently owns and manages 9 properties in the region. One property, the Sand Point Nature Preserve, was recently recognized by the Old Growth Forest Network for its potential. 

As a well-established woodlot with trees over a hundred years old, Sand Point hosts migratory birds and and diverse species. Its wetlands aid in flood management. The property also has a rare grove of hemlock trees. 

Although the Old Growth Forest distinction doesn’t immediately grant the property strong legal protections, it does aid the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy when they work to apply for grants and the like. And any additional support to protect the unique ecosystem right off the shores of Lake Huron is welcome. 

Beyond the ecological, the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy continues to protect the surrounding areas for the community to have access to the green space. Executive Director of Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, Zachary Branigan emphasizes the importance of preserving nature.

“ Having access to high quality outdoor recreation spaces is important, for any community. You know, that’s one thing that, that the highest quality communities in the nation have in common,” says Branigan. And nature preserves like Sand Point provide a space for hikers and dog-walkers, as well as a glimpse into more heavily wooded past. 

Exploring Sand Point

The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy gained ownership over the 220 acres of undeveloped land through a series of land acquisitions between 2008-2012. 

Sand Point is the largest of the properties they oversee, and includes a wide range of features that make it a gem in the region that was hit hard by deforestation in the logging boom. Program Manager Trevor Edmonds highlights some of the features on property.

 ”There’s some pretty dense mature forests. Like kind of open meadow areas, and then some, various types of wetlands on the property. There’s a lake, there’s kind of like a seasonal pond, on the property as well. So it’s, there’s just a lot to be seen here,” says Edmonds. He adds that because of the diverse array of habitats, there’s also a diversity of animals occupying them, including reptiles and amphibians.

As a part of their mission to use their properties as ambassador landscape, SBLC takes inventory of signs of health and potential threats to the established landscape. 

Signs of the ecological health at Sand Point include different species of trees—Edmonds points out maple, black cherry, and paper birch in the immediate area. He also looks for indicator species, which foreshadow what kinds of vegetation will thrive in the future. 

Understory vegetation is another noted feature. “There’s a very robust canopy throughout much of this preserve’s acreage, which really kind of speaks to the overall health of the forest on this preserve as well.”

Caretaking in nature

Edmonds then got into the weeds of property management at Sand Point. 

Since acquiring the property in full, the conservancy has become experts on the wetlands and woods that make up Sand Point, as well as the pests, diseases, and invasives that threaten them. 

The most present invasive on the property is phragmites, which Edmonds generally treats with hand-swiping—placing herbicide on a glove and targeting the undesirable plants in order to leave “the lightest touch possible” on the landscape. 

A deep knowledge of the environment helps Edmonds monitor for invasive species and disease in the areas they are most likely to appear in, and the places they can do the most harm. 

Eastern Hemlocks

One of the key features that garners attention at Sand Point is the Eastern Hemlocks. They aren’t a common tree throughout Michigan, and especially not in the thumb. Part of that is because they need a healthy tree canopy above them to grow. 

Branigan describes the hemlock groves as dark and brooding, and Edmonds say that they’re a part of why Sand Point is his favorite property— in addition to its reliable five lined skink sightings. 

However, hemlocks face a threat in the hemlock woolly adelgid. 

 Edmonds shares how the conservancy monitors for the threat. “You’re actually trying to look specifically at like the undersides of the needles. And if you actually see, like at the base of the needles where they connect to the branches, it basically will look…almost like kind of a white cottony mass that starts to like develop at the base of the needles, under the branches.”

Thankfully, Sand Point hasn’t caught any sign of the harmful pest so far. Edmonds says that its more present in the west side of the state. 

But, if woolly adelgid does appear, there are ways to treat it if its detected early. “You can do like a treatment around the base where the, the roots will bring it up into the canopy of the tree and basically like eliminate the infestation.”

For now, he and other conservationists in the area maintain a careful watch. 

Safeguarding access to a healthy environment

Conserving a large undeveloped land like Sand Point provides space for recreation, mitigating effects and causes of climate change, and a place for wildlife to thrive. 

It’s also an education in nature. SBLC’s restoration and conservation efforts uplift their preserves as healthy ambassador landscapes, environments that serve as an example of what natural areas should be at their best. “While it does obviously serve an important purpose in and of itself, hopefully the people that come and visit our properties, across all the counties that we work in… take a little something home from that as well,” says Branigan. 

