The Wayne State College of Nursing has trained about 600 individuals in Mental Health First Aid protocols through a $1.5 million grant.

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The trainees took classes from 2022-2024. College of Nursing Professor Dr. Cynthera McNeill says the courses were part of a larger effort to break the stigma around mental health, including in communities where there’s a shortage of mental health professionals.

“Rather than just show up and collect research data, we were given the opportunity to provide education and skills that enable community members to take action and serve as a bridge between those dealing with mental health troubles and the services they need,” McNeill said.

The trainees work with community-based organizations to educate others. In August, the college won another $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health to focus on reducing barriers to colorectal cancer screening and opioid drug overdose prevention — which McNeil says will also include mental health first aid courses.  

The trainings are being held in collaboration with African American and Middle Eastern North African (MENA) community organizations to provide culturally competent care. 

Other headlines for Monday, Dec. 2, 2024:

• A bill introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives would require commercial health insurance plans to cover long-term treatment for brain injuries from diseases, strokes, and falls.
• Several community health centers in Detroit will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this week to assist with Medicare enrollment before the enrollment period ends Dec. 7.
• The city of Detroit’s District 4 will host a charter-mandated community meeting on from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, to share updates and resources from city departments. The meeting will take place both on Zoom and in person at the Detroit Burns Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 10125 E Warren Ave., Detroit.
• It’s National Influenza Vaccination Week, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging people to get the flu vaccine before the holiday season.
• It’s also Older Driver Safety Awareness week. The Michigan Department of State provides resources to keep drivers educated and safe, regardless of their age.

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

The city of Detroit is already donned in holiday drip following the tree lighting last month. This Saturday, holiday cheer will cascade throughout Midtown as the city’s cultural district celebrates its 50th annual Noel Night. 

Produced by the nonprofit Midtown Detroit, Inc., more than 100 participating businesses and vendors will offer Noel Night activities and entertainment including live music performances, holiday shopping with special deals, arts and crafts, Christmas carols and more.

WDET — celebrating its 75th anniversary this year — is a media partner for Noel Night and will be offering tours of the station, opportunities to meet hosts, sweet refreshments and more from 3 to 10 p.m. Several Wayne State University schools, colleges and divisions will be hosting Noel Night activities across campus as well. 

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

Maureen Stapleton, interim director of Midtown Detroit Inc., joined The Metro on Monday along with Source Booksellers owner Janet Jones to talk about what participating businesses and organizations have in store for the event’s 50th year.

Stapleton noted that Midtown Detroit is the perfect place to showcase the city’s diverse holiday traditions and culture.

“What makes me most proud is the cultural diversity of the activities of the day,” she said. “We have cultural institutions that are some of the finest in the country that are on display.”

Stapleton also pointed out that, despite being called Noel Night, many activities will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday morning. For a full schedule of events and activities, visit midtowndetroitinc.org/schedule.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More from The Metro on Dec. 2, 2024:

• With Thanksgiving now in the rearview, the holiday season is in full force. Over the weekend at Eastern Market, crowds of shoppers were loading their bags with gifts and filling their pickup trucks with Christmas trees. But Christmas is far from the only religious and spiritual holiday celebrated in the month of December. Aaron Gale, an associate professor and scholar of religious studies at West Virginia University, joined the show to discuss the vastly different ways people of different faiths celebrate the season. 
• For many, food is more than something to excite your taste buds; it’s a container for culinary traditions, helping continue the heritage of the people who created it. In the new documentary, “Detroit: The City of Chefs,” chef, producer and award-winning director Keith Famie highlights what makes Detroit’s food scene so rich and what food can do to continue old rituals and inspire new stories. Famie joined The Metro to discuss the film.
• The holidays are a time where we hear a lot about gratitude, joy and spending time with family. But it can also be a stressful or sad time for many people, emphasizing lost loved ones or estranged relationships. To discuss the importance of mental health awareness during the holiday season, clinical psychologist Dr. Cindy Morgan joined the show. Natasha T Miller, a Michigan poet and former co-host of the Science of Grief podcast from WDET and the MSU Museum, also joined the show.

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

Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday aims to divert some of the attention away from Amazon and large chain stores.

The annual national campaign focuses on encouraging shoppers to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season, and businesses in metro Detroit are ready for the love.

The Detroit LGBT Chamber of Commerce distributes a list of its retail and service members the Wednesday before Small Business Saturday each year.

