The Abandon Harris Campaign launched on Thursday in Dearborn as a continuation of the Abandon Biden Campaign.

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

The campaign aims to change the policies of Vice President Kamala Harris regarding Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza — seeking a permanent ceasefire and an arms embargo.

Michigan Co-chair Farah Khan says the Abandon Harris campaign is looking for actual policies, not just words and inaction.

“We will hold the Harris Biden administration accountable for their role in this atrocity,” Khan said at a press event outside the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn on Thursday. “Accountability means more than words. It means actions. We must be clear — they have had their chance, and they have failed us.”

Listen: Interview with Farah Khan, co-chair of Abandon Harris for Michigan

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 41,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed and more than 95,000 injured during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since Oct. 7 — the day Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel, taking 250 hostages.

Campaign leaders say the Abandon Harris movement is active in at least nine states — including swing states like Michigan. Dr. Hassan Abdel Salam, national co-chair of the campaign, says they are asking voters not to vote for either party’s candidate.

“Our vote is magnanimous,” Salam said. “It’s a moment for democracy to triumph, for us to change the political landscape.”

The campaign plans to endorse a third party candidate soon.

Reporting by Nargis Rahman, WDET

Other headlines for Friday, Sept. 13, 2024:

• Henry Ford Hospital held a groundbreaking on Thursday for its $2.2 billion Detroit campus expansion, anchored by a new 1.2 million-square-foot hospital facility on the south side of West Grand Boulevard
• The city of Detroit’s Youth Affairs Team and Detroit ACE are hosting an artist showcase on Friday, Sept. 20, called “Young, Gifted and Woke.”
• Usher’s Past Present and Future Tour is continuing its run through the Motor City Friday at Little Caesars Arena. On his way there he stopped by the Boys and Girls Club of Detroit to help highlight the lack of access some youth have across the country to quality after-school programs.

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

A new study from the University of Michigan shows that Black stroke patients arrive at the hospital significantly later than their white counterparts.

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

Published Sept. 5 in collaboration with Brown University, the research included data from more than 600,000 patients in the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Stroke Registry from mid-2015 through 2019.

The study revealed that it took on average 28 minutes longer for Black patients with stroke symptoms to receive emergency care. Researchers also found that EMS workers were roughly 20% less likely to notify emergency departments ahead of a Black patient’s arrival compared to a white patient.

The disparity was most prevalent in areas with a high poverty rate. 

Regina Royan, one of the lead researchers on the study, says getting a stroke patient to the hospital quickly is crucial for positive health outcomes. 

“The therapies that we have for stroke are really effective, but they are only available within a short time frame from the time that symptoms start,” Royan said.

Royan says there has been significant effort to making health care inside hospitals equitable, and it’s time to bring those efforts outside the hospital as well.  

“This is a disparity that must be addressed, as Black Americans have a higher prevalence of stroke, get strokes younger and die at greater numbers from the condition,” said Royan in a news release.

Other headlines for Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024:

•  Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel announced charges this week against 11 people stemming from pro-Palestinian protests on the University of Michigan’s campus in May.
• Detroit Police Chief James White confirmed to BridgeDetroit on Wednesday that he is one of eight finalists in the running for CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network.
• The American Arab Chamber of Commerce is hosting its “East & West Mezza Fest,” a culinary tour of Dearborn, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.

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

The city of Detroit held its annual 9/11 memorial ceremony Wednesday morning.

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

The event honored those killed in the terrorist attacks in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on Sep. 11, 2001. 

Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison says ceremonies like the one this morning are important, because not everyone knows what happened 23 years ago. 

“Last night, my son — he’s in the eighth grade — he asked: “Dad I need some help with my homework assignment for history.” I had no clue about what I was about to help him with, but it was a 9/11 assignment,” Bettison said. “He had really no clue, no memory.”

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Two hijacked jets flew into New York’s World Trade Center. Another jet crashed into the Pentagon.  A fourth hijacked jet crashed into a Pennsylvania field when passengers struggled with the terrorists to prevent the jet from hitting a major target in Washington D.C. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024:

• A new report finds Detroit is one of the hardest cities in the nation to live in for people who suffer from asthma.
• Detroit’s three casinos are reporting $112.5 million in revenue for last month — up nearly 6% from August 2023.
• The Michigan Gaming Control Board has won an Emmy Award for its series of commercials touting responsible gambling.
• The state’s first Klezmer music festival will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, in Detroit’s Cultural Center at the International Institute. Klezmer is a type of traditional Yiddish folk music originally created centuries ago.

