The Detroit Evening Report

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says the city generated a $105 million budget surplus in the last fiscal year.  He credits strategic decisions by city staffers for the savings.  It’s the 11th annual budget surplus in a row.  The mayor says the city now has a rainy-day fund of more than half a billion dollars.  The announcement was part of Duggan’s last news conference as mayor of Detroit.  He is now running as an independent to become Michigan’s next governor.  Additional headlines for Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 Sheffield swearing in  Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield has announced that she’ll have a public swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 9.  The celebration will give Detroiters a chance to watch the proceedings in person or online.  Sheffield and members of Detroit City Council will officially be sworn into office on New Year’s Day.  The Jan. 9 event will take place at the Detroit Opera House.  It’s free and open to the public.   Government offices closed  Christmas Day is a federal and state holiday, meaning government offices will be closed Thursday.  That includes the post office – so there will be no mail delivery.  Detroit government offices will also be closed Thursday.  Most private businesses will be closed for the holiday as well.  Last minute shopping  Expect malls and shopping centers to be very busy tonight as consumers rush to pick up a few last-minute gifts before Christmas.  Don’t wait too late, though.  Several retailers will close early tonight – and won’t be open at all on Thursday.  That includes the region’s major grocery stores.  CVS will be open on Christmas Day, but hours may vary by location.  Gas prices fall  If you’re on the road over the holidays, there’s good news for you.  Gas prices have been falling.  In metro Detroit, a gallon of self-serve regular now averages $2.84.  That’s roughly where it was a week ago, but that price is 21 cents cheaper than last month at this time.  Metcalf suspension  The NFL has suspended Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf for two games following an altercation with a fan during the team’s game in Detroit last Sunday.   Metcalf will miss this weekend’s game in Cleveland and the regular-season finale against Baltimore. CBS-TV cameras captured the confrontation between Metcalf and a fan during the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 29-24 win over Detroit. The fan leaned over the railing and exchanged words with Metcalf before the Steeler ended the confrontation by swinging his arm at the fan’s face. (AP)  Lions-Vikings  And the Detroit Lions play their next to last game of the regular season on Christmas Day.  The team travels to Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North battle.  The Lions’ playoff hopes are holding on by a slim thread after their loss to Pittsburgh.  Detroit now has a record of 8 wins and 7 losses. The Vikings have seven wins and 8 losses.   Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. ET Thursday.  The game will be televised on CBS 62.  DER holiday schedule The Detroit Evening Report will take a break for Christmas Day – then we’ll have a week of special stories for the holidays.  From all of us here at WDET – merry Christmas and happy holidays!

The Great Lakes Water Authority says a new tunnel will divert excess stormwater from a sewer line along the Rouge River to an under-used wastewater treatment plant in southwest Detroit. The $87 million project is expected to take at least two years to complete.  More: GLWA takes steps to reduce sewage backups in southwest Detroit The agency expects the new tunnel will reduce the risk of flooding and sewage backups during heavy rains. State and federal grants are paying for the project, along with sewer rate revenue.  Additional headlines for Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025 Blight removal update A voter-approved initiative that helped fund an expedited blight removal program in 2020 will end next year. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan gave his final update on the program Monday.  Duggan announced there are fewer than 1,000 abandoned homes left. That's down from 47,000 in 2014. Of those remaining, 240 are scheduled to be demolished with the other 702 in the pipeline to be sold.  Duggan says the final steps will focus on addressing contaminated soil from sites where contractors used polluted backfill. He says there is still a $15 million reserve to address backfill contaminated sites.  Demolition begins for new DCFC field Demolition work has begun on the old Southwest Detroit Hospital which has been abandoned since the early 90s. The site along Michigan Avenue is being cleared to make way for a new 15,000 seat soccer stadium where Detroit City Football Club will play its home games.  AlumniFi Field, as the stadium will be known, is expected to host its first match in 2027.  Renovations to prepare Little Caesars for WNBA Detroit Downtown Development Authority has approved up to $5 million in cash toward the cost of renovations at the Little Caesars Arena for Detroit's incoming WNBA team.  Renovations include a new locker room, modifications of game officials’ locker rooms and visitor space. Work is expected to start in 2028.  Detroit’s WNBA franchise will be the fifth professional team to play downtown – joining the city’s NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB teams.  Sheffield names David Bowser as chief of staff Detroit Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield has named David Bowser as her Chief of Staff. Bowser was her senior policy advisor during her campaign and is the director of her transition team.  Bowser served as deputy director of the Housing and Revitalization Department, deputy director of the Community Health Corps and director of Human Services in the for Mayor Mike Duggan. 