“To let them know that these organizations are LGBTQ owned, operated and or friendly, and they are open for business on Saturday,” said LGBT Chamber Founder and President Kevin Heard.

Heard says customers will see some new businesses on the list like the Twisted Soap Bar — which sells out of Eastern Market — and the Filipino bakery JP Makes and Bakes, which opened on Woodward earlier this month.

Many small businesses around metro Detroit are offering special events and/or discounted pricing for Small Business Saturday. Fantazma Market & Cafe on Trumbull Street is hosting a Small Business Saturday celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 30.

Held in partnership with the Southwest Detroit Business Association and Corktown Business Association, the event will feature giveaways and exclusive shopping, live entertainment, special performances, and a chance to take family photos with Santa Claus. Admission is free and shuttle transportation will be available to and from the event, located at 1211 Trumbell St., that will connect the shopping districts in Southwest Detroit and Corktown.

The nonprofit Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation will also host a free Small Business Saturday celebration, Holidays on Grand River.

The holiday pop-up will feature shopping from at least a dozen local businesses and food truck rally; live music performances by Maraj Virtuoso & Kevin Christian: The Better Things Collective; a poetry and Christmas book reading presented by InsideOut Literary Arts; a Santa’s workshop featuring activities from Arts & Scraps; photos with Santa Claus; Christmas tree lightning and more. The event will take place from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday at the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, 19800 Grand River Ave., Detroit.

In Dearborn, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce is kicking off the holiday shopping season with a Women Only Winter Bazaar  from 4-10 p.m. next Friday, Dec. 13, at the Saline Intermediate School. The event was created in collaboration with United Humanitarian Foundation and the Saline Intermediate School Student Council.

American Arab Chamber Executive Director Bilal Hammoud says its members offer unique cultural gifts for the holidays.

“If you want some of the best Yemeni coffee or tea, get a gift card from one of
the many Chamber members that we have that are coffee shops — Haraz,  Qawah House, Shibam, they are phenomenal places to send people,” Hammoud said.

He says the American Arab Chamber plans to release its own holiday shopping guide soon.

A local nonprofit is working to transform a former school property in Corktown into a community hub that will house an early childhood education program, host artist residencies and more.

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

Co-founded by Paul Spiegelman and Hamsa Daher, Kintsugi Village aims to offer a “unique blend” of educational opportunities for Detroit families, from arts and culinary experiences and a community garden to events and programming promoting wellness and personal growth.

The initiative will be located in the former St. Vincent Middle School in Corktown, with plans to open the early childhood center by September 2025. 

Spiegelman and Daher joined The Metro on Wednesday to discuss the project and what inspired it. 

“After going through a really tough personal time about a year and a half ago, we sat around at the DIA one day and talked about maybe doing something new, and Hamsa was ready to take on a new challenge as well,” Spiegelman said. “We thought maybe there’s a way we could help in Detroit and help in a local neighborhood, bring the community together. And that’s where the inspiration started to pull all these initiatives together.”

The pair will hold a community meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at McShane’s in Corktown to discuss their plans for the community hub and share additional details about the early education program and tuition costs. 

For more information about Kintsugi Village, visit kintsugivillage.org.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation with Spiegelman and Daher.

More stories from The Metro on Nov. 27, 2024:

• State Rep. Dylan Wegela and Downtown Detroit Partnership CEO Eric Larson joined the show to discuss GM and Bedrock’s redevelopment plan for the Renaissance Center and its $1.6 billion price tag.
• Filmmaker Tom Brown was diagnosed with HIV when he was just 18 years old. His 2016 feature film “Pushing Dead” — a dark comedy about an HIV-positive struggling writer — is inspired by his own personal journey coping with the disease for decades. Brown, who recently moved to Detroit, joined The Metro to talk about a screening of the film he’s organizing for World AIDS Day at the Senate Theater this Sunday.
• The way we string our sentences together with the metaphors or similes that we use to enrich a conversation can often change an individual or move a nation for better or for worse. Detroit’s poet laureate, jessica Care moore, joined the show to talk about reaching people where they are in the community or with their personal growth.

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

Tune in to WDET over Thanksgiving weekend for special holiday-themed programming from In The Groove, The Splendid Table and more.

From 10 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, The Metro will be pre-empted to present The Splendid Table’s annual Thanksgiving show: Splendid Table’s Turkey Confidential.  

