Learning has become harder for many students as fewer people are reading due to the distractions of new technologies. While artificial intelligence spreads information quickly, it doesn’t necessarily offer the depth of traditional teaching.

So, how does one teach deep learning when most Michigan fourth graders aren’t reading proficiently?

Erik Meerschaert is a special education teacher at Lake Orion High School. He also just became the 2026-2027 Michigan Teacher of the Year, and he’s the state’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award for 2027. 

Meerschaert says students learn better when they feel like they have a strong connection with their teacher. 

“Every great educator I’ve ever met starts with that relationship piece,” he says. “Being able to build that relationship with my students — getting to know their likes, their dislikes — helps create that welcoming, friendly environment. When a student is in that kind of environment, they feel ready to take risks. They feel more at ease.” 

Erik Meerschaert joined host Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss why he loves his job, and how that joy helps construct bonds with his students that aid them in the learning process.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR or wherever you get your podcasts.

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey is pushing back against the Trump administration’s decision to send Justice Department operatives to monitor the August primary election. The DOJ says it will be watching the voting in Detroit, Lansing, and East Lansing, which are Democratic strongholds. Trump has falsely claimed that fraud in Detroit cost him the 2020 election. Justice officials say they’re worried about compliance with election law and long lines at polling places. Winfrey says no such delays happened in 2024 because the state had adopted early voting.

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller

Additional headlines for Thursday, July 9, 2026

Growing Cyclosporiasis cases

The state health department says an outbreak of a parasitic infection has grown to almost 1 thousand cases. Cyclosporiasis causes severe diarrhea and other symptoms. Investigators have not found the cause of the outbreak, but people usually get it by eating contaminated fresh produce.

Health experts advise washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly and seeking medical attention if symptoms persist. They can last for weeks without treatment.

Money for new mothers

Republican House Speaker Matt Hall says he doesn’t want a state program that pays new mothers to get the 20 million dollars it is expecting from the new state budget. R-X Kids gives women 15 hundred dollars during pregnancy and 500 dollars a month for the first six months of a newborn’s life. Studies show it has reduced infant mortality in Flint, where it began. Republican Speaker Matt Hall says more traditional social safety net programs with tougher eligibility requirements should get the money.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll have a WIC program, that our child protective services will be well funded, that the cash assistance program will be well funded.”

R-X kids serves all eligible mothers in designated coverage areas regardless of individual family need.

Reporting by Michigan Public Radio Network’s Colin Jackson

Rental housing gridlock

Efforts to reform Detroit’s rental housing remain stalled… and advocates blame the city’s largest court for some of the gridlock. A lawsuit by the Detroit Tenants Union accuses 36th District Court’s Chief Judge of failing his legal duty by allowing landlords without a certificate of compliance to continue collecting rent.

Right now, only 14 percent of Detroit landlords are compliant with city safety inspections. Donovan McCarty represents the union.

“If landlords can keep going in to collect rent that’s not lawfully collected, then they have no incentive to actually come into compliance, and that I4 percent number will not grow to where we need it to be.”

The 36th District Court didn’t reply to a request for comment.

You can hear the full conversation at WDET.org or on The Metro podcast.

Grow Detroit Young Talent

City officials kicked off the 12th annual Grow Detroit’s Young Talent
Summer Employment Program Wednesday.

The program will provide over eight thousand summer jobs for kids in the city. It’s Mary Sheffield’s first year leading the effort as Mayor. Over 90 thousand positions have been extended to Detroit’s young people since the program began in 2014.

Jazz takes center stage featuring Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown, Jeff Parker, and Ethiopian pianist Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru. We also mix in new music from Tyler Ballgame alongside favorites from Nick Drake, Jungle, Fela Kuti, Aretha Franklin, and more. 

