According to AAA Michigan, about 1.3 million state residents will hit the roads this weekend. The auto group says this is the second highest state number on record for the holiday weekend. This follows a national trend, with estimates setting up a new national record, topping last year’s numbers by 1%.   

To avoid peak travel times, AAA suggests travelling between 9 p.m. on Thursday and 11 a.m. on Friday. Those traveling on Sunday will have little to no traffic, but those traveling on Monday will get the worst of it between noon and 5 p.m.    

Memorial Day Weekend travel is costing more across the country this year on average due to rising gas prices. The increase is connected to the War in Iran and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. This year, gas prices average $4.74 per gallon in Michigan. Last year the average was $3.13.    

Additional headlines from Friday, May 22, 2026

Local Catholic churches face restructuring

Local Catholic church members are bracing for change as the Archdiocese of Detroit begins a restructuring process.

According to a report from the Detroit News, about 22 churches could potentially no longer hold weekend masses in the foreseeable future. These changes could be connected to finances and dwindling church attendance.    

Listening sessions across the archdiocese are expected to take place this spring and early summer to consider plans.    

Sports  

MLB  

The Tigers are facing a 6-game losing streak as face the Baltimore Orioles this weekend. Detroit is at the bottom of the American League Central and hopes to turn things with a three-game series against the Orioles. 

First pitch for tonight’s game is at 7:15 p.m. at Oriole Park in Baltimore.   

Soccer  

Detroit City FC is facing Loudoun United FC  tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. Detroit has won their last two games and hopes to get their third victory tomorrow. The faceoff will take place at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia.   
   
Final Four ticket lottery

The Final Four is coming to Detroit and here is your chance to get some tickets. There is a lottery system you can enter for an application fee of $25. Fans who apply will be charged up front for the number of tickets they are requesting. You can only get up to 4 tickets. The available tickets are in the upper bowl at Ford Field and cost about $400 each.   

The deadline to enter the lottery is Sunday, May 31. Winners will be notified in the Fall.    

NBA   

And I know the NBA season is over, but there is news heading into the 2026-2027 season.    

The Pistons announced that they’ve reached a new television rights agreement with Scripps Sports. This move brings Pistons basketball to over‑the‑air television for fans throughout Michigan. The Pistons and Scripps Sports plan to collaborate on a direct-to-consumer streaming application in the future.   

Movement music festival

It’s Memorial Day Weekend so there is Movement in Detroit. The longest-running electronic dance music event in the world return for its 20th year.

From Saturday to Monday, you have access to witness more than 115 artists perform on a variety of stages.  Many performances and set pieces have been curated in order to celebrate the twenty years of existence. Three day VIP passes are sold out but single day, VIP  and general admission passes are still available.  

For more details go to movementfestival.com.

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

Tomorrow, Detroit turns its attention to Movement Music Festival, so for our final show before the weekend, we’re setting up the energy accordingly. We revisit our conversation with beloved Detroit photographer Patricia Dorsey, better known as “Grandma Techno,” who has become a cherished part of the festival’s culture and a familiar presence at Hart Plaza since first attending the festival in 2005. 

Closing out the show, In The Groove welcomes Detroit producer and DJ Kyle Hall into the studio for a special live set. A longtime force in the city’s dance music scene, Kyle has built a reputation for blending house, techno, jazz and soul into a sound that feels distinctly Detroit. Catch his set on Saturday, May 23 at 3 p.m. at the Star Gate Stage at Hart Plaza. 

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 May 22, 2026 

• “Fishbrain” – Mount Kimbie 

• “I Wanna Be Adored” – The Stone Roses 

• “Mind’s a Lie” – High Vis 

• “So U Kno” – Overmono 

• “Cos-Ber-Zam Ne Noya (Daphni Mix)” – Daphni 

• “Katmandu (Jazzanova Remix)” – Ivan Conti 

• “better” – Joy Orbison & Léa Sen 

• “oh baby (lovefingers remix)” – LCD Soundsystem 

• “Leave Your Life (Lonely Hearts Mix)” – Alex Kassian 

• “Peter and Sylvie” – Michael Andrews 

• “Boy Moves the Sun” – Michael Andrews 

• “Paradise Valley” – Jay Daniel 

• “Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)” – Hercules & Love Affair 

• “The Whistle Song” – Frankie Knuckles 

• “Home is Where The Hatred Is (feat. Lisa Fischer) [Main]” – Brian Jackson, Masters At Work, Kenny Dope & Louie Vega 

• “Lady Day & John Coltrane (feat. Rahsaan Patterson) [12″ Version]” – Brian Jackson, Kenny Dope & Louie Vega 

• “Can’t Stop (Dennis F’s Falling 4 U Mix Edit)” – Reel People, Angela Johnson & Dennis Ferrer 

• “Sidepoint” – Vlad Caia 

• “NoLov4Me” – So House 

• “You Are Love (Jose Carretas Son Liva Mix)” – Glenn Underground 

• “Down” – Kyle Hall 

• “Echoes In The Dust (Vinyl Preview)” – MICHELE MANZO 

• “I Can’t Believe I Loved Her” – Peven Everett 

• “Thank U” – Julio Navas & David Amo 

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. 