Award-winning food journalist and host of The Splendid Table, Francis Lam, will be taking calls throughout the program and coming to the rescue of Thanksgiving cooks, kitchen helpers, and dinner guests during one of the biggest cooking days of the year.

Lam will be joined by Paola Velez, author of the forthcoming “Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store“; Joe Yonan, author of “Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking“; Texan chef of Roots Chicken Shak in Dallas, Tiffany Derry; and James Beard award-winning author and cooking teacher, Andrea Nguyen.

Join the conversation by submitting your Thanksgiving question on The Splendid Table’s website, or by leaving a message at 800-537-5252. The show will re-air on Friday, Nov. 29, from 3-5 a.m.

In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper will also have special themed programming from noon to 3 p.m. both on Thanksgiving Day and on Friday, Nov. 29, featuring plenty of throwbacks to give listeners that cozy holiday feeling — whether you’re running errands or spending time with family and friends.

On Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, The Metro will revisit the stories shared by WDET’s own Quinn Klinefelter and Robyn Vincent at Detroit Story Fest, an event held last month featuring performances and personal stories from some of Detroit’s top journalists.

WDET announced a refreshed programming schedule this week, with changes informed by input from our community of listeners and members. Sixty percent of the new schedule will feature local programming — up from 51% — including more daily local coverage of news, arts and culture, with more input and call-in dialogue from our listeners on an expanded two-hour version of The Metro.

Listeners can view the updated program schedule here or by going to wdet.org/schedule. For more information about the recent programming changes, visit wdet.org/changes.

City officials gathered in Detroit’s Mohican-Regent neighborhood on Monday to celebrate the first of many new gateway signs being installed in communities throughout the city.

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

Other headlines for Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024:

• General Motors and Bedrock announced a new proposal this week to fundamentally change the structure of Detroit’s Renaissance Center.
• The Detroit People Mover reopens Wednesday morning with expanded service hours.  The elevated train system had been closed since early September for rail replacement.   
• If you’re hitting the road for the holidays, the price of gas will be lower than last Thanksgiving, with prices averaging 10 cents cheaper than last Thanksgiving, according to AAA Michigan.
• A cold front is expected to pass through metro Detroit later this week, the National Weather Service reports. High temperatures on Saturday and Sunday will peak at 32 degrees, with snow flurries possible throughout the week.
• The National Association of Black Journalists – Detroit Chapter is holding its “Show The Love” fundraiser event at 6 p.m. Tuesday at The Lager House in Corktown.

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

Maternal mortality is high in the U.S. compared with other wealthy countries, and particularly high in Michigan.

Detroit had the highest preterm birth rate of any U.S. city in 2023 at over 15%, according to a new report from the advocacy organization March of Dimes. There are also glaring racial differences in the maternal mortality rate nationally. The number of Black or American Indian women who die as a result of giving birth is over 50 per 100,000 people, while the rates for white, Hispanic, and Asian women are all below 20 per 100,000 people. Several health care and childcare professionals joined The Metro to discuss the risks facing expectant mothers and what can be done to alleviate them.

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

Dr. Kara Patek, Clinical Assistant Professor in the WSU School of Medicine and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist, said that data has shown that racial trends in maternal mortality persist even when comorbidities and existing risk factors are accounted for. 

“That data has really forced medical educators, as well as physicians already in practice, to really look at what are we doing differently between these patient groups,” Patek said. “There’s been a lot of efforts to address that concept of implicit bias.”

Khadijah Bansfield, home-birth midwife and the owner of the Heart and Soul Midwifery, discussed why mothers may choose to give birth at home rather than at a hospital.

“A lot of times that when moms come to me, it’s because they have had a family member who’s had a home birth, or a family member who’s had a traumatic hospital birth, and it’s kind of like, they want to have a more positive birth experience on their own terms,” Banfield said.

Miriam Shumulinskiy, the clinical director at motherhood development center Honey For Moms, explained how new motherhood can affect a person’s mental well-being.

“Motherhood completely changes the way a person sees themself and the world around them,” Shumulinskiy said. “It’s like a part of your body is now disconnected and walking around in the world that we can no longer protect in the way that we would want.”

Carolyn Dayton, director of Wayne State University’s Social Work Early Childhood Support Clinic, stressed the importance of incorporating mental health care for new parents into pediatric care, as new parents are at risk of several postpartum mood disorders.

“Moms, given a shortage of time or a shortage of insurance, will take their baby for care and sort of forgo their own medical care after birth,” Dayton said. “So OB-GYN clinics would be ideal, but moms aren’t always necessarily going back for their six week checkup, so pediatrics is the ideal place to be really screening and delivering services to families with new babies.”