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 9, 2026 

• “Mountain Top” – RIO KOSTA 

• “House in LA” – Jungle 

• “Pursuance” – Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown 

• “All Blues” – Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown 

• “Gentleman” – Fela Kuti 

• “Satisfaction (I Can’t Get No)” – Otis Redding 

• “Lazy Bones” – WITCH 

• “Bra” – Cymande 

• “I Believe In Love” – Tyler Ballgame 

• “Somebody Made for Me” – Emitt Rhodes 

• “This Will Be Our Year” – The Zombies 

• “Draggin’” – Hannah Cohen 

• “Going to California” – Led Zeppelin 

• “Goodbye Mr. Blue” – Father John Misty 

• “Words” – Big Thief 

• “Knife” – Grizzly Bear 

• “In a Dream” – Misha Panfilov Sound Combo 

• “Our House (Demo)” – Graham Nash 

• “Sycamore” – Bill Callahan 

• “Chinese Translation” – M. Ward 

• “Pink Moon” – Nick Drake 

• “Mule” – Kenny Burrell 

• “Crazy He Calls Me” – Aretha Franklin 

• “Off Om” – Jeff Parker 

• “..THUS IS WHY ( I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE )” – Saya Gray 

• “This Is How We Walk on the Moon (feat. Tirzah)” – Speakers Corner Quartet 

• “Shadows From Nowhere” – Blue Gas 

• “Storm” – Rare Silk 

• “The Homeless Wanderer” – Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru 

• “Open the Door” – Betty Carter 

• “What You Are” – Pete Brandt’s Method 

• “I Think I’m in Love” – Spiritualized 

• “Al Sharp” – The Beta 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. 

There is a quiet that settles into a house when the power has been out for three days. The hum you never noticed is gone. The refrigerator has given up. If someone in the house depends on a machine to sleep, or a medication that has to stay cold, the quiet starts to feel like something else.

That was the mood in many homes in southeast Michigan over the Fourth of July weekend. Storms came through on Friday night with winds over 60 miles an hour.

By that night, more than 450,000 utility customers statewide were in the dark — most of them DTE customers. For some, the power did not come back for five days.

As the lights returned, so too did an argument about what people are owed when the grid fails, and about who, exactly, is supposed to answer for it.

Representative Alabas Farhat is among the people pushing for answers to those questions. He represents Dearborn and part of Detroit — some of the hardest-hit neighborhoods — and he is calling for state hearings into how the utilities responded, along with bigger compensation for residents than the state’s $42-a-day outage credit.

DTE has defended its response. In a statement to WDET, the company said the storms caused the most damage it has seen in years — knocking out power to nearly 400,000 of its customers — and that its “sole focus is on restoring power for our customers as quickly and safely as possible.”

At a press conference this week, CEO Joi Harris said the company got only about 90 minutes’ warning before the storm hit, and officials said most of the damage came from large trees outside the utility’s easements, with replacement crews coming from as far as Texas and Canada.

Harris also acknowledged the limits of the credit: “We know that $42 doesn’t cut it.”

Farhat joined host Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss what he heard from constituents who spent days in the dark, why he believes the current credit falls short, and what it would take to hold Michigan’s utilities to a higher standard.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

Whether your looking to experience culture and cuisine from around the world, turn back the clock with an immersive historical activity, or just enjoy the outdoors – this week’s Metro Events Guide has you covered.

Upcoming events (July 9-12)

Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation

Henry Ford Museum
 July 9- July 26
Free

The Freedom Plane National Tour gives visitors the opportunity to view original documents that played a key role in the founding of America. The Henry Ford is one of eight institutions in the country hosting the traveling exhibit in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The exhibit is free and museum admission is not required. 

Historic Base Ball

Greenfield Village – Walnut Grove
July 11 | 1:30 p.m.
$39

Turn back the clock and experience the origins of America’s pastime from a time when the rules were different and the game was known as “base ball.” Cheer on the action as players take the field with uniforms, equipment and rules from 1867.

Movie Nights in the D – Cars

Campus Martius Park
July 10 | 6 p.m.
Free

Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy Cars on the big screen at Campus Martius Park.  Arrive early by 6pm for activities and a chance to win prizes before the movie begins at 7pm. This event is free and is part of an ongoing summer movie series  at Campus Martius Park.