Public access to the Wayne County Airport Authority’s monthly meetings has changed, according to officials and an inside source. The move follows public opposition to the use of Willow Run Airport by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation-related flights earlier this year.

In February, the WCAA ended an option for the public to attend monthly meetings remotely while keeping the option available for some employees.

Officials say the decision to end remote attendance is meant to prioritize those who attend the meeting in-person and is a part of a broader shift to the Authority’s pre-pandemic policy. However, an inside source says the change is a reaction to strong public opposition against the use of Willow Run Airport for ICE deportation flights.

An anonymous whistleblower shared internal communication with WDET that shows while the public will be barred from attending public meetings remotely, some employees will still be offered the option. Those employees must first be vetted by the officials before receiving a unique, traceable link to attend. 

 The source also tells WDET that public comment had previously been moved to the end of each monthly meeting, raising concerns that the change will limit public input before major decisions are made. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act, WDET requested all flight activity records, agreements, contracts, communications, and financial records related to the use of Willow Run Airport by ICE.

The airport authority is charging WDET $7,991.68 for the information.

Nearly 2 million Muslims will make the greater pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, next week.

Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk is President of the Islamic Organization of North America (IONA). He says this year, Hajj is different due to the ongoing war between Iran, the United States and Israel. 

“Many of our congregations are asking, ‘is it safe to go this year?’ It is very safe,” he says.

Elturk says the U.S. bases are far away from the holy cites in Mecca and Medina. 

“Saudi Arabia really does a great job in terms of safety and security. I’ve been going there for a dozen years, and I see it with my own eyes to make sure that the pilgrims are safe and secure,” he shares.

He says the systems have also changed from people booking Hajj travel through an agency to using the Nusuk app, which can be confusing for users.

“Then they offer you the packages. They ask me if I’m going or taking a group. I have not taken a group in the last few years since they launched the Nusuk… ” It’s different,” he reflects.

He says about a half dozen people are going to Hajj from his congregation this year, but he expects that more people are going from nearby suburbs of Detroit.

Elturk says, although he’s not going to Hajj this year, he provides spiritual guidance for his congregants if asked.

“I have had throughout the years, since some from our community who have gone there call me on the phone, say ‘we just finished this. I don’t know what should I do next, or I did this, is this correct?’ And I try to guide them over the phone sometimes at 3 o’clock in the morning because of the time differences,” he explains.

Hajj takes place during the eighth through 13th of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, following a lunar calendar. Pilgrims do specific tasks while they are in Hajj, what Elturk describes as an opportunity for repentance.

“Hajj is all about repentance, and the Prophet said, peace be upon him, ‘whoever performs Hajj, his or her pilgrimage is accepted, returns as the day he or she was born—in other words, sinless,'” he shares.

Pilgrims will perform Hajj from May 25-30.

Life is becoming less affordable for Michiganders. And in Lansing, despite the constraints they face, many believe lawmakers are not doing enough to change that for residents. 

With state Senator Erika Geiss term limited out of her seat, two Democrats are now vying to improve life for residents in parts of Detroit and Downriver.

Justin Onwenu is running as a Democrat for District 1’s state Senate. He spoke about what he wants to change with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent.

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

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

More stories from The Metro

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

With less than six months until the midterm elections, independent candidate Mike Duggan has dropped out of the race.

This week on WDET’s MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss the factors that led the former Detroit mayor to make his decision and the reactions from both Democrats and Republicans.

Even though Duggan faced an uphill battle running as an independent, the general consensus was that if anyone could win in that position, it would be him. Kasben said the current political climate did not allow for that possibility.

Later in the episode, we discuss earmarks, a way to secure funding for local government projects. Following a decision from the Michigan Court of Claims, what lawmakers consider an earmark could change. Gorchow and Kasben also discuss how the evolution of this type of funding led to current criticisms. Patrick Wright, vice president for legal affairs at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, joins the conversation to help explain the decision.

Wright said the Mackinac Center felt it was the right time to file the lawsuit that led to the Court of Claims decision.

“We thought the grant process was being abused because the voting threshold wasn’t being met,” Wright said. “We looked at the constitutional history and we tried to put a stop to it.”

The Mackinac Center’s challenge focused on two specific grants: one for a minor league baseball stadium in Lansing and another for a baseball stadium in Utica.

• More from WDET:

  MichMash: What are earmarks? A breakdown of the 2026 state budget

  Detroit Evening Report: Mike Duggan drops out of Michigan governor’s race

  MichMash: Why the MEA is withholding its endorsement; Inside Michigan elections

Money is getting tighter.

The cost of life can be even more daunting if you have a kids. Children are expensive — diapers, food, clothing, and so much more. 

We don’t have paid family leave in Michigan, but a public-private partnership has tried to ease the cost burden. Rx Kids provides unrestricted cash to mothers who are at least 16 weeks pregnant or to guardians who have a child who is six months or younger. 