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

The city of Detroit is using money from the American Rescue Plan Act to help residents with disabilities make their homes more accessible.

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

The Detroit Home Accessibility Program — a joint project of the city of Detroit, CHN Housing Partners and Detroit Disability Power — dedicates more than $6 million in ARPA funds to home modifications for eligible residents to add ramps or lifts, widen entrances, modify handrails, or add alarms to the entries and exits of their home.

“Detroit has more than 129,000 disabled residents. Members of this large, diverse and important constituency deserve the ability to fully engage in all that our City has to offer,” said Ani Grigorian, disability access consulting manager at Detroit Disability Power, in a news release. “This program is an important step towards greater accessibility, and therefore increased well-being.”

Homeowners who live in single-family homes who receive social security disability benefits, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Children’s Healthcare Services benefits or Veterans Administration disability benefits can still apply.

The program is expected to provide accessibility upgrades to at least 250 homes.

Applicants must also have homeowner’s insurance and be current on property taxes or in a payment plan. There are income requirements for participation. For more information, visit chnhousingpartners.org/Detroit/dhap or call 866-313-2520. 

Other headlines for Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024:

• Mason K-8 Academy opened its newly renovated and stocked school library today. The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) chose Mason to receive 18,000 new books from the Council of Great City Schools and Scholastic.
• Cass Tech students who live in Hamtramck and “Banglatown” – an area close to Hamtramck – are asking DPSCD to provide bus transportation to the school. Education nonprofit 482Forward organized student and adult members to take their appeal to tonight’s school board meeting. 
• The Detroit Food Commons will host a concert series this fall. The Freedom Sounds fall concert series kicks off Sunday, Sept. 22 with jazz percussionist and Jazz at Lincoln Center alum Ali Jackson. Bassist and composer Marion Hayden will perform Oct. 27; and on Nov. 24, multi-genre percussionist and food justice advocate Aisha Ellis will perform. The series is curated by violinist and flutist Michelle May. The events, held in the Mama Imani Humphrey Banquet Hall on the second floor of Detroit Commons, cost $25 to attend with funds going towards Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network’s community programs. 
• The Hamtramck Parks Conservancy has a new director of programming and communications. Alicia Chiaravalli has a background in environmental science, play design and sustainability. She will be responsible for developing recreation programs, coordinating volunteers and community partnerships for the conservancy. 

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

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has released results of a poll of American Muslim voters.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and the Green Party’s Jill Stein are tied at around 29%, with 16% of Muslim voters stating they are undecided and 11% planning to vote for former President Donald Trump.

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

CAIR conducted the election survey two days after the Democratic National Convention ended last month. The organization said 1,500 people responded to the survey out of a random sample of 40,000 Muslim voters across the nation.

The survey results show that Stein has more support in Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan — while Harris is favored in Georgia and Pennsylvania.

There are an estimated 2.5 million registered Muslim voters in the United States.

More headlines for Sept. 9, 2024:

• American Muslim Diversity Association breaks ground mosque expansion in Sterling Heights
• D’Artillery hosting global artisan pop-up experiences in Hamtramck
• ArabCon kicks off this week at the Ford Performing Arts Center in Dearborn

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

On the latest episode of the Detroit Evening Report Weekends, Sascha Raiyn spends some time with Garrett Dempsey of Detroit Outdoors.

Detroit Outdoors is a collaboration between the Sierra Club, the city of Detroit and the YMCA, focused on exposing Detroit youth to the outdoors.

This summer, the organization took a group of students to Yosemite National Park to camp, hike and rock climb. But the trip was centered around the history of the Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks, and the Detroit native who is the park service’s foremost expert on that history, Shelton Johnson.

Garrett Dempsey is the program director for Detroit Outdoors. He spoke to WDET’s Sascha Raiyn about the trip and the organization’s work to get Black and brown youth into the great outdoors.

Listen to the episode using the media player above.

The Michigan Democratic Party is facing a lawsuit over the race for its University of Michigan Board of Regents nomination.

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

The race was decided at the party’s Aug. 24 nominating convention in Lansing.

According to official party results, civil rights attorney Huwaida Arraf lost her bid for the party’s nomination for the U of M Board of Regents.