Detroit Kite Festival

Belle Isle State Park
July 10 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Free (with paid entry to the island)

The Detroit Kite Festival returns to Belle Isle State Park for its eighth year. Attend for a day of kite flying, kite making, bubble therapy, food and drinks available for purchase on-site and more. This event is free after paying for entry to the island.

African World Festival

Hart Plaza
July 10-12
$17.85

Each year, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History celebrates African Diaspora culture with three days of music, food and more. At the event guests can enjoy over 100 food and retail vendors from around the world, all in a family-friendly environment.

While Detroit law says a landlord cannot rent a home until it’s been deemed livable by city inspectors, 86% of Detroit’s landlords are operating illegally as they have failed to secure Certificates of Compliance for their properties.

Last week, the Detroit Tenants Union, with support from several legal groups in the city, filed a lawsuit, alleging the 36th District Court chief judge has “failed to perform a clear and legal duty” because the court’s rulings contradict city law, effectively leaving residents vulnerable rather than upholding the statutes protecting them.

Professor Donovan McCarty is the director of Michigan State University College of Law’s Housing Justice Clinic and counsel for the Detroit Tenants Union. He says the 36^th District court is not using the law properly to protect renters.

“If landlords can keep going in to collect rent that’s not lawfully collected, then they have no incentive to actually come into compliance, and that 14% number will not grow to where we need it to be,” says McCarty.

He joined The Metro’s Robyn Vincent to discuss why he believes the court is falling short, and how it needs to be held accountable.  

The 36th District Court did not respond to The Metro’s request for comment.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Police say a 5-year-old boy was shot in the arm while riding his bicycle in front of his home in northwest Detroit. Investigators say a teenager fired several shots near Fargo-Oakfield Park when a stray bullet hit the boy.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says the young victim will recover. She called the shooting senseless gun violence and said children deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods. She says anyone with information about the shooter should call the police or CrimeStoppers. 

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller

Additional headlines for Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Federal monitors in Detroit?

The Justice Department plans to send election monitors to Detroit, Lansing and East Lansing for Michigan’s August primaries. Those are mostly Democratic cities. President Trump has falsely claimed that fraud in Detroit cost him the 2020 election.

Phil Mayor is the deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. He says the DOJ can, and has, used election monitors before. But he says Trump’s plan is troubling.  

“Given this administration’s election denialism and many of the other ways the administration has sought to discourage voting or spread false narratives, we’re certainly concerned. We’ll be watching the conduct of DOJ’s monitors carefully to ensure that they comply with the law, that they don’t interact with or harass voters.”

The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party—and a 2020 election denier—suggested this could be a trial run for placing federal agents at the polls in November. 

Faith leaders in the state are calling on legislators to pass a Michigan Voting Rights Act to fight against discrimination and protect access at the polls. 

-Reporting by Rick Pluta and Sascha Raiyn

Faith leader training

A new training is available for people who’d like to be Poll Chaplains or Peacekeepers at polling locations. 

Poll Chaplains are faith leaders who wear clerical attire at election sites and peacekeepers are religious community leaders. The training teaches both how to maintain peace and de-escalate potential conflict at polling locations to encourage voter participation.  

Faiths United to Save Democracy is a nonpartisan, multifaith and multiracial voter protection campaign.  

The training will be held on Zoom on Monday July 13 from 7-8:30 p.m. Additional training will be offered on September 28 and October 15. People will receive official credentials upon completion of training.  

People can register at turnoutsunday.com. 

Fresh food truck

Wayne County has launched a food truck to increase access to affordable, healthy food options for residents. The Well Wayne Fresh Truck Mobile Market is a “farmers market on wheels.”  

It’s an effort to feed people who are facing food insecurity. That’s 1 in 5 people in the county. 

The food truck is also a way to reduce barriers to accessing food due to limited transportation and food prices. The food truck is sponsored by a multi-million-dollar investment to address social determinants of health through community work. The mobile food truck accepts SNAP, EBT, Double Up Food Bucks, cash, and credit or debit cards. It will operate across several cities including in Highland Park, Hamtramck and Inkster. Routes will be updated quarterly and based on community feedback.    