It began in Flint two years ago. Now, Rx Kids has expanded to dozens of communities across Michigan. 

What have the impacts been for moms and kids? And, why is Rx Kids popular among people and places across the political spectrum?

Nushrat Rahman is the Economic Mobility Reporter at the Detroit Free Press and BridgeDetroit. She spoke with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent.

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

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

More stories from The Metro

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced the end of his independent campaign for Michigan governor. Duggan said he aimed to ease “the toxic two-party atmosphere in Lansing that’s holding this state back.”

At a press conference in Detroit, Duggan said the two biggest components of the race that held him back were dropping poll numbers and a lack of funding.

“The truth of the matter is, when you’re down 11 points and you’re down in the fundraising, the path is not realistic,” Duggan said.

Duggan launched his campaign in December 2024, one month after Donald Trump won the state in the presidential election.

Duggan said his plan at the beginning of his campaign was to earn 20% of Republican votes and 20% of Democratic votes. This idea, he said, was based on polls that showed 65% of both Republicans and Democrats in Michigan were open to supporting an independent candidate.

“There is a national clamor for someone who will stand up and say ‘I’m tired of these two parties fighting with each other’,” Duggan said.

According to Duggan, his fundraising team raised “more money than the major party candidates,” and 94% of it came from the state of Michigan. However, he said that national funding for independent candidates is still in its infancy. He believes that person will need to be an independent – and independently wealthy.

“Somebody is going to break through, but I’ll make a prediction. It’s somebody who’s got the wealth to be self-funded,” Duggan said.

Duggan’s advice for the remaining partisan candidates is to make sure their platforms are not based on attacking the other side. Having “something that you stand for positively,” he said, is what will make an impact on voters.

“There are people in this state who want change and are willing to work for it, and I’m hoping you’ll see the Democratic and Republican candidates reach out and embrace those folks,” Duggan said.

Reactions roll in

Duggan was a frequent target of criticism from the Michigan Democratic Party, but Chair Curtis Hertel’s tone was more conciliatory.

“As we look ahead, we welcome Mayor Duggan’s supporters into our growing coalition as we work to elect a Democratic governor this November who will continue to move Michigan forward,” Hertel said.

The Detroit Regional Chamber was one of Duggan’s earliest champions, as well as a source of campaign contributions. The Chamber’s president and CEO Sandy Baruah said the organization is still appreciative of the ex-mayor’s efforts.

“Obviously, I am disappointed that Mike Duggan’s campaign for governor is ending, but we are thankful for his leadership for Michigan and driving a critical conversation about how to move our state forward,” Baruah said.

What comes next for Duggan

Concerning his next steps, Duggan said he planned to spend time with his family before he thinks about endorsing candidates who match his beliefs.

“If there are candidates in this state that take up the message of fixing the schools, fixing affordable housing, getting the jobs of the future by working together, I’m going to be open to endorsing them in the fall campaign,” Duggan said.

Liberation work doesn’t look one way. For multidisciplinary artist Darryl DeAngelo Terrell, it looks like photography, videography, and sound working in concert to create a world free of race and gender constructs.

Rooted in their lived experience growing up Black and gay in Detroit, Terrell’s work questions our conventional understanding of desire, beauty and home then forces those who experience the work to confront how limited our portraits of Blackness within those themes actually are.

Terrell joined the show to explain how their art, in all its forms, serves as a tool to realize a world free of those limitations.

279º W 42º21’39” N 83º2’20″W Detroit, MI by Darryl DeAngelo Terrell

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

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

More stories from The Metro

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has dropped out of the race to become Michigan’s next governor.

Duggan wrote in a letter posted to his campaign website that unified anger over the war in Iran and rising gas prices made it difficult to continue his pitch for unified and bipartisan leadership. He also said he was unable to build “serious national fundraising support.”

Duggan entered the race as an independent. A recent poll by the Detroit Regional Chamber showed him polling in third place.

Additional headlines for May 21, 2026

Police commissioner criticizes response to teen takeovers

Teen takeovers are taking place across the country, and one in Detroit ended in the shooting of a 14-year-old boy Sunday.

City officials have responded with stricter curfews and community outreach. But one police commissioner says that approach is not working.

District 3 Police Commissioner Darius Morris is criticizing Mayor Mary Sheffield’s approach to the teen takeovers in downtown Detroit.

After the first teen gathering in April, Sheffield held a news conference with organizers, touting a partnership with the teens to find more appropriate recreational activities.

Morris says when he spoke with organizers of more recent takeovers, he discovered Sheffield’s plan had an unexpected result.

“So I contacted him. I said, ‘Hey, what’s up with what are you doing involved in this? I taught you better than that. Why are you engaged in this?’ And he said, ‘Well, we’re doing it because we’re trying to get exposure and we’re trying to meet the mayor and do a TikTok video like the first group of people did,’” Morris said.

Morris says city officials and police are being forced to do the job parents should be doing, and he wants to see parents take more responsibility for the whereabouts of their children.

Federal judge closes Detroit bankruptcy case

A federal judge has closed Detroit’s bankruptcy case, ending almost 13 years of court supervision.

