Wayne State University launched the Warriors on the Rise program last month, which will offer guaranteed enrollment to qualified high school juniors in the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

The goal is to increase enrollment of students that come from the school district. Juniors with a 3.0 GPA will be automatically enrolled by DPSCD school officials. Families will then be invited to a meeting with the district to discuss the next steps.

Additional headlines from Thursday, October 9, 2025

DCFC Community Benefits proposal

Residents in Corktown presented the developers of the new Detroit City Football Club stadium with a detailed proposal for community benefits.

The Neighborhood advisory council is asking for a $17 per hour minimum wage for stadium staff, a commitment to give 50% of the permanent jobs to Detroit residents, child care and transportation services for workers, and a one dollar surcharge on every ticket to pay for home repairs for older homes in the neighborhood. 

Detroit City FC co-founder Sean Mann and other partners on the project will review the proposal while the neighborhood group collects more feedback from residents. Listening sessions are scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at McShane’s on Michigan and noon on Oct. 10 at Donut Villa in Southwest Detroit. 

Michigan Cannabis Industry Association sues Michigan

A marijuana industry group is suing the state of Michigan after Governor Gretchen Whitmer passed a plan that would add a 24% tax on cannabis.

Whitmer and state lawmakers finally passed a budget that included a tax hike on wholesale marijuana to help pay for local road repairs. However, the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association is challenging that law, alleging the legislature did not have enough votes to pass it.

The lawsuit argues that because the law that legalized marijuana in the state was enacted by a citizen initiative, legislatures needed a three-quarters vote instead of a majority vote. The budget bill only passed by a 2 vote margin. 

The wholesale tax is set to take effect on January 1 and will be levied on marijuana sold to retailers.  Michigan currently has a 10% excise tax on weed along with the 6% Michigan sales tax. 

Detroit Land Bank Authority moves to provide affordable housing

The Detroit Land Bank Authority is investing $15 million to launch its Affordable Housing Pipeline. The project aims to restore underutilized multi-family buildings in the city.

The initiative will target projects that are too small for large-scale builders, yet too complex for small scale builders.

The first project in the Wade neighborhood will transform two historic 1920s buildings into 30 affordable housing units. 

Election Day transit

Detroit will offer free bus rides to voters on Election Day. DDOT will waive fares for people who need a ride to the polls on November 4.

Early in-person voting begins on October 25.  

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Ford Motor Company announced Monday that its moving its headquarters for the first time in 70 years. The new headquarters will be located west of Greenfield Village in Dearborn.  

The new Henry Ford II World Center is a 2.1 million square foot state-of-the-art building. It will serve as a global center to promote innovation, collaboration, and transformation. Among the changes are six Design Studios and a Design Showroom, which can hold 10 vehicle turntables with 64-ft micro LED screens for product review. 

The new facility will have 4,000 employees and 12 acres of greenspace.  

The building is a Net-Zero Energy Building, using a central energy plant for hot water and steam and DTE MI Green Power Program to have a net-zero carbon goal. There are also energy-efficient systems, including water saving measures and waste reduction strategies in place.  

The headquarters is on a historic site—the 1953 Product Development Center, where the Mustang, F-Series and Ford GT were created. The former headquarters known as the ‘Glass House’ will be torn down over the next 18 months, with plans to repurpose it for community use. 

A public grand opening of the new building is scheduled for November with some employees shifting to the new location. 

The project is slated to be completed in 2027. 

Additional headlines from Monday, September 15, 2025

Dearborn career fair

The Arab American Women’s Business Council and Dearborn Economic Development are hosting their annual career fair. Registration is required as spots are limited.

There will be on-site recruiting, scholarship opportunities, and expert career guidance. There is also resume writing assistance and prizes available.  

Refreshments will be provided.  

The career fair takes place at the University of Michigan – Dearborn Fairlane Center South in the Michigan Room East on September 24 from 6-8 p.m.

Hispanic Heritage Month 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recognizes September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Michigan. The designation aims to celebrate the “rich history, vibrant culture and bright future of our Hispanic community,” Whitmer says in a release. 

Whitmer has appointed 18 Hispanic and Latino people as judges and to various boards and commissions in the state.  

Michigan’s Center for Data and Analysis estimated the Hispanic or Latino population is nearly 600,000 people in Michigan. 

Parts of Southwest Detroit are designated as historic areas, commemorating decades of entrepreneurship in the city. 

End of Summer Fiesta

La Jalisciense is hosting a patio party. The End of Summer Fiesta will host local vendors, a DJ, food and drinks.

The party will take place on September 27th from 2-8:30 PM at the La Jalisciense 3923 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI. 

District 1 meeting this week

The City of Detroit District 1 is hosting a charter-mandated community meeting on Wednesday. There will be resource tables for Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental (BSEED), land bank, and public works, along with the water and sewage department.

The meeting will be held on September 17 from 7-8:30 p.m. in person at the New Saint Mark Baptist Church, located at 24331 Eight Mile West in Detroit or virtually on Zoom.  

DDOT meeting this week

The Department of Transportation or DDOT is hosting a virtual community meeting this week. The meeting is to gather feedback about DDOT services, fares and routes.

The meeting takes place on Thursday, September 18, at 5 p.m. The Zoom call-in number is 1 (312) 626-6799.  

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

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Detroit’s Department of Transportation is installing new boarding platforms on East Jefferson for bus riders.  

It’s part of a pilot program to enhance safety and efficiency for bus passengers. 21 new elevated platforms will extend from the curb across bike and parking lanes to provide faster boarding for passengers.  

Buses will stay in the right lane to pick up riders instead of pulling to the curb and moving in and out of traffic. 

 The platforms will have ramps on each side to allow for bikers to seamlessly pass over the platforms without leaving the bike lane. 

 New shelters will be placed at each of the platform locations. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of next month. 

Additional headlines from Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025

Section of Southwest Detroit nominated for historic designation 

The Detroit City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board is nominating a section of the Bagley and West Vernor highway commercial district for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The designation would honor Southwest Detroit’s century old legacy of Latin American culture.

The Board will present the nomination at its public monthly board meeting on September 11th at 4 p.m. Attendees will be able to comment on the proposed historic district designation, ask questions about the process, and learn more about the benefits of a National Register historic district.

The meeting will be held at the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation offices at 2853 Bagley. 

Labor Day events in metro Detroit

Labor Day Weekend is here and there are several events happening across the Metro Detroit Area. 

• The Michigan State Fair at the Suburban Collection Showcase in Novi Starts today. The fair will feature a farmer’s market, carnival rides, livestock exhibits and competitions, a beer festival and more. 

• The Detroit Jazz Festival kicks off tomorrow, Friday, August 29 with a special performance by the 2025 Artist-in Residence Jason Moran. 

• Royal Oak’s Arts, Beats, and Eats returns. The four-day festival will feature over 200 performers, dozens of food vendors, and artists showcasing and selling their work. 

• Eastern Market is hosting the Detroit Sandwich Party on Sunday. The one-day festival for sandwich enthusiasts will feature many small format sandwiches for purchase along with beer, wine and other non-alcoholic beverages from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Campgrounds almost fully booked for this weekend

Michigan’s state park campgrounds are almost fully reserved this Labor Day weekend. Last minute campers can check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources digital dashboard map which tracks the booking status of state parks.

State forest campgrounds offer camping on a first-come, first-serve basis, meaning campsites can’t be reserved. 

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