Grow Talent program starts

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield kicks off the city’s summer jobs program for young people today. Grow Detroit’s Young Talent provides paid positions for about 8,000 teens and young adults. This year the city is adding two weeks of training for each participant in which they’ll learn about professionalism, conflict resolution and other skills.  

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller 

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

Federal judges across the country have been getting pizzas delivered to their homes that they never ordered. It is an intimidation tactic — a way of saying, “We know where you live.” This is happening after judges rule against the Trump administration. Some have also received hundreds of threatening voicemails after doing so. 

These threats are on the rise, and a coalition of judges says they climb each time the Trump administration attacks a ruling.

So this week, something unusual is happening. A group of judges — appointed and elected by both parties — got on a bus. The Justice in Motion tour crossed Pennsylvania and Ohio and are reaching Michigan this week, stopping at the Grosse Pointe Library at 11:30 a.m. on Friday. At these stops, they are doing the one thing their profession trains them not to do: speak out, in public, together, about what is happening to the courts.

Victoria Roberts is among the former judges breaking that silence. She spent 25 years on the federal bench in Michigan’s Eastern District — and she got there as a trailblazer, the first African American woman to lead the State Bar of Michigan. She joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to pull back the curtain on the judicial system, how decisions are made, and whether this moment feels different.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

More stories from The Metro

Dearborn was named a Tree City USA for the 39th year.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud says its a pride point for the city. “We’re trying to take it an extra step, ensuring that we offer all of our residents a free tree in their easements, and even if they’d like a free treatment for their personal property,” he says.

Benefits

Hammoud says the trees help with flood mitigation in the city.

“The more trees you put in the ground, the more water it can absorb, helping prevent that water from entering your water and sewer system, which helps increase your capacity,” he says.

City reprenstatives have been planting about 1,000 trees a year, he says.

What goes up…

Hammoud says road construction and storms can sometimes lead to some trees coming down.

“Sometimes a tree will be removed if you have major road construction, and you do chop off some of the root system, and then you’d no longer have a tree that can be there safely, where a windstorm, especially if there’s many leaves in the tree, can get picked up along with that windstorm,” he shares.

He says there are efforts to educate residents about the benefit of planting and saving trees. The city has also caught up on a backlog of taking down dead and deceased trees from 1,200-1,300 to about 100 trees. 

Setting trees up for success

The city mostly plants trees that are 3-4 years old, and works with the Crimboli Nursery & Landscapes to get their trees.

Every tree comes with a 1-2 year warranty, but residents are asked to water the trees.

“If the wooden stakes are still on the tree that are helping keeping it up, that means the tree has a warranty for those first two years, ensuring that can kind of grow out of its newborn phase,” he says.

Dearborn residents can request a free tree in their easement by visiting dearborn.gov/trees. 

This story is a part of WDET’s ongoing series, the Detroit Tree Canopy Project.

Leaders from multiple faith communities in metro Detroit are calling on state legislators to pass a Michigan Voting Rights Act after the justice department announced plans to send election monitors to three Michigan cities. 

Clergy gathered at Central United Methodist in Detroit and at locations in Grand Rapids and Lansing to show opposition to Trump administration policies speakers say are designed to threaten communities across the country. 

Hazel Gomez of Dream of Detroit says faith leaders will and must defend voting rights. “We will organize, we will train, and we’re going to de-escalate. And in the primaries in August and in the general election in November, our goal as clergy of all faith traditions is to stand at the polls, to accompany, and to watch over our beloved communities.”

Wendell Anthony of Fellowship Chapel in Detroit – and president of the Detroit NAACP is also calling on lawyers to join the front lines, saying “We’re not afraid to sue somebody.”  

Additional headlines for Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Bill to guarantee children with legal representation passes state legislature

A bill that would guarantee children access to legal representation in delinquency cases is headed to Governor Whitmer’s desk. The legislation would require the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to create a system similar to the one used by adults facing criminal charges who may not be able to afford an attorney. 

If passed, the indigent defense commission would be required to have at least one attorney experienced in juvenile justice to help set the standards. The bill cleared the legislature last week with bipartisan support. 