The Metro hosts Tia Graham and Robyn Vincent asked listeners:

“Do you trust the hospital and health care system to deliver your baby? Or does your distrust of the medical system make you not want to have kids altogether?”

Caller Jamila shared her experience having a home birth attended by a midwife:

“With my son, it had to be about 11 or so at night when I was having my contractions,” she said. “We called her, she lives about an hour from me. By the time she got to my house, it was maybe midnight, and she was here, she was coaching my husband and I, and she let everything be as comfortable as possible.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Nov. 25, 2024:

• Pingree Detroit is a worker-owned company that reclaims discarded leather from the automotive industry and fashions it into wearable leather, home goods, footwear and accessories. Founder and CEO Jarret Schlaff and VP of Footwear Operations Nathaniel Crawford joined the show to talk about all that goes into the business.
• Last week, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud joined the show to talk about the ICC’s ruling and how Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon are affecting Arab American residents in Dearborn.
• General Motors and Bedrock on Monday announced a $1.6 billion redevelopment plan for the Renaissance Center that calls for demolition of two of the iconic building’s towers. Stephen Henderson sat down with urban consultant Harriet Sapperstein earlier this year to discuss what would become of the RenCen after GM left the site.
• Producer Sam Corey spoke with Jeff Patrick, president and CEO of HardRock HDD, an underground utilities company that’s frequently contracted by Detroit, about the process of removing lead lines in the city.

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

When you don’t have hair that is seen as beautiful by the mainstream, it’s often hard to see the beauty in yourself. That’s exactly what inspired Detroiter Yelitsa Jean-Charles to create a brand of dolls with kinky, coily, curly hair for children of color.

The Healthy Roots Dolls CEO joined The Metro on Monday to talk about her inspiration behind the brand.

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

Jean-Charles said that growing up, she never had a doll with features that resembled her own. Healthy Roots Dolls represent a blend of Jean-Charles’ creative aspirations and entrepreneur spirit, and aim to promote self love among young people.

According to the Children’s Defense Fund, roughly 50% of young people in the U.S. are children of color, but Jean-Charles says those demographics are not reflected in most toy aisles. 

“(T)he industry only knows what the industry already does. And so I’m forcing them to learn how to mimic something different, something that hasn’t been represented,” Jean-Charles said. “And I spent a lot of time watching little wigs dry, like washing them with shampoo, using the conditioner, doing box braids, Bantu knots. So I spent a lot of time manually working with the hair myself, until I found the fiber that mimicked the experience I wanted kids to have the best.”

For more information about Healthy Roots Dolls, visit healthyrootsdolls.com.

Listen to the full conversation with Jean-Charles below, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Overdose deaths in Michigan decreased last year by nearly 6%, with 2,826 deaths recorded compared to 2,998 deaths in 2022, according to state data.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reports that overdose deaths have fallen five times faster than the national average since 2021.

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Dearborn Health Department Director Ali Abazeed says the prevalence of overdose-reversing medication like naloxone has played a big role in those reductions. The Health Department alone dispensed 8,000 units of Narcan in the past two years through a vending machine at the Dearborn train station.

“We made it so that people know where it’s at, how to get it,” he said. “…and then paired it with instructional videos — both in Arabic and in English — to show what you should do if you come across someone who’s experiencing an overdose.”

Abazeed says one goal is to reduce the stigma and shame associated with drug overdoses. 

Steve Norris, director of Overdose Prevention and Recovery Support at the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities, spoke with The Metro Producer Sam Corey this week about how similar intervention programs are helping reduce opioid deaths throughout metro Detroit.

“(I)f you look at the highest rate of incidents, our two major areas of concern are Pontiac and Waterford Township,” said Norris. “So those are where we’re really seeing significant numbers and reduction, and that’s where we’ve put a lot of our emphasis.”

Public health measures like Michigan’s Naloxone Direct Portal, which distributes the life-saving drug to community groups for free in high-risk areas, have also played a part in reducing opioid-related deaths. Other harm-reduction measures include increasing access to fentanyl and xylazine testing strips, allowing drug users to test for these dangerous substances and reduce their risk of accidental overdose.

Still, while the latest trends in overdose deaths are promising, the racial gaps continue. Based on 2023 provisional data from MDHHS, Black residents are 2.8 times more likely to die of an overdose than white residents, with American Indian/Alaska Native residents 2.2 times more likely.