Additionally, it provides another place for people to fall in love with the environment.

Edmonds reflected on what it means to him as a new parent to see his daughter’s connection to nature grow. Although it’s more common to fall in love with the outdoors in one’s youth, he notes that it’s never too late for someone to click with nature. 

“Nature’s always here, and we want to be an entity that makes it be the case. We want nature to be here for people and then when they’re ready to receive it and you know, be a part of it and do what they can to protect it, then like that’s on them. But we just want to be facilitators for those times when they become receptive and ready for it.”

This story is a part of WDET’s Detroit Tree Canopy Project

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, cannabis attorney Lance Boldrey joins the show. He chats with WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben about how the 2026 state budget affects the cannabis industry.

Plus, Republican gubernatorial candidates had their first debate this week. We discuss a notable absence and the major themes of the debate.

In this episode:

• How does the wholesale tax on the marijuana industry affect businesses of different sizes?
• Reviewing the first Republican debate for Michigan’s 2026 gubernatorial race
• Which gubernatorial candidates have raised the most money so far?

Cannabis in the state budget

The 2026 state budget included a 24% tax increase on the marijuana market. The tax will be applied to the retailer’s sales regardless of other taxes already listed in the line of items of any marijuana invoice.

Boldrey, who focuses on cannabis cases at the law firm Dykema, says small businesses will be hit the hardest.

“I think the folks that get the most negatively impacted are the micro businesses, which are the social equity part of the industry, which are people that come in as craft producers. They don’t have any wholesale activity at all because everything is grown, processed and sold in the exact same location.”

Boldrey says these micro businesses can’t make a wholesale purchase or a wholesale sale, but they will have a wholesale tax on their production.

Reviewing the gubernatorial debate

At the Republican gubernatorial debate this week, there was a notable absence from U.S. Representative John James, who said he would not participate in these debates until the field was more settled. As of now, James is perceived as the frontrunner, but there may be risk with his approach.

He’s already upset some GOP delegates mad by skipping a different event organized by the state party. If he does win the primary, he may have to win those delegates back heading into the general election.

Also, campaign finance reports were due this week from all parties. Republican John James, Democrat Jocelyn Benson and Independent Mike Duggan have raised the most from donors in their campaigns so far.

Detroit Youth Assembly encourages civic engagement among Detroit’s youth

The Detroit Youth Assembly is next month. The City is inviting young people from across Detroit to connect with city leadership, share their voices, and take action on the issues that are important to them.

The Detroit Youth Assembly will be on Thursday, November 6, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Northwest Activity Center Theater.

Get your tickets online.

Additional headlines for October 24, 2025

Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park opens on Detroit’s west riverfront

Detroit’s newest park opens this weekend. The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park sits along the west riverfront between downtown and the Ambassador Bridge. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy broke ground on the 22-acre project three years ago.
The park features playgrounds, a water garden, and two indoor basketball courts.
Tomorrow’s grand opening is part of this year’s Detroit Harvest Fest.

Inmates appeal dismissal of lawsuit over recorded strip searches

Lawyers for hundreds of inmates at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility say they’ll appeal a judge’s dismissal of their lawsuit.
The women sued the prison after corrections officers recorded strip searches with body cameras.
The judge ruled Michigan law only allows inmate lawsuits that allege physical harm.

But attorney Todd Flood says the recordings did cause harm, including flashbacks, insomnia, and panic attacks.

“It’s unconscionable to me. At least 80% of the women who are incarcerated have been subject to domestic violence, sexual assault, or some sort of battery,” Flood said.

The Michigan Department of Corrections stopped most strip-search recordings in March. The department agreed with the judge who threw out the lawsuit.

Sports roundup

Rivalry returns: Michigan vs. Michigan State

Tomorrow is the big game that divides our great state — the Michigan Wolverines face off against the Michigan State Spartans.
The Wolverines’ record is 5–2 and the Spartans’ record is 3–4.

The head-to-head matchup takes place at Spartan Stadium and will be covered by NBC. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.

Pistons look to bounce back

The NBA is back and the Detroit Pistons play tonight against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

They lost their opening game to the Chicago Bulls but hope to bounce back this weekend. Tipoff for tonight’s game is at 8 p.m. EST.

Then, Cade Cunningham and the crew return home to play the Boston Celtics on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.