-Reporting by MPRN’s Rick Pluta

National Wheelchair Games

The National Wheelchair Games are coming to Detroit this week. It is the largest annual wheelchair sports event for veterans in the world. Athletes compete in more than 20 events including basketball, swimming, track and field and boccia.

The 45^th National Wheelchair Games will be hosted by several venues and based at Hunting Place. The Opening Ceremony is July 9 with competition running through the 14.

Detroit Kite Festival

The 8^th Annual Detroit Kite Festival is Sunday on the Belle Isle Cricket Field across from the James Scott Memorial Fountain. Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. and run until 6 p.m. Plans include food, music and kites, of course. Kites are available for purchase. Learn more at detroitkitefestival.org. 

Public reading of Declaration of Independence at Greenfield Village

Sites across the country will commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence with a simultaneous reading of the document Wednesday. Greenfield Village is one of those sites and invites the community to join the event for free.

Visitors will also hear live music, see historic vignettes and learn about Centennial games on the Village Green. The event begins at 5 p.m. The reading – synchronized with other readings across the state begins at 6 p.m.

No tickets, reservations or parking passes are required.

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

Malta is a country in the Mediterranean that is nearly the size of Detroit. Immigrants first came to the metro area more than a century ago for factory jobs. With the Catholic Church serving as a critical community connection, Maltese families stayed in the region.

With an estimated population of 13,000, Southeast Michigan boasts the nation’s highest concentration of Maltese Americans. 

Local clubs and gathering spaces remain, including the Maltese American Community Club of Dearborn and Maltese-American Benevolent Society.

Despite a rich history in metro Detroit, the challenge of preserving Maltese identity and carrying on traditions like food and language gets more difficult every year.

Joesph Lubig is a professor at Northern Michigan University, and he wrote the book “Maltese in Michigan.”

He joined The Metro to discuss what attracted immigrants to the region, why the Maltese language is important and how so many Maltese immigrants find a home in metro Detroit.

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

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

If you live in metro Detroit, the last week probably tested your patience — and maybe your fridge.

First, the heat. As temperatures rose past 100, the grid strained, and a substation in Warren failed. Thousands lost power, some for many hours.

Then, just as that passed, the storms came. Friday night, winds tore through the region and dropped 80-foot trees onto power lines — and at the peak, hundreds of thousands of homes went dark. Some homes stayed dark for days.

And here’s the thing: that’s the grid we already have, straining under an ordinary Michigan summer.

Now Michigan is preparing to add something extraordinary — data centers built to power artificial intelligence, each one hungry for as much electricity as a small city. And the decisions about who pays for that, and how, are being made right now, mostly out of public view.

Nicholas Schroeck, dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, thinks a lot about who answers to the public when big energy decisions get made. He joined Robyn Vincent to talk about what the data center boom means for Michigan’s grid, your electric bill, and whether the public has any real say.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

More stories from The Metro

Come November, thousands of political seats are up for grabs.

One of the most compelling races in Michigan is the Senate. That’s in part because of what it says about the Democratic Party, especially after Mallory McMorrow dropped out.

Most polls have Abdul El-Sayed leading in the race, but there is still uncertainty as to whether he can defeat Haley Stevens, a sitting congresswoman who gained notoriety for her moderation, and for bailing out the auto industry.

Dennis Darnoi is the founder of Densar Consulting, based in Farmington. He says many voters want candidates that have an anti-institutional and populist bent.

“Progressive candidates are running against these establishment candidates and they’re being more successful because the Democratic base is really looking for two things: They’re looking for people who are going to fight and they’re looking for people who are anti-system.”

Darnoi spoke with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent about the Senate race and how it reflects changes to politics in Michigan and beyond.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Several artists featured on today’s playlist are making their way to metro Detroit this summer and fall, including Cola, Bloc Party, Jack Johnson, Jack White, Big Thief, and Osees. If any of these shows are on your radar, be sure to grab your tickets before they’re gone. 