The ruling comes as the city makes final payments to unsecured creditors totaling about $10 million.

Detroit filed for Chapter 9 protection in 2013. The process allowed the city to shed about $7 billion in debt and restructure another $3 billion.

Mayor Mary Sheffield thanked the city’s financial and legal teams, as well as retirees who went about 10 years without pension payments. The city resumed those payments four years ago.

Traffic pattern changes underway at Belle Isle

Visitors to Belle Isle will notice traffic pattern changes underway.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced traffic pattern changes and a new two-way bike lane on the island. The changes were recommended in the 2025 Belle Isle Park multimodal mobility plan.

Central Avenue will transition to two-way traffic from Picnic Way to Portage Way.

Central Avenue’s scenic route through the flatwoods will flip from eastbound to westbound to help ease traffic congestion near the beach area.

A new dedicated two-way bicycle track will loop around the perimeter of the island, allowing cyclists to circle the entire island without crossing vehicle traffic lanes.

Construction on the changes has already started. The project is expected to be completed by the first week of June.

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

Continuing our lead-up to Movement, In The Groove welcomes Detroit house music DJ Delano Smith into the mix. A respected figure in the dance music community and a longtime architect of deep house sounds, Delano takes over the final hour of the show with a live DJ set, bringing decades of Detroit club culture and groove into the studio.

Catch him live on Monday, May 25 at Hart Plaza, where he’ll perform on the Movement Stage at 4 p.m.  

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 May 21, 2026 

• “Respectable Street” – XTC 

• “New Age” – Blitz 

• “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” – The War on Drugs 

• “Head Over Heels / Broken” – Tears for Fears 

• “Outdoor Miner” – Wire 

• “Lie In the Gutter” – Peel Dream Magazine 

• “Heaven (Nicolas Jaar Remix)” – Kasper Bjørke 

• “Heaven Scent (feat. Chloe Sevigny)” – Soulwax 

• “Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy)” – Devo 

• “Trash” – New York Dolls 

• “Give Me Back My Man” – The B-52’s 

• “Si, Si, Si (feat. Quantic)” – Abelardo Carbono 

• “Sage Motel” – Monophonics & Kelly Finnigan 

• “Primos” – Adrian Quesada & Hermanos Gutiérrez 

• “Cajun Moon” – J.J. Cale 

• “Hey Joe” – The Jimi Hendrix Experience 

• “Melliflous Manner” – Setwun 

• “Through Your Soul (feat. Bubz Fiddler & J Dilla)” – Amp Fiddler 

• “I’m Doing Fine (feat. Amp Dog Knight)” – Moodymann 

• “Sun Circles (John Beltran Project Remix)” – Gratts 

• “RETRO ON THE STREET (Bonus Song)” – Samuel Gelabert González 

• “Like Paradise” – Timmy Tom & Melanie Brown 

• “City Lights” – The Kollective 

• “Short Short Man” – Gillette 

• “War (Eltonnick Remix) [Mixed]” – Julien Jabre 

• “So what…. its a jazz thang” – John Julius Knight 

• “Flirty (Wez Whynt Dub)” – Danny J Lewis & Mike City 

• “Things Are Gonna Change” – Raffaele Ciavolino 

• “I Want Your Love” – Timmy Regisford & Romanthony 

• “Feelin’ Good Tonight (Kai Alcé Remix)” – Louie Vega, Willy Soul & Funki Cadets 

• “Saisei” – Altinbas 

• “Verlucent” – Altinbas 

• “Reflection” – Altinbas 

• “Sharivari 2013 (Aux 88 Digital Mix) [feat. A Number of Names]” – Aux 88 

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. 

In a letter to Michigan residents, Former Detroit Mayor has called it quits in his independent run for Governor.

Dear Friends,

I am so disappointed to have to write you this letter.

For the last 18 months I’ve worked every day to try to change Michigan’s toxic party politics. I’ve been supported by hundreds of volunteers who believe deeply that years of constant Democratic-Republican conflict in Lansing have led to our schools declining, our housing costs rising, and our young people moving out of Michigan in record numbers.

We knew the Independent route was filled with challenge. Even against those odds, the excitement for real change carried this campaign upward for more than a year. In every one of the 5-10 town halls a week I was holding across Michigan, we hosted Democrat, Republican, and Independent neighbors all mixed together in lively and positive discussions. It was a remarkable experience.

But by April, the mood of the country had shifted suddenly and dramatically. Democrats (and many Independents) were unified in anger as Trump’s war in Iran dragged on and gas prices rose above $5 a gallon. On May 5, the Democratic State Senate candidate in Saginaw won 60% of the vote in a seat Republicans thought would be very competitive.

Against the Democratic headwinds, we worked twice as hard. We continued to pile up huge numbers of union endorsements, once the unions learned that Michigan election law allowed voters to vote both straight ticket Democrat and also vote Duggan as an Independent.

But for the public in general, our internal polling showed the intense anger over gas prices and Iran was boosting Democrats in every office nationally. The Chamber poll last week showing we’d fallen 11 points behind the Democratic candidate reflects that reality.