Love Peace and Light Foundation hosts Youth Empowerment Day

Detroit’s Love Peace and Light Foundation is hosting Youth Empowerment Day on November 8.

The group is collecting hygiene products, canned goods, and winter clothing for youth and families. They’re also collecting monetary donations to reach a goal of $5,000.

Get your tickets online. 

The event will be held November 8 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Even though Michigan’s 2026 state budget was already passed and signed into law, the drama continues as the Senate and House disagree about a bill calling for more transparency with enhancement grants known as “earmarks.” This week on MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow explain what earmarks are and what role they play in the recently-passed budget.

Then, they sit down with Budget Director Jen Flood to dig into the details of what was included in the state budget.

In this episode:

• How are earmarks used in Michigan state politics?
• What went into the 2026 state budget? 
• How big is the 2026 state budget?

Explaining earmarks

There’s a long history of earmarks being used as a way for lawmakers to bring new projects and resources to their districts. Some have gone to organizations to carry out a specific function, and some have been the center of controversy.

The purpose of these new transparency bills is to establish earmark guidelines before the next budget season. This past season, earmark guidelines were being established at the same time as lawmakers were working on the budget.

Unpacking the state budget

Flood shared that there were a lot of obstacles to overcome when making the 2026 state budget.

“We had a lot of things working against us,” she said. “We had a divided legislature for the first time in 15 years, we were facing a road funding shortfall, and last summer, Congress blew a $1 billion hole in our state budget with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. And so we had our work cut out for us.”

Flood added that the budget includes $2 billion in road funding, which she says will protect jobs in the construction industry.

With a little more than a year to go until Michigan’s next congressional election, we take a look at the current state of affairs for congressional candidates in Michigan. This week on MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben explore who’s running in the state’s US House and Senate races, and where their fundraising stands.

Later on, Charles Griffith from the Ecology Center stops by to discuss how a recently passed gas tax will impact electric vehicles.

The Detroit Fire Department received new fire and emergency medical services vehicles thanks to a nearly $11 million dollar investment from the city. This is part of the city’s efforts to upgrade their fleet and keep response times well below the national average.

The department received 10 new fire engines, 13 new ambulances, 3 battalion chief vehicles, and 3 new EMS Supervisor vehicles. Each vehicle is equipped with HAAS Alert Safety Cloud that sends real-time digital alerts to nearby drivers when emergency vehicles are approaching or stopped at an incident.

According to the city, these investments help improve a fleet in comparison to the decades old vehicles that were prone to break down.

Additional headlines from Thursday, October 16, 2025

Proposal for Michigan Central transport

There are plans to bring a passenger train service back to Michigan Central.

Governor Whitmer announced a $40 million plan to build a transportation hub adjacent to the former train station in Corktown. This plan would allow for an intercity bus and train service connecting Amtrak’s Chicago-Detroit Wolverine line through an underwater tunnel. This tunnel would go to Canada where passengers could continue to Toronto.

There is already an Amtrak rail line that connects Toronto to Chicago under the Detroit River, but it’s only used to carry freight traffic. The new plan would build a multimodal hub that estimates 66,000 riders annually.

Detroit sports 

Last weekend was a tough weekend for Detroit sports fans as the Tigers loss in the playoffs and the Lions fell to the Chiefs… but here’s to another weekend for a bounce back.

The Lions have a Monday night matchup against the NFC leader, Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 20. Kick off for that game is at 7:00 p.m.

And Detroit City FC is going against the Charleston Battery on Saturday at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium. Game starts at 6:00 p.m.

Convening for Dance and Culture

This weekend the Social justice organization, TéMaTé Institute for Black Dance and Culture is hosting the fifth annual conference, the Convening for Dance and Culture. Attendees are a part of the show for this event where dance instructors will teach dances from the African diaspora.

On Saturday the classes run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Andy Art Center with a performance by the dance company at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday the conference continues from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information and tickets go to tematedance.com.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Stacey Abrams to headline Detroit’s clean energy summit

If you’re interested in how you can be a part of a clean energy future, this event might be for you. The Resilience and Equity in the Clean Energy Sector Summit is happening next week, October 13 through 15, at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center. Organizers say this is the largest clean energy gathering with Black and Brown folks in mind — not as the footnote but the headline.