MDHHS says the agency is taking a “data-driven approach” to ensure substance use disorder funding reaches communities with the highest need.

WDET’s John Filbrandt contributed to this report.

Other headlines for Monday, Nov. 25, 2024:

• The National Poll on Healthy Aging released a new study on how grandparents are impacted by their grandkids, and found they can improve mental health and reduce loneliness.
• The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has unveiled a new air monitoring dashboard called MiAir, providing Michigan residents with real-time air quality data and historical trends.
• The Detroit City Council heard public comments Monday on a measure to prevent the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores.

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

“How do you interact with your homeless neighbors? And whose responsibility is it to address housing and homelessness?”

• Healthy Roots Dolls is a Detroit-based business that creates dolls with kinky, coily and curly hair for Black children of color. Healthy Roots Dolls CEO Yelista Jean-Charles joined the show to discuss the company’s mission.
• Overdose deaths in Michigan decreased more than 6% from 2022 to 2023. To learn more about the decline, producer Sam Corey spoke with Steve Norris, director of overdose prevention and recovery support for the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

General Motors (GM) and Bedrock have proposed a $1.6 billion redevelopment of the Renaissance Center that would forever alter downtown Detroit’s iconic skyline.

The project — which calls for the demolition of the two towers closest to the riverfront, as well as ground floor retail and showroom space in the complex  — aims to “right size” the RenCen’s footprint by redeveloping the space into a six-acre riverfront park and vibrant entertainment district.

Towers 300 and 400 would be demolished under the proposal. The RenCen’s central tower would remain as a hotel, while the remaining two towers would be renovated for residential and office space.

Completed in 1976, the Renaissance Center is Michigan’s tallest building and a cornerstone of Detroit’s skyline. It was originally built during Detroit Mayor Coleman Young’s administration, as part of an effort to revitalize downtown Detroit. General Motors acquired the site in 1996 and has since invested over $1 billion in renovations.

Officials say the project seeks to adapt the complex to modern demands, addressing declining office space needs and increasing interest in urban residential and mixed-use developments.

“This iconic landmark’s future is important to Detroit and Michigan, and our shared vision with General Motors ensures that its redevelopment aligns with Detroit’s economic advancement,” said Kofi Bonner, CEO of Bedrock, in a statement.

Project highlights include:

• A new pedestrian promenade that connects to the riverfront
• Removal of the ground-level base of the complex and the two office towers nearest the river
• Redevelopment of remaining three towers into “a mix of hospitality and housing”
• Turning reclaimed land into signature public spaces
• Reconfiguring the site to allow direct access to the buildings and the riverfront

Funding and next steps

Bedrock and GM have committed to funding the majority of the project, with the remainder contingent on public financing, including potential support from Detroit’s Downtown Development Authority.

The redevelopment plan will be presented to local and state leaders in the coming weeks to seek public support and legislative approval for funding. Demolition is expected to begin within two years, with the project being carried out in phases.

GM plans to relocate its headquarters to Bedrock’s Hudson’s Detroit site by early 2026.

Neither Bedrock or GM could be reached for comment about the proposal on Monday.

A transportation bill introduced last year to encourage the use of “clean fuels” has environmental and animal activists concerned about its potential impacts. Environmentalists say Senate Bill 275 would incentivize reliance on biofuels, which could lead to more Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), also known as “factory farms” in the state. This week on MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow dives into this under the radar issue with Oakland County physician and activist Dr. Cheryl A. Ruble. Also, Zach sits down with Gongwer staff writer Elena Durnbaugh to discuss a new approach to fixing the roads in Michigan. 

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

In this episode:

• Different legislative approaches to fixing Michigan’s roads
• The “low carbon fuel standard” bill and how it impacts the environment
• The benefits and drawbacks of “clean fuels”

Michigan’s ‘clean fuels’ bill

In April 2023, the Michigan Legislature introduced a package of clean energy bills that were signed into law before the end of the year — all but S.B. 275, Ruble says. The bill would enact a low carbon fuel standard, or clean fuel standard, that would award carbon credits — also known as offsets — for the production of alternative fuels like biogas.

“It has the noble goal of reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels. That’s very important to reduce greenhouse gases and try to get us out of this climate crisis that we are in. The problem is that it would incentivize biogas, made from manure, using these on-farm, industrial scale anaerobic digesters,” she said. “You’re essentially monetizing manure.”