But Arraf said there were irregularities she’d like explained. She said her lawsuit is because party leaders haven’t provided election data she’s been asking for.

“If there’s something [that] happened that we don’t understand, then just tell us,” Arraf told reporters during a press call Thursday.

Arraf’s claims include that more people voted in the race than were credentialed and that the party barred her campaign from observing the vote tabulation process during the August convention.

One source of confusion was the party’s weighted voting system in which “each county’s (or portion thereof) delegates within a multi-county Congressional District Convention, caucus, or meeting, or at the State Convention, have a voting strength proportional to the number of Democratic voters from that county (or portion) at the last General Election relative to the total number of Democratic voters in the District or the state, regardless of how many delegates are present at the convention, caucus, or meeting.”

A press release sent by Arraf’s campaign earlier this week included screenshots that the campaign said show email exchanges with party chair Lavora Barnes listing out raw vote totals and weight equivalent.

In her lawsuit, Arraf is asking Michigan’s 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County to bar the race results from being finalized to the general election ballot until “a full and transparent investigation or audit of the University of Michigan Regents vote-counting process” takes place.

In a statement, a Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson said, “We are waiting to review the complaint filed with the Ingham County Clerk and look forward to following the proper legal process.”

Arraf had entered the race later than her two opponents, whom were already serving on the board and seeking renomination. She came in with support of pro-Palestinian activists.

While talking to reporters, Arraf acknowledged she very well may have lost the race. But she accused the party of sending the wrong message to her supporters by not being transparent.

“Encouraging young people, encouraging minorities, encouraging historically disenfranchised people to get involved in the voting process, what we hear over and over and over again is, ‘What does it matter? My vote doesn’t count anyway.’ And this is exactly the message that they’re getting now,” Arraf said.

According to court records, Ingham County Judge James Jamo has sent a first hearing in the case for Friday at 9 a.m.

Reporting by Colin Jackson, MPRN

Other headlines for Friday, Sept. 6, 2024:

•  The city of Detroit is now accepting applications from senior citizen homeowners who wish to apply for a discount on their Solid Waste Fee for their home.
• This Sunday will be the last day to check out the Michigan Science Center’s “Above and Beyond” exhibition offering a 360-degree view of Earth in Orbit.
• The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners is seeking applications for the BOPC Youth Advisory Panel. Applications are due Sept. 30.

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

Officials in Detroit are again offering a photo identification card that allows residents access to various businesses and city services.

Local 283 President Steve Hicks says they are asking for union security, seniority rights and an increase in pay.

“Since the pandemic, inflation is sky high from 2019 in double digits, and has cut into the spendable income of our members here,” Hicks told WDET. “So we need to get [a] percentage that’s a lot higher than what they are offering, which is 3% per year.”

Hicks says the union sent several emails asking to bargain over the last offer made by Marathon, but were denied.

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Marathon officials said they were “disappointed” that union members decided to go on strike, saying the company has met with union leadership regularly for the last nine months to reach a new labor agreement.

“The company has negotiated in good faith, but the union thus far has been unwilling to agree to acceptable terms for an agreement and, instead, has decided to engage in a strike in support of its bargaining positions,” the statement read. “We are fully prepared and have implemented plans to continue safely operating the facility with trained and qualified Marathon employees, and a safe and orderly handover to these experienced team members has been completed.”

The Michigan Department of Transportation is lifting some restrictions for transporting certain hazardous substances across the Ambassador Bridge this fall.

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

MDOT will ease restrictions on transporting fuels and materials for batteries beginning Oct. 29. The bridge’s owners requested the looser restrictions, saying it can respond quickly to a fire or spill. 

MDOT commissioned a technical study  in June 2021 to evaluate the risks associated with transporting restricted materials on the Ambassador Bridge from Porter Street in Detroit to Canada, the state reported. MDOT subsequently collected more than 80 letters from elected officials, business owners and community members, many expressing support for the looser restrictions.

Restricted materials will only be transported during off-peak hours, under the supervision of vehicle escorts, according to the state.

Other headlines for Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024:

• The city of Detroit is holding informational sessions this month to teach local nonprofits how to apply for grants to expand or improve their programs.
• Detroit is also offering free estate planning workshops to residents during the month of September.
• The Brightmoor Artisans Collective is recruiting volunteers for its Beautification Day event Saturday, Sept. 7. 
• The Paradise Wellness Academy is hosting a free Community Health Education series this month, featuring live cooking demonstrations and tips for preparing nutritious meals, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Sept. 12, 19 and 26. 