Being down 11 points in May wouldn’t discourage me – I’ve been down worse than that in the past. But this time it’s compounded by our inability to build serious national fundraising support. Michigan donors have been extraordinarily generous in supporting this campaign – 94% of my donors come from Michigan. We raised more instate than any other candidate.

But Governor’s campaigns are today funded overwhelmingly from well-established networks of national party money, which is why I’ve been all across America meeting with national groups to try to build a competitive fundraising network for Independents. There is much interest, but we’ve finally concluded the national fundraising for these groups is too much in its infancy to be of great help to our race in 2026. As generous as our Michigan donors have been, we will be strongly outspent by the national Republican and Democratic parties this fall.

If we were even in the polls and behind in fundraising, we have a path to winning. If we were behind in the polls and even in fundraising, we have a path. But we’re behind in both. It’s just not right to ask our volunteers, faith leaders, unions, elected officials and donors to continue in a campaign that, in my heart, I no longer feel good about our chances to win.

I got into this race to try to change our politics, not to be a spoiler. I’m still hopeful our campaign will prove to have a real long-term impact. 23% support in the last poll means more than 1.6 million Michigan voters are today looking for a Governor candidate serious about reducing the toxic partisan politics. If the candidates on the ballot this year take that message to heart and truly reach out to those voters, we will have accomplished something important.

I will never be able to express the gratitude I feel for all your support and encouragement. I wish I could have done better for you.

Mike

Reactions from around Michigan

Michigan Democratic Party Statement

LANSING — In response to Mike Duggan suspending his campaign for governor, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:

“We’re grateful to Mayor Mike Duggan for his service to the city of Detroit and our entire state. While we’ve had disagreements, the Mayor brought crucial ideas to this race and we appreciate his commitment to bringing people together.

“As we look ahead, we welcome Mayor Duggan’s supporters into our growing coalition as we work to elect a Democratic governor this November who will continue to move Michigan forward.”

Jocelyn Benson

“I want to thank Mayor Mike Duggan for what he brought to this race and for his years of service to Detroit. At a time when politics can feel divided and cynical, we need more civility, more listening, and more people willing to work together to move our state forward. I welcome Mayor Duggan’s ideas, his supporters, and everyone who believes Michigan’s future is bigger than division — and that it can be a place where anyone can afford to live, work, and thrive. We may not always agree on everything, but we share a commitment to building a stronger Michigan. And that work continues in this campaign.”

In electronic music, Movement is the ultimate destination festival. The annual Hart Plaza event, which started as Detroit Electronic Music Festival in 2000, immerses attendees in the birthplace of Techno. For lovers of cultural experiences that reveal as much about the people as the music they create, few are on par with Movement.

The setting is downtown, right in the heart of the city. Most of what’s needed can be found on the festival grounds. For those adventurous enough to venture out, there are plenty of nearby food, lodging and adjacent festivities in the form of after-parties to fully experience the moment.

Get prepped

Before you go, I suggest dressing for the occasion in some comfy, supportive kicks. Don’t compromise; your feet will thank you. Bring a small bag or a hip sack for essentials. Wear layers (because hail and extreme sunshine can happen all in one day), be sure to hydrate (you’re allowed to bring in an empty water bottle for filling at water stations), and make sure you’re getting some nutrition along the way. Earplugs are a great idea, especially if you find yourself in the cavernous Underground Stage. A sun/rain hat and sunscreen will get you bonus points.

That’s a lot of work to hear music. Once you step onto the festival grounds, you’ll find that all your effort was worth it.

Start at the beginning

If you’re new to the sound of Movement, you’ll probably want to head straight to the reason for the season, which is basically anywhere you can find Carl Craig. He represents the gold standard of the Detroit sound, and Movement (as we know it today) simply wouldn’t exist without him. This year’s annual appearances happen first on Saturday (9:35 p.m. on Star Gate), back-to-back with Chicago’s Cajmere (an alias of Green Velvet). It’s a promising mix of Techno and Chicago House that makes you realize why those comfy shoes were so important. If you miss that set, Craig performs under his legendary alias 69 (said six-nine) on Monday (8:25 p.m. on Movement Main Stage). Throw in a dash of Rebecca Goldberg (5:00 p.m. on Detroit Stage) to get a taste of some of the relatively newer sounds coming out of the city.

Branch out

If you’re looking to branch out, take in what’s sure to be electro-fied and upbeat (even pop) set from Montreal’s Tiga (5:00 p.m. on Star Gate) on Monday. Get a warm-up with a stop to hear some downbeat grooves from Detroit producer Meftah (3:00 p.m. on Detroit Stage), then bump it up a bit with a soul-infused set from Baltimore’s Life On Planets. If you’re still feeling like taking in discoveries, slide on over to the Movement Stage to hear Detroit poet Jessica Care Moore (8:20 p.m.).

