The March of Dimes says Detroit has the most premature births among the 100 U.S. cities with the highest birth rates. The study found 1 in 6 babies in Detroit are born before the 37th week of gestation.

The organization points to high rates of chronic illness as one of the reasons for that high rate, as well as disparities in healthcare for Black people.

This summer, the National Institutes of Health canceled a study of premature births in Detroit as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.  

Additional headlines from Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Wayne County wrongful convictions

A new report released by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office details ways it can avoid wrongful convictions. 
The study specifically looks at the case of Eric Anderson—a Detroit man convicted of robbery in 2010 who was wrongfully imprisoned for nine years.

The report was conducted through the Wayne County Sentinel Event Review Team which is made up of law enforcement, judges and innocence projects at Michigan State and the University of Pennsylvania.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says the investigation was successful because it sought to find ways to avoid wrongful prosecutions, not hold anyone accountable. 

“This process was not a process that assigned and assessed blame or finger pointing. It was very important to me and I think everybody that that be done, so we can have honest discussions and have honest recommendations and honest vehicles to make these changes.”

The report lists 25 ways for police, prosecutors and judges to improve, including reducing reliance on a single eye-witness and improving funding for public defenders.

So far, 43 people have been released from prison based on the efforts of the Wayne County Sentinel Event Review Team, most of whom were sentenced to mandatory life sentences.  

Riverwalk construction

Part of the Riverwalk between Beaubien and Rivard will be closed Thursday through the spring for utility improvements on 1-375. Pedestrians and cyclists wit be rerouted to Atwater Street until mid-December. After that, they will be directed to Franklin Street.

The Michigan Department of Transportation says a new storm sewer along Schweizer Place down to the river is being installed. MDOT says the updates will support cleaner water being discharged into the Detroit River and relieve pressure on the city’s sewer system. 

Thanksgiving food collection

Midtown coffeeshop Simply Roasted and Mindful Bakery Yumaste are partnering with Gleaners to collect food ahead of Thanksgiving.

They invite the community to drop off unexpired and non-perishable food items at 4240 Cass Avenue through Thanksgiving Day. Canned chicken, tuna, beans, soups, vegetables and fruits as well as oatmeal and cereals are especially needed.

For information on how to give, other organizations collecting food and food distributions visit gcfb.org. 

Train party

Carbon Athletic Club is hosting its annual Holiday Train Party Saturday.

The CPKC Holiday Train starts its 27^th annual trek through Canada and the U.S. Wednesday and makes a stop in Windsor Saturday before passing through Detroit.

The Windsor event will feature live performances by Smash Mouth and JJ Wilde. The train does not stop in Detroit but is expected to roll by the Carbon Athletic Club sometime between 6 and 11 p.m. on Nov. 22.

The Carbon Athletic Club is a members-only social club founded in the Delray neighborhood in 1947. The Holiday Train Party is its biggest fundraiser of the year. Tickets are $10 and available at carbonathleticclub.com or at the door. 

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

A state House committee voted Wednesday to advance legislation to blunt the impact of a Michigan Supreme Court decision on automatic life-without-parole sentences for young adults.

The bills could allow for longer sentences for 19- and 20-year-olds convicted of first-degree and felony murder, among other serious crimes, and allow prosecutors more time to review cases for potential resentencing.

“Life without parole was not given out lightly to begin with,” said Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and sponsored the bills. “You have to remember these people are murderers.”

The court ruling released in April struck down automatic life without parole for 19- and 20-year-olds convicted of first-degree and felony murder as unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment. It followed a similar ruling applying to defendants 18 years old and younger.

Now, people who already got mandatory life sentences are being resentenced. Sometimes, that will be to multiple shorter prison terms. The current default in Michigan is for sentences to be served concurrently.

Lightner said concurrent prison terms are not tough enough. “There’s only justice given to the first victim,” she told Michigan Public Radio. “There’s nothing in law that says you have to stack the sentences consecutively, because we have concurrent sentencing.”

Consecutive years-long sentences would effectively be life in prison in some cases.

Deborah LaBelle, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said the Michigan Supreme Court decision is clear on young lifers. She said sentences of life with no chance of parole for young defendants should be rare.

“They should, when they have had the opportunity to mature and grow, be looked at again and determined whether in fact they have been rehabilitated and should be able to at some point rejoin the community,” she said.

LaBelle says the legislation would probably be found unconstitutional if signed into law because it would force consecutive sentences automatically without court hearings.

The bills, which now go to the House floor, were adopted on party-line votes.