Critics of the bill say it would have devastating effects on communities, leading to an increase in CAFO operations in the state and, in turn, an increase in pollution and manure runoff into nearby waterways.

Fresh takes on fixing Michigan’s roads

When the Legislature comes back in session in December, there will be a limited time where Democrats will maintain their trifecta in state government.

Durnbaugh says Democrats may use that window to pass legislation focused on finding new ways to fix Michigan’s roads.

“As time has gone on, the need for a solution has become more pressing,” Durnbaugh said. “There needs to be a solution. It needs to be something that, people in both caucuses can be on board with.” 

Michigan’s 103rd State Legislature is set to take over on Jan. 1, 2025.

More from WDET:

• Federal money coming to three Michigan cities for safer, greener roads
• Whitmer announces federal funding to boost Michigan’s green initiatives
• Michigan aims to tackle clean energy goals in Upper Peninsula

More from Gongwer News Service

• Whitmer nudges Legislature on road funding

A new program from the Detroit Health Department will provide free rides to doctor visits for new and expectant mothers for one year.

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

The “Rides to Care” program will provide all Detroit women who are pregnant, and anyone who takes care of an infant up to one year of age, with free transportation to and from prenatal visits, postpartum visits and pediatric visits for the baby.

The program aims to remove a common barrier to expectant mothers and their babies receiving proper care: access to transportation.

“Every expectant mother and new mom in Detroit deserve the security of knowing they can get to their prenatal or postnatal appointments so their baby can have their best start in life,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan in a statement. “With Rides to Care there is no reason to miss a vital medical appointment, because free roundtrip transportation to every doctor’s office visit is now an automatic benefit to them as a Detroiter.”

The service is available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Participating residents’ health care providers must be located in Detroit or up to five miles outside the city.

To book a ride, call 313-876-0000.

Other headlines for Friday, Nov. 22, 2024:

• The Toyota Mobility Foundation has selected 10 semifinalists to receive $3 million to participate in its Sustainable Cities Challenge to develop innovative solutions for Detroit’s iconic Eastern Market. 
• The Rink at Campus Martius Park opens for its 21st season on Saturday, Nov. 23, with a variety of celebrations planned throughout the weekend.
• Ray J is passing through the Motor City on Saturday to host Slow Jams: An Ultimate R&B Experience at the Detroit Shipping Company.
• The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be passing through metro Detroit on Monday, Nov. 25, after an evening event in Windsor, Ontario.

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

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a new online dashboard for residents to track complaints against Detroit police; a Detroit-based meat company launching a national ground beef recall due to possible E. coli contamination and more.

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

New dashboard aims to improve Detroit police oversight

The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners launched a new online dashboard this week to track citizen complaints against police in the city. The Detroit Free Press reports the dashboard will provide data including the number of open and closed complaints, type of complaints and the number of allegations attached to each incident, as well as the race and gender of the police officer and those who filed the complaint against them. The dashboard can be found on the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners website. 

Book highlights celebrity connections to Detroit

A new book highlighting various celebrities and their unique connects with the city of Detroit came out this month. In the book, titled “Motor City Famous: Celebrity Homes, Graves, and Little-Known Locales,” the author Steve Platto lists various celebrities with known ties to the city like Joe Louis, Stevie Wonder, and Eminem. He also highlights some new connections like Lucille Ball, Tony Hawk and Iggy Pop. Platto will be hosting a book signing from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at Schuler Books in West Bloomfield, and at Paperback Writers & Weirdsville Records in Mount Clemens from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Detroit company recalls ground beef for E. coli risk

Approximately 168,000 pounds of ground beef products from a Detroit-based meat company are being recalled due to possible E. coli contamination. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Wolverine Packing Co. recalled both fresh and frozen products that were shipped to restaurant locations nationwide. The affected fresh products have a “use by” date of Nov. 14, 2024 and the frozen products are labeled with a production date of Oct. 22, 2024. 10 22 24. All the products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. For more information visit fsis.usda.gov.

Hope for the Holidays at Second Ebenezer Church  

The Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit is hosting a turkey giveaway for its 10th annual Hope for the Holidays event. Distribution will take place between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the church, located at 14601 Dequindre Rd, Detroit. The church will also host a food distribution event from 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 6602 Walton in Detroit. 