Follow the sound

As for me, it’ll be a dizzying game of hopscotch on Saturday. You’ll find my comfy shoes racing to catch the latest from Matthew Dear’s Audion project (4:00 p.m. on Movement Stage). I’ll run over to see what’s been going on with Colette b2b DJ Heather, who grew up in Chicago (4:30 p.m. on Pyramid Stage). I’ll then firmly plant myself for the calm of Italy’s Voices From the Lake (5:00 p.m. on Movement Stage) followed by Borderland, an almost jazzy collaboration between Detroit’s legendary Juan Atkins and Berlin’s Moritz Von Oswald of Basic Channel fame (6:30 p.m. on Movement Stage). I’ll take intermissions to catch more sounds from Detroit, including the textured sounds of Terrence Dixon (5:00 p.m. on Underground Stage) and House Music legend DJ Stacy Hotwaxx Hale (6:30 p.m. on Star Gate). I wouldn’t dare miss Ann Arbor’s Tadd Mullinix as X-Altera (8:00 p.m. on Waterfront Stage) before being sweetly reunited with the cosmic electricity of Detroit’s Dopplereffekt (9:20 p.m. on Waterfront Stage).

Keep it moving

With this kind of routine, I’m not sure I’ll even get to check out any of the afterparties. But if I can make it happen, I’ll head straight over to House Party on Saturday night. It takes place at Spot Lite, which has one of the best dance floors in Detroit, and features J House, Masquenada, WDET host Waajeed, Gene Hunt, Whodat, Blaaqgold, and Aboudi Issa.

Come together

One of the things I love about dance music is that it brings so many people together that might not otherwise have the chance to meet. It’s an expression of culture that builds a greater community, and that community finds a singular groove, even if just for one weekend of the year.

Get the party started

After a stressful run, firefighters are always looking for ways to unwind.  

For some, like Fire Engine Operator (FEO) Sean McSpadden, the koi pond at Engine No. 7 is his go-to method.  

“We see a lot of stuff, so it’s always good to come back, sit down, take a breath, just relax, collect yourself, and get ready for the next run,” McSpadden said. “Just the water slapping around, that’s a stress reliever.” 

Sergeant Jeffrey Hess noticed most firefighters in Detroit have the same opportunity during their downtime. 

“I’ve been around every firehouse in the city, and I would say ninety percent of them have some kind of pond, fish tank, something going to where you can sit in that room or outside here, and that’s the background noise, a stream of water,” Hess said.  

Japanese culture’s influence 

While none of the firefighters knew exactly how or why their stations came to have koi ponds, Rie Masuda, professor of Japanese culture and language at Wayne State University, offered an interesting connection.  

In the five elements in Japanese and Chinese philosophy, or gogyo, koi represents water.  

“The water is going to go over the fire, then fire extinguish,” Masuda said, “so that usually the fish figure, which is usually on top of the roof, that is supposed to protect the whole entire (samurai) household, or usually the castle, we call it shachi ho ko.”  

Koi ponds are a luxury in Japan, Masuda said, but they are more common in the U.S. because of how much space is available.  

“The people who are working so hard for the people of Detroit, they need to have some relaxing moment,” Masuda said. “I think that’s one of the reasons that somebody started to have koi.” 

In 1960, Detroit became a sister city to Toyota, Japan. Symbols of friendship have been shared between the two cities including hundreds of cherry trees and 12 Japanese snow monkeys. But there’s no record of gifting koi.

Another possible explanation for the origin of koi ponds could be a lighthearted rivalry between stations, according to Battalion Chief Troy Klann.  

“It was way before me, but all the houses around us had ponds, so it was kind of a competition thing, too,” Klann said. “You know, who could get the biggest fish?”  

Klann said it takes work to build and maintain the ponds, but they provide great therapy on and off the job. 

“Some guys do the koi ponds at home, too,” Klann said. “I thought about it a few times. I just never dug the hole.”  

Therapy dogs 

Along with the koi ponds, firefighters have access to other ways to relieve stress. One of those ways comes in the form of two golden retrievers, Oakland and Luca with First Responder Therapy Dogs who visit different stations to entertain the firefighters. 

Senior Chief Darnell McLaurin said the dogs are a result of Detroit Fire Department leadership taking mental health seriously. 

“We have our personal guidance unit, as well as the peer support team, and they have access to the first responder therapy dogs, amongst other things,” McLaurin said.  

Therapy dog handler Kathy Deland said the work she does is rewarding for both her and the dogs.  

“When they see the dog, they instantly go (gasp), and then they exhale, and that exhale is everything,” Deland said.  

Leaning on each other  

Firefighters also often rely on each other. FEO Andrew Simmons learned how to meditate on the job and said he hopes to help his coworkers do the same. 

“Yoga really helps with the maneuvering and moving around in such big, bulky gear a lot,” Simmons said. “I’m really looking forward to more firefighters actually getting into yoga.” 

Even if the origins of the koi ponds are still uncertain, Hess said they tie into two important things for firefighters: distraction and purpose during the downtime of a stressful and dangerous job.  

“You never know when it’s going to be the worst day of your life,” Hess said, “so in the meantime, let’s just have as much fun as we can.”  