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

On the latest episode of the Detroit Evening Report, we cover this week’s extreme heat and severe storms that have enveloped southeast Michigan; Labor Day festivities to look forward to this weekend and more.

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

Hydrate, keep cool in extreme heat

Fall is right around the corner, but summer isn’t in the rear-view quite yet. Temperatures reached the mid-90s earlier this week and there may be more days like that ahead, as Detroit has recorded 90-plus degree temperatures in September before.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying hydrated and limiting time spent outdoors during extreme heat events to prevent the risk of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion, heat rash and heat stroke. Health officials in Detroit are also reminding residents to check on their family, friends and neighbors during extreme heat events — especially the elderly, those with medical problems or those who live alone — and be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illness such as nausea, confusion and rapid or slow heart rate.

The CDC offers a “HeatRisk” calculator on its website to help individuals determine their risk of extreme heat exposure. Visit cdc.gov for more information about heat-related illness.

Read more: ‘Heat island effect’ contributing to warmer temperatures in Detroit, research shows

More severe storms ahead

Strong storms are expected to return this afternoon and evening, with clear skies returning on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures and humidity will remain high this weekend, with highs in the mid- to low-80s expected.

Approximately 10,000 metro Detroit households were still without power as of 4 p.m. on Friday, according to outage maps from DTE Energy and Consumers Energy. Customers who experienced extended outages this week may be entitled to credits from their utility provider.

Hamtramck Labor Day Festival kicks off

The 44th annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival is taking place from noon to 10 p.m. all weekend, Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, featuring live music, carnival rides, food vendors and more. The festival will close out on Monday with a performance by Jack White accompanied by Detroit garage rockers The Hentchmen — featuring WDET’s own Mike Latulippe, host of The Detroit Move.

For a full schedule of events, visit hamtownfest.com/schedule.

Celebrate the new Lunar New Year at metro Detroit’s Water Lantern Festival

Metro Detroit’s annual Water Lantern Festival is taking place next Saturday, Sept. 7, at Lake St. Clair Metro Park in Harrison Township. The family-friendly event, inspired by Chinese tradition, marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year.

Tickets, starting at $28 for adults, will get you a wristband for entry, a floating lantern kit, lantern retrieval, water cleanup and more. Those who purchase tickets over Labor Day weekend can get 15% off using the code LABORDAY15. For more information about the festival, visit waterlanternfestival.com.

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

On this episode of the Detroit Evening Report, we cover the continued power outages across metro Detroit following this week’s severe storms; the upcoming Detroit Jazz Festival and more.

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

Thousands still without power after storms

More than 60,000 metro Detroit residents are still without power on Thursday after severe storms hit the region Tuesday evening and continued into Wednesday. DTE Energy says crews are “continuing to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to everyone impacted by the extreme weather.”

The company says it has restored power to more than 80% of its customers and expects to have 90% of customers restored by end of day Thursday, with remaining customers expected to be restored Friday.

Detroit market offers up fridge space during outages

Neighborhood Grocery in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood is offering refrigerator space to those who are still without power. The market posted on Facebook Wednesday offering up fridge space for medications or freezer space for perishables for those in need of temporary storage until power is restored. 

Corktown ranked top ‘up-and-coming’ neighborhood in US

Detroit’s historical Corktown neighborhood has been ranked a top “up-and-coming” neighborhood in the nation by Travel Mag. The magazine cited spots like Mercury Burger and Bar, Bobcat Bonnie’s and Brooklyn Street Local as hot spots to grab a bite, and also mentioned the reopening of Michigan Central as part of the neighborhood’s resurgence. The neighborhood was listed among 16 others in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Miami. 

Freedom Arts Festival continues

Programming for the Detroit Parks Coalition’s annual Freedom Arts Festival will continue throughout the fall season. The free festival series kicked off in June and will run through November with a variety of events hosted across nine parks and public spaces in the city.  Supported by the Knight Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the festival features live performances of music, dance, storytelling and art reflecting Detroit’s rich multicultural history, weaving together narratives of freedom, racial justice, connections to place and more. For more information on future programming, visit detroitparkscoalition.com/freedom-arts-festival.