Detroit Trivia Night

The city of Detroit Youth Affairs Team is hosting Detroit Trivia Night at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, with the city’s historian Jamon Jordan. Participants can test their knowledge of the history of Detroit. The event will take place at the Jospeh Walker Williams Recreations Center at 84331 Rosa Parks Blvd. 

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

Detroit officials are reassuring residents about the safety of the city’s water system.   

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The statement comes after the city sent federally mandated letters to thousands of residents about the materials used for water service lines.  Many Detroiters were concerned that the letters served as some sort of warning.

Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown held a news conference on Tuesday to let residents know there’s no reason to worry. 

“Our water is safe and some of the best water in the world. We’re a leader in the United States in delivering quality water,” he said. “We’re below the actionable level for lead at 12 parts per billion in the most recent testing results.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires municipalities with lead service lines to send out the letters. Brown says the city uses a special coating to prevent old service lines from leeching lead into the water. He says concerned residents can run water for three to five minutes in the morning to flush standing water out of the system. 

Detroit has 10 years to replace all of its lead service lines. Brown says the city has spent $100 million this year in its efforts to replace those lines. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024:

• The city of Detroit broke ground Tuesday on a project that will turn a historic school into affordable housing.
• AAA Michigan says you should pack your patience if you’re planning to take a trip over Thanksgiving, as 2.6 million Michiganders will be traveling over the holiday weekend.
• Gas prices continue to trend lower in metro Detroit, according to AAA Michigan, with the average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded now at $3.10 — down five cents from a week ago.

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

Nearly three years after a teenager killed four of his classmates in a shooting at Oxford High School, victims’ families are still looking for answers.

They want a review of how school officials acted leading up to the shooting, calling on Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, to do so this week.

Steve St. Juliana’s daughter, Hana, was among those killed in the Oxford High School attack. He says further action is needed to prevent future school shootings.

“This is about getting the truth out there,” says St. Juliana, “to create the counter measures to save our kids. This is not about identifying people to prosecute.”

The families are frustrated that a state review of procedures around the 2021 shooting has not taken place. They say they’ve had a hard time getting answers from the Oakland County prosecutor and state attorney general — accusing Nessel of retracting an offer to investigate over lack of probable cause.

Speaking to the media, Nessel countered that her offer to review has always been on the table.

“Now these offers were made to the school board and to the criminal investigation and prosecutions being handled by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutor. Our involvement on both fronts was soundly rejected,” she said.

While Nessel says she remains willing to help, she isn’t sure why Oakland County officials are now pointing the case at her.

“My authorities are not expansive beyond those that are already held by the county prosecutor and sheriff, who currently have the investigation, and have investigated this matter thoroughly for years and years now,” she said.

Nessel says her office can’t investigate without a referral from local authorities. She says she’s confused by Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard appearing in support of the Oxford family’s call to action, arguing that she’d need information from him to move forward.

In a statement, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said she’s unaware of any action needed by her office to involve the attorney general.

Oxford families say they’re tired of the finger pointing.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a new “bootcamp” for women entrepreneurs in Dearborn; the death of Michigan State University’s first Black president; local halal food drives for Thanksgiving and more.

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

Dearborn launches ‘Business Bootcamp’ for women 

Applications are now open for a new eight-week boot camp for female
entrepreneurs in Dearborn. The City of Dearborn’s Dearborn WORKS
and the Arab American Women’s Business Council (AAWBC) created the program, which offers professional development, financial literacy courses, and networking opportunities. Participants will also receive $3,500 in seed funding upon completion. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Labor. People can register and find out more at Dearborn.gov/BusinessResources by Dec. 1.

MSU’s first Black president dies

Former Michigan State University President Clifton Wharton Jr. has died. Wharton Jr., the university’s first Black president, led MSU for most of the 1970s. As president, he oversaw the creation of the MSU Foundation and established an anti-discrimination judicial board. He was also the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company, leading the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund from 1986 to 1993. Wharton was 98.

Dearborn adding full-time therapist to police department

The Dearborn Police Department and the Arab Community Center for
Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) are teaming up to add a
full-time therapist to the police department for mental health calls.
The therapist will provide psychological evaluations during crisis
interventions and connect people with resources. More information about the position can be found on ACCESS’ website.