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 7, 2026 

• “Listen2me” – Foxwarren 

• “Haveluck Country” – Cola 

• “Mellow” – Deadbeat Beat 

• “Like Eating Glass” – Bloc Party 

• “Sweet Mary Jane” – The Desperados 

• “Sun Sinking Low” – Mr. Airplane Man 

• “Dollar Bill” – Jack White 

• “Marigold (B-Side)” – Nirvana 

• “Loud Bark” – Mannequin Pussy 

• “Make It Wit Chu” – Queens of the Stone Age 

• “Toe Cutter – Thumb Buster” – Thee Oh Sees 

• “Incomprehensible” – Big Thief 

• “Hold On To The Light” – Jack Johnson & Hermanos Gutiérrez 

• “Sound & Color” – Alabama Shakes 

• “Black Ego” – Digable Planets 

• “Four On Six (feat. Tommy Flanagan, Percy Heath & Albert Heath)” – Wes Montgomery 

• “Kilimanjaro” – Kelan Phil Cohran & Legacy 

• “Doom Mood” – Pearl & The Oysters 

• “O Samba da Minha Terra” – Novos Baianos 

• “Se Baila Así” – Mexican Institute of Sound 

• “Atatue Inu” – Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family 

• “For Oumou Sangaré” – The Kyle Shepherd Trio 

• “Kind of Latin Rhythm” – The Juju Orchestra 

• “Alegría” – Elia y Elizabeth 

• “Aonde Voce Vai” – Antonio Adolfo 

• “Olhos de Sá” – Joutro Mundo 

• “Nomalizo” – Letta Mbulu 

• “A Figure in the Surf” – Mount Kimbie 

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. 

I’m seeing more examples of indie bands (whatever that means today) finding their way to an audience by presenting a solid cover. Australian group Royel Otis is one that stands out, with their solid, true-to-form cover of the Cranberries’ “Linger.”

Chicago indie rockers Friko are another example, first arriving to my ears via their forceful cover of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes,” which, admittedly, is a ballsy one to cover (but they nailed it).

It got me hooked enough that I started digging into the brand new sophomore album, “Something Worth Waiting For,” and have completely fallen in love with the title track.

It starts out like a blurry vision; like an acoustic guitar and a distant voice are just barely making their way out of a dusty vinyl groove off in the distance, before blossoming into this massive anthemic swell of waiting for the good thing even though you might not measure up yourself.

“So I’m waiting for something more
Something worth waiting for
I wanna see you and me
Waking up, glad to be
So I’m waiting for something more
Something worth waiting for”

This is exactly what you love to see from an artist on their sophomore release. More space, bigger sound, the growth they always dreamed up after praying that anyone would even care about the debut in the first place. Luckily for Friko, they’re continuing to carve out a space for themselves and their new stadium-ready sound.

For anyone looking to check them out in Detroit, they’ll be playing at The Loving Touch on Oct. 17.

This story was originally published by Midbrow.

Michigan drivers are feeling less pain at the pump.

AAA and Gas Buddy say the statewide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is less than $4 per gallon as of July 7. The last time it was that low was in April, a few weeks after the United States attacked Iran in March.

Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic. That sent gas prices up to almost $5 per gallon in May. At the same time, the average cost of diesel fuel rose to $6.20 per gallon, a new record for Michigan.

When did prices begin falling?

Tensions in the Persian Gulf have eased since the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June, aiming toward ending the war.

Iran is now allowing more tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Gas Buddy senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says oil prices have fallen to their lowest level since the war began.

“OPEC+ has increased production, another piece of good news,” he says. “Prices are back below $70 per barrel.”

Oil prices are low, gas not so much

But the drop in oil prices hasn’t affected fuel prices as much as it could have. DeHaan says that’s because of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.

“You can have all the oil in the world,” he says. “But if there aren’t refineries to turn that into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, you could have very low oil prices but very high fuel prices.”

DeHaan says prices could go up 10 to 20 cents per gallon by mid-July due to less refining capacity at home, too.

A power outage at the Marathon Petroleum refinery in southwest Detroit on July 5 temporarily halted operations there. It also forced the company to burn off excess gases to keep them from building up. Marathon says power was restored on July 6 and it’s working to resume normal operations.

DeHaan says even a short delay could affect prices.