Detroit Jazz Festival returns

The Detroit Jazz Festival kicks off at 6:40 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 in Hart Plaza. with performances continuing in downtown Detroit through Labor Day weekend. Over 60 performances are scheduled to take place throughout the long weekend, including from The Bad Plus, Carmen Lundy, artist-in-residence Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band and more. The festival will have stages in Hart Plaza, Cadillac Square and after hour specials in Midtown at Wayne State’s Valade Jazz Center. For more information, visit detroitjazzfest.org.

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

Some Detroiters are without power and others still cleaning up after severe thunderstorms hit the region both on Tuesday and Wednesday night. 

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

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of more than 75 miles per hour at Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday night, with high winds bringing down tree branches and causing power outages around the region. 

DTE Energy reported more than 200,000 power outages Wednesday morning. Weather on Thursday is expected to be mostly dry and humid, with a high of 81 degrees. Thunderstorms are likely to return on Friday with heat indices ranging
from the upper 80s to mid 90s.

Other headlines for Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024:

• Outages on the Dearborn-Allen Park border caused problems for motorists trying to get to Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday morning.
• Detroit has set up cooling centers to keep residents safe during the high temperatures that blanketed Detroit this week.
• Former Detroit City Council President Saunteel Jenkins is considering a run for Detroit mayor.
• Wayne State University is holding a special grand opening reception on Thursday for its newest music venue, the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center.
• The Detroit Lions have made a number of roster changes to get ready for the NFL regular season.

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

This episode of the Detroit Evening Report includes Donald Trump’s most recent campaign visit in metro Detroit, a health safety alert on cinnamon and more stories you should know.

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

Trump and Vance campaign in metro Detroit this week

Former President Donald Trump was in Michigan today to address a conference of the U.S. National Guard Association. It’s part of a series of events planned in the battleground state this week. Trump’s appearance comes as he and his running mate JD Vance criticized Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz over his service in the Army National Guard.

The visit is also an effort to counter the momentum generated by Vice President Kamala Harris’s historic nomination to head the Democratic presidential ticket. Vance is set to deliver a speech in Michigan about the economy tomorrow and Trump will do the same at a steel facility in the state on Thursday.

WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter contributed to this story.

Arab American museum receives $100K grant to produce doc on drone warfare

The Arab American Museum in Dearborn received a $100,000 Joyce Award grant to produce a theatrical series about the implications of drone warfare. Writer, director and performer Andrea Assaf will collaborate with the museum to create work that “confronts the militarized use of drone technology, the ethics of remote control warfare and the human cost of war.” “DRONE” will be a multimedia piece with live theater, museum and digital design — informed by community conversations with Arab Americans, veterans and anti-war activists in Dearborn.

The 2024 Joyce Awards uplift collaborations between artists of color and community organizations in the region. Assaf is one of five winners this year.

Health alert issued on cinnamon due to high levels of lead

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says the list of contaminated cinnamon products has increased since July. These cinnamon products have high levels of lead. MDHHS encourages consumers to stop eating or selling the products and throw them away.

Some of the brands of cinnamon include El Chilar, Marcum, SWAD, Shahzada and La Frontera. For a full list, visit fda.gov.

Youth coalition focuses on reproductive rights

The Michigan Youth Reproductive Justice Coalition is hosting a statewide initiative to organize youth around reproductive rights. The group is hosting a Zoom event on September 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. to connect organizers and build power on and off college campuses. People who are interested in joining can fill out a form through the Michigan Student Power Alliance 2024 interest form.

Detroit’s health department will host its 3rd annual block party next month, offering free health screenings and resources to residents. The program kicks off on Sept. 7 with a safe sleep walk and rally at 11 a.m. and then a block party from 12-4 p.m. at 100 Mack Avenue at John R Rd. in Detroit.

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

Community stakeholders, dignitaries and residents held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week to celebrate the opening of the new McClellan Early Childhood Center on Detroit’s east side.

Located on the site where Detroit Public Schools’ Pingree Elementary once operated, the 15,000-square-foot facility features eight classrooms that are providing 96 new seats for early learners in the community, helping to close a 521-seat gap in the surrounding neighborhoods, according to the city.

The Center, which will welcome its first students in October 2024, will also offer Head Start and Early Head Start programs and feature a community room and meeting spaces for use by local organizations and residents.

Funding for the project came from a variety of public and private entities, according to lender and developer IFF, which was tasked with sourcing the capital to make the Center possible.