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About 2 million Muslims will perform Hajj, the greater pilgrimage in Saudia Arabia this month. But the U.S. Embassy of Saudia Arabia is asking pilgrims to reconsider their trip due to the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S.

Juber Ahmed, a pharmacist, and his mom Shamima Akther live in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

In January, Ahmed found out he and his mom’s applications to perform Hajj were accepted after months of waiting. He dropped to his knees and performed a prayer of gratitude.

“Honestly, that feeling I still can’t find the words to express. I was in tears, did sajdah as-sukr, and then I hugged my mom, and both of us just were in tears,” he expresses.

Akter is 63 years old. She’s looking forward to going this year while she’s still physically able to make the rigorous journey.

“Alhamdulillah, I’ve been waiting for a long time to go to Hajj with my oldest son. It’s Allah’s will,” she exclaims. 

It’s a dream she’s had for more than 30 years, since her kids were little.

Ahmed and Akther are among a few thousand pilgrims from the United States who will perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Wahid Elfeky is a part of the Aleman Groups USA travel agency in New York, which has been around for 30 years. He says that until 2019, as many as 16,000 people from the United States would make the Hajj each year.

But Saudi Arabia has instituted quotas to prevent overcrowding. He says now the number is closer to 5,000 people. 

Embassy warns travelers, but pilgrimage continues

In April, the U.S. Embassy of Saudi Arabia issued an alert, asking American pilgrims to reconsider going to Hajj due to the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S.

Ahmed sat his mom down and asked her if she wanted to postpone the trip. Akther says she feels a strong conviction to go this year. 

“I told my son, ‘I will go alone. Don’t go, you have two kids.’ My son said, ‘what are you saying, I am going to take you,'” she shares. 

Ahmed says he is still going.

“I know it’s a risk, but I also know that this chance may not come back around,” he says.

Performing the pilgrimage at least once is mandatory for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford the costs of travel.

Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk is the co-chair of the Imams Council of Michigan. He says several people have asked him whether they should still go. He assures them it’s safe and encourages them to go, noting the U.S. military installations in Saudi Arabia are far from the holy sites.

“Definitely there’s nothing going on there in terms of war or missiles or anything of that sort,” he shares.

Faith over fear

In Washington D.C., Sana Imam is preparing to make the hajj later this month. The health policy and communications professional is going with her husband.

“I’m still planning to go because the level of spiritual transformation that is possible to experience at Hajj might not be possible anywhere else for a lot of Muslims,” she explains.

For most Muslims, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Imam says she’s focusing her attention on preparing for the trip.

“I’ve been doing like, 30 minutes on the Stairmaster machine every time I go to the gym, just because Hajj involves miles on foot every day. Spiritually, I’ve been trying to slow down my prayers instead of rushing through them,” she says.

Although she’s concerned about the ongoing war, Imam says she’s leaning on her faith to get through this time of uncertainty.

Hajj is performed between the eighth and the 13th of the Islamic month Dhu al-Hijjah—that’s May 25- May 30. For many American Muslims, the opportunity to go to Hajj outweighs their fear of not going to perform one of the greatest acts of worship in Islam.

Today we get one step closer to Movement weekend with a mix of songs that bring the energy up. We spin tracks from Pete Townshend, Jordan Rakei, Todd Terje and Hot Chip, alongside music from Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Wire, Devo, and more. 

Ahead of Movement, In The Groove welcomes Detroit house music legend Stacey Hotwaxx Hale into the studio for a special live DJ set. We spend the final hour of the show grooving with Stacey behind the decks as she brings her signature energy into the station. You can catch her live this weekend at Hart Plaza, where she’ll take over the Star Gate Stage at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

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 May 20, 2026 

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

• “I Can’t Let It Happen To You” – The Walker Brothers 

• “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” – The Peddlers 

• “Red Clay” – Jack Wilkins 

• “Didn’t It Rain” – Sister Rosetta Tharpe 

• “Getting Nasty” – Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm 

• “We Will Not Make It (Not Without You)” – Twin Peaks 

• “The Seize” – Jordan Rakei 

• “Bless the Telephone” – Labi Siffre 

• “Morning” – Azymuth 

• “Doom Mood” – Pearl & The Oysters 

• “Kind of Latin Rhythm” – The Juju Orchestra 

• “Takahashi Timing” – Yin Yin 

• “Guess I’m Fallin In Love” – Spoon 

• “Heartbeat (2006 Remastered Version)” – Wire 

• “That’s Entertainment” – The Jam 

• “New Age” – Blitz 

• “Why Can’t I Touch It? (2001 Remastered Version)” – Buzzcocks 

• “Geneva Strangemod” – Glyders 

• “I Want Some” – The Make-Up 

• “The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize” – Devo 

• “Bloodlines” – Franc Moody 

• “Got to Keep On” – The Chemical Brothers 

• “Devotion (Boys’ Shorts Remix)” – Hot Chip 

• “Inspector Norse” – Todd Terje 

• “Beside Myself (Dave Lee Cowbell Party) [feat. Johnny Dangerous]” – Foremost Poets & Dave Lee 

• “Freedom (Hottwaxx & NJB Remix)” – Jessica Care Moore 

• “Alúnga” – Zhan.Official 

• “Ho-Up” – Jaceo 

• “One Night in Rio (Extended Mix)” – Carlos Francisco 

• “BOWNCE” – Young Booty Spoon & Tamae 

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. 