“Many times, brief disruptions can lead to multiple days of down time,” he says. “We don’t have a full picture on exactly how long that refinery could be impacted.”

Domestic supply dwindles

A lack of refining capacity could mean the U.S. dips into its strategic oil reserve to address any shortages or price increases.

DeHaan says that reserve is getting low.

“It’s now at its lowest level since 1983, with about 326 million barrels,” he says. “Having less oil available strategically could be problematic down the road.”

DeHaan says while gas prices are trending down, several factors could send them back up, such as a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean.

“We’re weeks away from entering the peak of hurricane season.” he says. “And with continued Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, that could be a problem.”

This week, I’m excited to introduce more listeners to one of the four artists set to perform on Aug. 13 at Batch Brewing for our annual Sounds Like Detroit Showcase. KTCHN composes and performs transcendent and dreamily epic jazz-adjacent suites adorned with celestial vocals and enchanting melodic motifs with their piano at the center of it all.

KTCHN is otherwise known as Kazza, a Detroit-based interdisciplinary artist, musician. and educator. On the show, we talked about their experience working as a pianist, vocalist, composer, producer, and visual artist. We also spoke about Kazza’s key influences, including many prog-inclined artists like Hiatus Kaiyote and more, along with their formative experiences growing up in a musical family and what it inspired the song that won them a spot at Sounds Like Detroit, a 7-miute epic titled “Willow,” which featured a full ensemble.

Stay tuned to MI Local, because in the coming weeks I’ll be welcoming all of the artists on the lineup to the studio, including Aisha Ellis, Michelle Held, and Jubilee Jackson. Get your tickets now, and join me at Batch Brewing on Aug.13 to celebrate these talented local artists!

Also on the show this week, new groovy sounds from local indie-pop artist Jacob Sigman, and mystic-folk vibes coming out of Ann Arbor from Naomi Wolfe! We also belatedly spun a bit of a patriotic-themed ballad for America’s 250th, from the northwest Michigan based Americana maven, May Erlewine! All that, and a few updates on shows you can catch around the region.

Thanks for listening!

We’re spinning more of your “Belle Isle Bangers” to cool you off in this Detroit summer heat. Today’s listener selections include tracks from Smokey Robinson, Sylvan Esso, The Rascals, The Isley Brothers, and Wolf Alice. We also take a moment to say goodbye to Mexico’s World Cup run with Mercedes Sosa’s “Gracias a la Vida” after last night’s match. 

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 6, 2026 

• “Silently” – Tara Clerkin Trio 

• “After the Rain” – Cole Pulice 

• “Going Out” – Carla dal Forno 

• “Liars” – The Durutti Column 

• “Five Seconds” – Twin Shadow 

• “Kaputt” – Destroyer 

• “The One to Wait” – CCFX 

• “Coffee” – Sylvan Esso 

• “Gracias a la Vida” – Mercedes Sosa 

• “Cruisin’” – Smokey Robinson 

• “Island of Real” – The Rascals 

• “Fight the Power, Pts. 1 & 2” – The Isley Brothers 

• “Bloodline (Marla Kether Remix)” – Samantha Lindo 

• “Saturday Night Special” – Jazzanova 

• “BOSS TRIX (BENNY’S SONG)” – Nirosta Steel 

• “Don’t Delete the Kisses” – Wolf Alice 

• “The Call” – Broken Social Scene 

• “Combat Baby” – Metric 

• “MISK” – Roundabout 

• “DON’T LISTEN” – corto.alto 

• “Unfinished Sympathy (feat. Shara Nelson” – Massive Attack 

• “Somewhere Good” – Tara Clerkin Trio 

• “Desire” – Cleo Sol 

• “Far Cry” – Resavoir 

• “Uirapurú” – Fabiano do Nascimento & Vittor Santos e Orquestra 

• “Gadabout Season” – Brandee Younger 

• “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” – Dorothy Ashby 

• “Summertime” – Rosinha De Valença 

• “In a Hidden Nook Between Worlds I” – Cole Pulice 

• “Save It for Later (Live)” – Pete Townshend 

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.