The nonprofit early childhood educator and social services organization Matrix Human Services will operate the McClellan ECC.

“The McClellan Early Childhood Center is a milestone in our mission to transform Head Start early childhood education in Detroit,” said Matrix CEO Brad Coulter in a statement. “By providing a new state of the art facility right in the heart of Gratiot Woods, we are setting a foundation for our children’s future success. This facility is not just a school; it’s a commitment to our community.”

For more information about the McClellan Early Childhood Center, visit iff.org/mcclellan.

Other headlines for Friday, Aug. 23, 2024:

• A new report from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan examines the value in using public policy to drive economic innovation in Michigan.
• The Detroit Lions will play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Aug. 25, in their last pre-season game before the start of the 2024 2025 NFL season.
• The Detroit Bourbon & Blues festival is taking place from 12 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday in Eastern Market’s Shed 5.

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

A family is suing a Wayne County judge after he ordered a teenager into jail clothes and handcuffs during a field trip at the courthouse.

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

On a field trip with The Greening of Detroit Aug. 13, 15-year-old Eva Goodman was singled out by 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King for falling asleep and having what he considered a bad attitude, the Associated Press reported.

King had Goodman handcuffed, changed into jail clothes and threatened in front of her peers with juvenile detention. The family is accusing the judge of humiliation, false arrest and unlawful detention in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday, which seeks more than $75,000 in damages.

The lawsuit states that King’s actions were “extreme and outrageous and calculated for the purpose of inflicting fear and severe emotional distress.”

Goodman’s mother told reporters that her daughter was probably tired because they do not have a permanent residence.

King was removed from courtroom duties last week until he completes training. 

Reporting by Ed White, Associated Press

Other headlines for Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024:

• School starts next week for many districts, and Michigan State Police is reminding parents to check on the safety history of local school buses.
• The Episcopal Church of the Messiah will be hosting its third gun destruction event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at the church, 231 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit.
• The community group Avalon Village is accepting applications for “Hood Camp,” a unique camping experience designed to teach urban survival skills to kids ages 12-18.

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

If you’ve been smelling smoke on the west side of the city, you’re not alone. A large mulch fire started Tuesday evening at Detroit Mulch Co. that continued to burn on Wednesday near Lyndon and Prairie streets. 

Firefighters are still working to extinguish the mulch, which covers a lot that is hundreds of yards long. Some piles of mulch are 20 feet high. 

The smoke is affecting air quality in areas around the region, and residents in nearby neighborhoods are urged to keep their windows closed. 

Crews are pouring water on the fire, but officials say they don’t know how long it will take to completely put out the blaze. No injuries or damages to nearby structures have been reported. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024:

• United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain warned of a potential strike against Stellantis during his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week.
• Ford Motor Company announced Wednesday that it’s changing its plans for producing electric vehicles.
• AAA Michigan is reminding drivers to watch out for students as they head back to school. The first day of classes for the Detroit Public Schools Community District will be Monday, Aug. 26.
• Gas prices in metro Detroit are falling headed into the Labor Day holiday weekend, averaging around $3.50 per gallon — 10 cents per gallon less than last week.

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

On this episode of the Detroit Evening Report, stories include this week’s excitement at the Democratic National Convention around the Harris-Walz presidential ticket; Michigan’s launch of a new statewide “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition and more.

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

Dems rally around Harris, Walz at DNC

The Harris-Walz ticket is creating a sheen of excitement at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. And some notable metro Detroiters are part of it.

That includes long-time Democratic activist Reverend Wendell Anthony. He says Harris’ status as the first women of color to head a major party presidential ticket is re-invigorating Democrat’s ability to get out the vote for the general election.

“This is Freedom Summer Two…that’s what I call it,” he said. “Freedom Summer One was 60 years ago. Black folk and white folk went south to Mississippi to help register people to vote, because they couldn’t vote. They went volunteering. Now people from all across the country are coming, volunteering, because they want to preserve freedom, democracy and the right to vote still.”

Anthony claims former President Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to challenge the election in states like Michigan if he is not declared the winner in November. 

Applications open for PitchMI

Applications are officially open for PitchMI, a statewide “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition created to help solve Michigan’s transportation troubles.