The summit will offer hands-on workshops, tech showcases, career pathways, funding opportunities, and more. Plus, the featured speaker is national political activist Stacey Abrams.

For more information, visit therecessconference.com.

Additional headlines for October 10, 2025

Pontiac celebrates 100 home repairs through city program

The City of Pontiac is announcing 100 completed home improvement projects at a press conference on October 14. This is all part of its Houses Through Home Repair Program, which aims to fix homes that need key repairs and upgrades.

City leaders will highlight improvements to plumbing, HVAC, roofing, porches, and more at the press conference at 1159 Eckman Ave. in Pontiac.

For details, go to pontiac.mi.us.

Detroit sports: Tigers battle Mariners, Lions face Chiefs

Before we get to the weekend activities, let’s check out sports.

MLB
The Tigers face the Seattle Mariners tonight in a winner-take-all matchup. The American League Division Series is tied 2-2, and the winner of tonight’s game moves on to the American League Championship Series to face the Toronto Blue Jays.
First pitch is at 8:08 p.m.

NFL
On October 12, the Detroit Lions face the Kansas City Chiefs in a Sunday night matchup you don’t want to miss. The Lions are 4-1 and leading the NFC North, while the Chiefs are digging their way out of the AFC West.
Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium.

Wayne State hosts Mexican film festival with Detroit Consulate

Wayne State University is partnering with the Consulate of Mexico in Detroit to host a film festival of Mexican-based films on Wednesday, October 15, at noon. The event is free and will be held at La Plaza del Norte Building, 2835 Bagley Street.

It will feature conversations about political and social implications, history, and more. For more information, go to las.wayne.edu.

Beacon Park’s Cider in the City returns for two weekends

Beacon Park is hosting Cider in the City this weekend, October 11 and 12, and next weekend, October 18 and 19, from 1 to 5 p.m. both days.

There will be cider and donuts, cocktails, football on LED screens, and more.
For details, visit ciderinthecity.com.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Although there are already laws barring non-citizens from voting in Michigan elections, a group is pushing a ballot initiative to have voters show proof of citizenship. This week on MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow unpack the issue with supporter Paul Jacob of Americans for Citizen Voting and opponent Melinda Billingsley of Voters Not Politicians.

In this episode:

• Why do supporters think we need a ballot initiative that ensures only citizens vote in Michigan elections?
• Why are opponents concerned about potential barriers to voting that the ballot measure may cause for citizens?

This measure would require citizens to present photo identification to be able to vote. There is no evidence that votes by non-citizens have affected the results of an election. Jacob agrees and says that this ballot initiative is to enforce the law that bars non-citizens from voting.  

“Our position is that it’s important that voters get to decide, should non-citizens be voting in our elections or not? I think voters are going to decide not,” he said. “We’re looking to have every U.S. citizen in Michigan who wants to vote be able to vote, but we’re also looking for non-citizens not to be put on the rolls and not to vote.” 

There is concern that the proposed ballot may bar some citizens from voting who don’t have proper identification on hand. Billingsley says the laws that are already in place are adequate to ensure security in our voting system.  

“We had the policies that had been set in place by the Secretary of State’s office, by the Department of Elections to be constantly checking and reviewing our elections to make sure that our elections are secure,” she said. “We don’t see a problem with it, because the problem doesn’t exist. There is a problem with the proposals being put forward by these petitions, because they would actually make voting harder for everyone.” 

Advocates of the proposal are currently gathering signatures for the ballot measure. They need 446,198 signatures to get this measure on the ballot.

When we started working on MichMash this week, it was past the Oct. 1 deadline and a state budget for the 2026 fiscal year had yet to be passed. In this week’s first episode, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben speculate when a budget might get passed and what would happen in the meantime.

Then early Friday morning, Michigan lawmakers finally passed the budget — 3 days late. So in this bonus episode, Cheyna and Alethia discuss the details of the budget with Crain’s Detroit Senior Reporter Dave Eggert.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Michigan lawmakers pass 2026 state budget

After months of waiting and two missed deadlines, the 2026 state budget has finally passed. Michigan lawmakers agreed early Friday morning to add about $1 billion to road and bridge improvements, increase school funding, and decrease funding for some other programs. The budget also includes a new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana.

Now the budget is headed to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s desk, allowing her to finally fulfill her famous promise to “fix the damn roads.”