Severe storms raced through metro Detroit Tuesday, bringing strong winds, heavy rains and even hail.  Streets throughout Detroit were left with large puddles, causing drivers to avoid them. Wind gusts knocked down trees and broke limbs in some places.  

The canopy of a gas station on Detroit’s west side was knocked over by the winds, forcing its closure.  The Mobil station at Plymouth and Hubbell remains out of operation today. 

Additional headlines for Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Mary Waters disqualified 

Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters announced last month that she was running for Congress in Michigan’s 13^th District.  She made the announcement just before the filing deadline.  But Waters has now been disqualified from running for failing to gather sufficient petition signatures.   

Waters tried to run for the job in 2024, but came in second to incumbent Shri Thanedar in that year’s Democratic primary.  She was re-elected to Detroit City Council last year.  

Congressman Thanedar is running against State Representative Donovan McKinney in this year’s August primary election. 

Mackinac Policy Conference preview 

Politicians, industry leaders and philanthropists are making last-minute preparations for the Mackinac Policy Conference.  They’ll travel to Mackinac Island next week to network, discuss policy and learn from one another.  

The annual event is held by the Detroit Regional Chamber.  Speakers will include Governor Gretchen Whitmer, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Professor Cornel West.  There will also be a debate between the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate.  

You can hear coverage of the Mackinac Policy Conference on WDET beginning Tuesday, May 26. 

Gas prices drop slightly, but still hurt 

Metro Detroit gas prices have fallen slightly in the past few days, but are still nearly two dollars per gallon higher than they were at the beginning of this year.  The average price for a gallon of self-serve unleaded in the area is now $4.74.  That’s down eight cents from a week ago.  

Motorists planning to head out on the road for the Memorial Day holiday weekend should still plan for prices that remain near $5 per gallon.  AAA says Michigan is one of the 10 most expensive states when it comes to gas right now. 

NAACP calls for sports boycott 

The NAACP is calling on college athletes to boycott southern schools in response to a Supreme Court decision impacting the Voting Rights Act.  NBC News reports the civil rights organization launched the “Out of Bounds” campaign this week. 

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled recently that using race to create two majority Black Congressional districts in Louisiana was unconstitutional.  

The NAACP is asking Black recruits to withhold their commitments to attend certain colleges, most of which are in the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference.  The boycott could have a financial effect via national sports television deals, ticket sales and alumni gifts. 

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

Have you ever sat in your car in a grocery store parking lot, looked at the receipt, and felt something in your chest tighten?

You’re not alone. Roughly half of Americans say they struggle to afford their rent or mortgage. Food prices rose more than 3% over the past year and are forecast to keep climbing. Total household debt just hit a record $18.8 trillion.

The cost of daily life and the weight of debt are taking a toll on our mental health, especially in a moment when the term“affordability crisis” has entered the national lexicon.

Lindsay Bryan-Podvin is a financial therapist based in Ann Arbor, the founder of Mind Money Balance, and the author of “The Financial Anxiety Solution.” She joined host Robyn Vincent on The Metro to talk about how the financial pressures of this moment are affecting our mental health, and what we can do to feel better.

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.

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

More stories from The Metro

Drivers can expect to pay at least $1.50 more for a gallon of gasoline this Memorial Day weekend than they did a year ago.

AAA says it expects more than 1.3 million people in Michigan to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 22 and May 25 despite high fuel costs.

But is that estimate realistic?

Gas Buddy published its own seasonal travel survey. 56% of the people who responded say they plan to drive more than 2 hours to their destination this summer. That’s down from 69% in 2025. 

67% said gas prices are directly impacting their driving plans. 36% said rising costs are causing them to take fewer road trips.

Gas Buddy Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says the average price could reach $4.80 per gallon between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

“That would be higher than 2022’s summer average of $4.43 a gallon,” he says. “But much of that is going to be contingent on whether or not the Strait of Hormuz reopens, and when it does.”

War fuels uncertainty

Iran has restricted ship traffic in the strait since the U.S. attacked the oil-rich country in March. DeHaan says that’s costing the world about 20 million barrels of oil daily.

The U.S. and other nations have released some of their strategic oil reserves to minimize the war’s impact. But DeHaan says that’s only a short-term fix.

“It’s kind of like replacing a broke water main with a paper straw—it’s just not enough,” he says. “And once those releases end, we could see a bit of whiplash with higher prices.”

Rolling back or suspending state and federal fuel taxes may help temporarily. But DeHaan says he doubts drivers will set any travel records this summer if prices climb.

“Those types of big increases are hard for many Americans to stomach,” he says. “And that is why we’re likely seeing a little bit of a decline in the amount of Americans willing to hit the road.”