Detroit awarded $1.3M to expand lead hazard control

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services awarded $7
million in community grants to communities around the state for lead control services for Medicaid recipients. The city of Detroit received nearly $1.3 million as part of the funding, which will go toward lead inspections, risk assessment, and permanent removal of lead from eligible homes. The money can also be used to remove soil lead hazards, abatement work and pre-2014 faucets and fixtures that contribute to lead hazard 

DDOT hiring drivers and mechanics

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hiring drivers and
mechanics. Pay begins at $15/hour with transportation equipment operators making over $18/hour after 12 months on the job. General auto mechanics will make $24.92 an hour. To apply, visit detroitmi.gov/ddot.  

Islamic Center hosting turkey drive

The Islamic Center of Detroit is hosting a Food & Turkey
Distribution event offering halal turkeys from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. ID is required, and it will be based on a first come first serve policy. ICD is located at 14350 Tireman St., Detroit.

Detroit Friendship House offering Thanksgiving meal kit

The Detroit Friendship House in Hamtramck is also offering halal turkeys in its Thanksgiving Meal Kit food drive from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Nov. 26, until supplies last. The in-person event takes place at 9450 Conant St., Hamtramck.

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

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced last week that he will not seek reelection in 2025, ending a 12-year run that saw Detroit exit bankruptcy and begin the climb back to stability.

Anika Goss, CEO of Detroit Future City, joins Created Equal along with journalists John Gallagher and Darren Nichols to discuss what has happened over the last decade of Duggan’s leadership and what awaits the city’s next leader. 

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

Goss discussed how Detroit’s rate of Black homeownership has increased to its highest level since the housing crisis and the percentage of vacant land in the city has decreased over Duggan’s mayorship. However, she says there are still large income gaps within Detroit’s middle class, rates of educational attainment continue to decrease, and the city is facing the loss of the Black middle class to the suburbs.   

Gallagher pointed out that although Duggan’s leadership has correlated with an improvement in the city’s economy, there were many local grassroots efforts in place to promote economic recovery prior to Duggan’s first term. Gallagher also discussed how the economic improvements were often focused on Detroit’s downtown and Midtown areas rather than Detroit’s neighborhoods.

Nichols discussed how last year’s NFL Draft in Detroit was a culmination of the good press and excitement Duggan had built around the city. Nichols suggested that some of Duggan’s success could be attributed to his skills as a campaigner who spoke directly to city residents and presented himself as a fresh voice for change. He believes that the next mayor will have to similarly humble themselves and address the whole city. 

Nichols also said he believes housing and poverty rates will be the most pressing issues for the city’s next leader to address.  

“We can build affordable housing, but do those people have the finances to be able to do that? Do they have the credit to be able to do that? We have to keep in mind our realism as to what Detroit’s poverty rate means for affordable housing,” he said. 

Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation. 

Guests: 

• Anika Goss is the CEO at Detroit Future City.
• John Gallagher is a journalist, senior business columnist for the Detroit Free Press, and author of the book, “Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City.”
• Darren Nichols is a journalist and contributing columnist at the Detroit Free Press 

Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.

Two Detroit hospitals, both part of the Detroit Medical Center, have received “F” grades on patient safety in a recent report.

Detroit Receiving Hospital and Sinai-Grace Hospital got those grades in the report by the Leapfrog Group, which describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that serving as a patient watchdog.

The group says its grades reflect the ability of hospitals nationwide to keep patients safe and prevent them from contracting illnesses or conditions they did not have upon admission.

Bret Jackson, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance for Michigan, which collaborated with Leapfrog on the study, said the findings in the Detroit hospitals were concerning.

“There are some areas where they may even be the worst hospital in the country for a specific metric,” Jackson said.

The report rated the two DMC hospitals poorly in several critical areas, including surgical wounds that reopen, deaths from serious yet treatable complications, severe breathing problems, dangerous bedsores, patient falls and injuries, and harmful blood clots.

The Detroit Medical Center said the report’s findings painted an incomplete picture.

“Detroit Medical Center does not submit data or participate in the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Grades are still published even though there is incomplete or dated information,” the medical center said in a statement to Michigan Public.

DMC did not respond to a followup question asking why it does not participate in the survey.

Jackson said DMC’s participation in the Leapfrog survey is not essential to the grading, as most of the metrics the report used come from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Jackson said he believes that ensuring patient safety starts with senior management.

“Leadership has to engage every single person — not just doctors and nurses, but also those who clean the rooms and work security. Everyone in the hospital must be committed to making it the safest and least harmful place for patients,” he said.

Jackson said the hospitals can improve their scores. He said he’s seen hospitals with D and F grades transform into A-grade facilities in a relatively short period and hopes for a similar turnaround at DMC.