For more information and a breakdown of how this budget affects Michiganders, check out WDET’s political talk show MichMash. A bonus episode was released the same day as the budget to explain the details.

Additional headlines for October 3, 2025

District 3 residents organize “Stop the Violence” march

Residents of Detroit’s District 3 have organized a “Stop the Violence” march this Saturday (Oct. 4).

Alita Moore, executive director of the North Central Block Club Association, says the march is in response to a recent uptick in violence in the neighborhood.

“Our youth, our seniors, are very, very concerned. And so, before something like the National Guard comes in, we wanted to — on a local community level — show solidarity with our neighborhood police officers, with the people that work with us right here,” Moore says.

Moore hopes the event draws attention to a part of the city that feels neglected. The march will start at Farwell Recreation Center at noon.

Tigers advance; Lions prepare for Sunday matchup

Everyone is talking about the Tigers. Yesterday, the team beat the Cleveland Guardians in the wildcard round and is now heading to the American League Division Series, where they’ll face the Seattle Mariners. First pitch is tomorrow at 8:38 p.m. EST at T-Mobile Park.

Meanwhile, about four hours south of metro Detroit down I-75, the Lions face the Bengals in a Sunday afternoon matchup at 4:25 p.m. They’re coming off a dominant win against the Browns, 34–20. Their record is currently 3–1, putting them at the top of the NFC North.

Applications open for Detroit Legacy Business Project

Applications for the Detroit Legacy Business Project close on Monday, October 6 at 8 a.m.

This program is for businesses that have been serving the city for 30 years or more. Available grants include:

• One $50,000 grant
• Fourteen $15,000 grants
• Five $5,000 grants
• Ten $2,500 grants

For more information, visit detroit.gov/opportunities
.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

State to use $52 million in frozen funds to expand network

Michigan is moving forward with its revised electric vehicle charging plan after receiving federal approval. The US Department of Transportation approved the state’s plan under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, allocating $52 million remaining from an original $110 million. The Trump administration froze the $52 million in February.

One of the biggest challenges for electric vehicles is the limited number of charging stations. Michigan plans to fund a total of 83 stations. Two are already operational and four more are under construction. The rest are still being planned.

Read more from the Detroit News

More details from MDOT

Additional headlines

Detroit’s economic outlook shows steady growth

The city of Detroit held its regular biannual revenue estimating conference this week to review its economic outlook. State law requires these independent revenue conferences to be held in September and February each fiscal year.

The Detroit Economic Outlook for 2024–2030 projects that the city will see an increase in jobs, wages, and resident employment in the next five years. The forecast also shows moderate growth for payroll jobs, while Detroit wages are expected to outpace the state average.

Read the city’s full economic outlook

Detroit Digital Empowerment Summit highlights innovation

The City of Detroit is participating in the Detroit Digital Empowerment Summit this weekend. The event will feature competitions awarding $175,000 in funding for new tech ideas.

The three-day summit is hosted by the organization Black Tech Saturdays and will showcase innovation and economic mobility. It will also include pitch competitions and opportunities for Detroiters of all ages to explore the power of technology.

The city’s Office of Innovation and Technology will present Youth Tech Fest at the summit to introduce technology to the next generation.

Learn more at DetroitMI.gov

Follow the summit at Black Tech Saturdays

Detroit Lions and Tigers weekend matchups

The Detroit Lions had a commanding performance on Monday against the Baltimore Ravens, beating them 38–30. According to ESPN, the game was one of the most viewed Monday night matchups in the last 20 years. This Sunday, the Lions face the Cleveland Browns at Ford Field with kickoff at 1:00 p.m.

In Major League Baseball, the Detroit Tigers will face the Boston Red Sox this weekend. The Tigers are currently in second place in the American League Central and could move back to the top with a series win.

Detroit Fiber Festival returns Sunday

The Detroit Fiber Festival takes place this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event brings together fabric artists, makers, and vendors from across Metro Detroit. This year’s focus is sustainability in sourcing textiles and materials.

There will also be lectures and demonstrations on preservation, highlighting how period fabrics and textiles are used in costuming.

Learn more at Detroit Month of Design

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Michigan GOP held their biennial leadership conference at Mackinac Island this past weekend. In this episode of MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben sit down with Baldy Bipartisan’s John Selleck to discuss whether the conference is still beneficial for the Michigan Republican party.