The state’s Growth Office will invest $100,000 in one innovative solution that transforms the way Michiganders get from point A to point B safely, affordably and efficiently. PitchMI is meant to spur entrepreneurial problem-solving, connect innovators with capital and create a ripple effect to accelerate more innovation, according to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The competition is scheduled to take place Thursday, Oct. 24, during the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification’s conference at Newlab in Detroit. Applicants for PitchMI must be available to participate in-person. Its open to start-up companies with 51% of their employees in the state of Michigan. Solutions should be demonstration-ready with working prototypes. 

For more information and to apply, visit growingmichigan.org/opportunities. The deadline to apply is Monday, Sept. 16. 

Detroit to unveil Joe Louis Neighborhood Stories

The city of Detroit will unveil its Joe Louis Greenway Neighborhood Stories signage project this week.

Ten signs will be placed along the Joe Louis Greenway telling the story of the Midwest-Tireman neighborhood. The city used residents as Story Gatherers to collect oral histories from long-time neighborhood residents. Those stories were turned into signs designed by the firm Good Done Daily.

A ribbon-cutting is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. Thursday at 8034 West Warren Ave., Detroit, with light refreshments on offer. Parking is available on McDonald Street. 

HBCU Student Invitational Film Competition and Festival

The HBCU Student Invitational Film Competition and Festival takes place at Michigan Central next week.

Black filmmakers attending HBCUs will screen their films from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m on Friday, Aug. 23, with contest winners announced on Saturday, Aug. 24. The grand prize is $10,000.

This is the first time the event will be in-person. Autumn Sun, the group organizing the festival, was founded by Detroit native Bruce Clifton. The film screenings and panel discussions are free, but the award ceremony and gala on the 24th require tickets. For more information, visit autumnsunfest.org. 

Annual ‘Fun in the Park’ event returns

Residents of Detroit’s District 7 are invited to Stein Park from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, for the second annual Fun in the Park event. The free, family-friendly event will feature food, games, music, activities for all ages and more. 

Stein Park is located at 18899 Chicago St., Detroit. The rain date for the event will be Saturday, Aug. 24.

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

On this episode of the Detroit Evening Report, stories include the Pro-Palestinian demonstrations unfolding outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago; Michigan delegates’ preparations for the week’s convention and more.

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

Protesters march in Chicago

Pro-Palestinian and anti-war demonstrators marched from Union Park to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday to protest the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Chicago officials said they were committed to keeping the demonstrations peaceful. The Associated Press reports that protesters broke through a fence set up by police near the convention site Monday.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud recently met with Vice President Kamala Harris, who’s set to accept the Democratic nomination for president at the convention this week. A source with knowledge of the meeting says they talked about how Harris might approach the issue if she wins the November presidential election. Her campaign says she supports deals for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. 

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller, WDET News

Michigan delegates prepare for DNC 

A top Michigan Democrat says party leaders need to stress messages that speak to Michiganders during this week’s national convention in Chicago. State Rep. Jason Morgan is the Michigan Democratic Party’s first vice chair. 

He says the party needs to be unified coming out of the convention and needs to show support for Michigan’s working class. 

“We can do great things to rebuild the middle class in this country, and I think that’s going be a big focused for us,” he said.

 Tonight’s convention speakers include President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. NPR’s convention coverage begins at 9 p.m. on 101.9 WDET.

-Reporting by Steve Carmody, Michigan Public

Neighborhood Wellness Centers offer free health screenings

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Detroit Health Department are offering overall wraparound health services to the community.

Seven Neighborhood Wellness Centers in Detroit will offer free resources, including COVID-19 testing, and free blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol screenings.  

Visit detroitmi.gov/health for more information and locations.  

Satellite Hub expands health services in Detroit

The Detroit Health Department launched a new satellite health center at the Samaritan Center on Detroit’s east side. The space will offer immunizations for children and adults, lead screenings, and supplemental nutrition education through the Women, Infants, and Children or WIC program.

The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, and is located at 5555 Conner St., Suite 2224, Detroit. 

Redford Theatre hosting free movie weekend

The Redford Theatre in Detroit will host free movies this weekend as part of Pluto TV’s “Summer of Cinema” campaign supporting independently run theaters in the U.S. The independent nonprofit theater will give out free tickets for screenings of the first Indiana Jones film, “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” at  2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

There will be 400 free tickets per show available for purchase online, with 100 free tickets in person. People can purchase additional tickets for $7, or $5 for seniors and kids. 

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