Plus, Cheyna and Alethia discuss a proposal to move the state’s primary election from early August to May.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• How important is the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference?
• Should Michigan’s primary election be moved up to earlier in the year?
• Where are we with the state budget?

Michigan unemployment rate drops slightly in August

Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate dropped slightly to 5.2 percent in August. A report from the Michigan Department of Technology says the unemployment percentage was affected by about 14,000 fewer people holding or seeking jobs. This is the fifth consecutive month that the state’s workforce has shrunk.

Wayne Rourke, the Michigan Labor Market Information Director, says the drop in the unemployment rate isn’t necessarily a sign of improvement.

“While the number of unemployed people are decreasing, the number of employed is not going up. So, these people are just leaving the labor market and not looking for a job.”

Some reasons for leaving the workforce include people aging out, becoming discouraged, or the costs of childcare keeping people at home.

Detroit Auto Show unveils 2026 anthem

The Detroit Auto Show unveiled the 2026 anthem My Drive, My City, My Show. The song will be written and performed by Detroit hip hop artist Gmac Cash.

According to organizers, the track delivers the feel of the Motor City by describing a city where cars and culture are prominent.

The 2026 Detroit Auto Show runs January 14 through 25 at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit. More information is available at detroitautoshow.com.

Waste to Wonder 2025 highlights design in action

September is Detroit’s Month of Design, and as part of the festivities the company Ecosphere Organics is hosting an event called Waste to Wonder 2025: Art and Design in Action.

Organizers say this outdoor block party and creative showcase will celebrate community, art, and imagination. The event will feature interactive art and design installations made from repurposed food waste materials.

The showcase will take place at Sanctuary Farms on Lakeview Street. More information is available at detroitmonthofdesign.org.

Spotlite to host coworking tour

On Wednesday, September 24, Spotlite is hosting the Work in Progress Coworking Tour.

The event is led by Amber Lewis, Chief Energy Officer of Visit Detroit. It is a workshop for people in creative or corporate fields who are looking to network or find a space to work on projects and ideas.

The event will offer advising sessions, LinkedIn and resume reviews, a happy hour, and more. To RSVP and learn more, visit Spotlite Detroit’s Instagram.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

With less than two weeks until the budget deadline, there is still no state budget in sight. In this episode of MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben break down what could still be done before October 1.

They sit down with State Senator Sarah Anthony, the Senate Appropriations chair, as well as State Representative Ann Bollin, the House Appropriations chair, to hear the game plan for the remainder of the month.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In 2020, 15 Republicans tried to cast Michigan’s electoral votes for President Trump, even through President Biden won the state by 154,000. In this episode of MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow break down how the legal case against these electors unraveled.

Then, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Counties Steve Currie joins the show to talk about how the state budget affects local governments.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Kresge Foundation moves headquarters to Detroit

The Kresge Foundation announced that it will relocate its headquarters from Troy to the Marygrove campus in northwest Detroit. Along with the move, the foundation says it will invest an additional 180 million dollars in the Liv-Six community over the next five years.

Kresge CEO Rip Rapson says the organization will build a new headquarters on the campus while also strengthening nearby neighborhoods.

“We will, working alongside neighborhood residents and community partners, invest in housing stabilization, home ownership, commercial corridor revitalization, small business support, public spaces enhancements and financial assistance in the Fitzgerald, Bagley, University District and Martin Park neighborhoods,” Rapson said.

The foundation had considered a return to the city for many years, but a renovation of its Troy offices in 2014 delayed those plans. The new headquarters at Marygrove is expected to be completed by 2028.

Apple store opening downtown

Apple will open its downtown Detroit store on September 19 on Woodward just south of John R. The announcement comes the same week the company unveiled its newest devices. Apple also revealed plans for a manufacturing academy in Detroit to complement its developer academy partnership with Michigan State University.

Jeezy concert livestream

Rapper and entrepreneur Jeezy is bringing something special to Detroit. His Friday night concert at the Fox Theatre will feature a live orchestra and will also be livestreamed on his official YouTube channel.

Detroit is one of 23 stops on Jeezy’s tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, first released in 2005.

Weekend sports

The Detroit Tigers face the Miami Marlins this weekend at Loan Depot Park. First pitch for tonight’s game is at 7:10 p.m.

The Detroit Lions take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, September 14. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.

The Tonight Show heads to Detroit

Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show is coming to Detroit this Sunday, September 14, for an episode that will air September 15 on NBC. The show will be filmed at the Detroit Opera House and will feature special guests Keegan-Michael Key, Detroit Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham, and Grammy-winning rapper and actor Common, who recorded his first album in Detroit.

This is the Tonight Show’s first visit to the city and is being presented in partnership with Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit nbc.com.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Detroit Regional Chamber is urging voters not to sign a petition that would tax the wealthy to help pay for schools. The chamber argues some small businesses file their taxes using individual income tax.

But Jess Newman from the Invest in MI Kids initiative says the language of the petition and the individual income limits affects only about 12,000 to 18,000 high income individuals in the whole state.

“We’re talking about a very targeted tax to folks that make a ton of money. They do not as an effective rate pay their fair share. We’re also looking at folks that just got a huge tax break on the income taxes from the federal government.”

The Invest in MI Kids ballot initiative would add a 4% tax hike on individual income over $500,000 to fund public education.

Both petition organizers and the chamber urge voters to read the language of the petition.

Additional headlines for Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Wayne renames Dearborn street in honor of Osama Siblani

Wayne County is honoring longtime journalist and founder and publisher of Arab American News, Osama Siblani by naming a stretch of Dearborn’s commercial corridor after him. 

Siblani established the publication back in the 1980’s, and 40 years later it has become the longest running bilingual Arab weekly publication in the nation.

According to officials, Warren Avenue is believed to be the first street in Dearborn to have a sign in honor of an Arab American advocate.

Ford issues rear view camera recall

Ford is recalling almost 1.5 million vehicles in U.S. because of a rear view camera issue. The recall involves vehicles from model years 2015 to 2019.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the image on the center of the display screen has been reported to go black or get a distorted image which may result in a potential crash.

The administration said they are aware of 18 accidents and no injuries related to the rear camera issue. The agency said that vehicle owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their cars to their respective dealers to solve the issue. There will be no charge for the service.

ModPods to help Lansing homeless

To combat homelessness in the state, Michigan plans to create mini housing pods.

The city of Lansing approved the purchase and storage of 50 modular housing units called ModPods. City officials in Lansing are considering various locations to plant the pods.

If successful, the approach would make Lansing the first city in Michigan to utilize the 8-by-8 housing units which have been used in other states across the country.

If there’s something in your neighborhood you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

As Michigan schools return to classes this week, the uncertainty of the state budget is causing some schools to cut programs just in case there are any issues with funding. In this episode of MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss what needs to be done in order for the legislature to make the October 1 deadline.

Then, Robert McCann, Executive Director for the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, joins the show to talk about how the uncertainty of the budget is affecting school districts.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode: 

• How is budget uncertainty affecting schools across Michigan?
• How do educational benchmarks affect school budgets?

In this episode of The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a virtual learning milestone, Detroit’s jobs report and an upcoming event for Black tech empowerment.

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

Statewide GetSetUp partnership celebrates five years

The state is celebrating a five-year partnership with the digital platform GetSetUp. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services credits the partnership with safeguarding the mental health of many older adults in the state.

State health official Scott Wamsley says the program allows older Michiganders to socialize and learn computer skills.

“There are a lot of older adults that enjoy taking classes online,” Wamsley says. “In fact, we’ve had over a half million residents attend more than 1.5 million classes. So obviously people are enjoying the platform. It’s used across all 83 counties. And so it’s really been a win-win for us.”

Wamsley says the virtual classes offer everything from support for caregivers and the latest on Medicare to learning about the arts, travel, and food.

Detroit wages increasing

Jobs and wages are moving in the right direction in Detroit, according to a report from University of Michigan. In the City of Detroit Economic Outlook for 2024-2030, wage growth at jobs located in the city averages 3.2% annually, which is faster than the entire State of Michigan overall.

Detroit is expected to gain 1,500 payroll jobs annually during the forecast period. And by 2030, the jobless rate should decline to 8.9% while Michigan’s rate should be at 5.6%.

Detroit to host Digital Empowerment Summit

Black Tech Saturdays is having their 2025 Digital Empowerment Summit in Detroit on Sep. 26–27. This 3-day event is part of the National Digital Inclusion Week, aimed at fostering economic mobility through mass tech adoption. Dr. Megan Hicks will be a featured speaker. For more information, go to blacktechsaturdays.com. 

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