Dearborn’s Department of Public Health has been awarded a $101,000 grant to advance firearm safety. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services funding supports collaborative efforts to educate gun owners on safe handling and storage.  Dearborn Mayor Abdulllah Hammoud says firearm injury prevention is a public health and safety priority.  The city’s health department will distribute firearm safety kits, including gun locks, lockboxes, and educational materials.  Dearborn Chief Public Health Officer Ali Abazeed says the grant supports evidence-based education and access to safety tools.  Additional headlines for Monday, December 22, 2025 Michigan Chief Medical Executive makes Standing Recommendation regarding children’s vaccines  Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, made a Standing Recommendation to continue issuing vaccinations on schedule based on recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).  Bagdasarian shared that public health experts are not in agreement with new federal vaccine recommendations, prompting the announcement. One of the recent changes was dropping the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth and removing the COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for healthy children and pregnant women.  Bagdasarian’s Standing Recommendation was made with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Immunization.  She says the recommendation does not supersede clinical judgment. She also asks health care providers to make vaccines accessible by removing barriers for patients.  EGLE renews license for hazardous waste facility  The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has renewed the license for a hazardous waste treatment and storage facility in Detroit for the next 10 years. Hazardous Waste Management Facility Operating License to EQ Detroit Inc., which does business as US Ecology Detroit South, was issued the license after regulatory review and a public comment process. Several people strongly opposed the facility because it emits strong odors leading to health concerns like asthma. The facility also has a history of clean air violations.  EGLE renewed the license, adding new requirements, such as expanding air and groundwater monitoring. The facility must replace six tanks beginning in January 2026 and install odor control equipment by the end of Dec 2027. Tunnel in southwest Detroit  The Great Lakes Water Authority has started building a sewage relief system near the Rouge River in Southwest Detroit. Crews will spend at least two years digging a tunnel to carry excess stormwater to an underused retention and treatment center. Chief Operating Officer Navid Mehram says the $87 million project should reduce the risk of flooding and sewage backups during heavy rain.  "So this is an example where we’re making an investment in our existing system by rerouting some flows, so that we can leverage an existing facility that wasn’t receiving all the flow it can treat.” Mehram says the project will not increase customers' sewage bills. He says state and federal funding will help pay for the tunnel.  New tech firm in town  Detroit is getting a new high-tech security and AI solution firm Eccalon. The defense tech company will create 800 new jobs ranging from $25-100 per hour.  The facility will have manufacturing operations, training programs and an innovation center.  The company’s headquarters is moving from Maryland to become a part of the tech innovation in Detroit. Eccalon will be located at the Bedrock-owned Icon building at 200 Walker Street.  Eccalon Chairman and CEO André Gudger says the new headquarters will develop cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing and automation.  The company hopes to open early next year. 

Plus, a food voucher expiration warning, Detroit sports updates and unique ways to support local businesses.

Progress on DCFC field Demolition has started at the site of the new AlumniFi Field, which will be home to the Detroit City Football Club soccer field. The former Southwest Detroit Hospital, which has been vacant for years, will be demolished to make way for the 15 thousand seat soccer stadium and mixed-use project. The project will also include a 421-space parking garage and a 76-unit residential building. Additional headlines for Thursday, December 18, 2025 Gorgon confirmed The U-S Senate last week confirmed Detroit Native Jerome Gorgon as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Gorgon will be the chief federal law enforcement official for federal cases in Detroit and throughout the state’s eastern Lower Peninsula. He follows former US Attorney Dawn Ison. Gorgon was born in Southwest Detroit, graduated from Southwestern High School, and taught in Detroit Public Schools. Waitlist open The Taylor Housing Commission is opening up the waitlist for its housing choice voucher program for 12 days this month. The last time the list was open was in 2023. Starting December 20, the commission will accept pre-applications for a potential spot on its waiting list for the program meant to help low-income families, the elderly, veterans, and people with disabilities afford housing. The commission will randomly select up to 400 names to create its new wait list. Applicants do not need to be residents of Taylor to apply. To apply, visit taylorhousing.org Applications being accepted PropserUs Detroit is hiring. The organization supports entrepreneurs with opportunities and capital needed to build businesses, generational wealth, and vibrant neighborhoods. ProsperUs is seeking applications for trainers to deliver a variety of programming, including entrepreneur training, subject-matter workshops, group technical assistance, and one-on-one coaching. Ideal candidates will have experience in entrepreneurship, knowledge of adult learning, and a commitment to equity and community impact. Visit ProsperUs Detroit’s Instagram page for a link to apply. Application window closes on January 11. Drop in temps tonight Watch out for a flash freeze tonight. Scattered showers throughout the day today are expected to create wind gusts picking up to about 40 mph by Friday morning. Temperatures are expected to quickly drop to below freezing overnight, increasing the potential of a flash freeze on the roads by Friday morning. Snow is also predicted through Friday morning.

Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield says she will retain Todd Bettison as the city’s police chief.   In a statement released Tuesday, Sheffield praised Bettison’s results – citing Detroit’s record drops in violent crime – including the lowest homicide rate since the mid-1960s.   Bettison had a 27-year long career in the police department, before becoming Detroit’s Deputy Mayor in 2022.  Mayor Duggan made him Police Chief earlier this year after former Chief James White left to become the head of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network.  Additional headlines from Wednesday, December 17, 2025 The Great Lakes Water Authority is starting a new project with the goal of alleviating sewage overflows in parts of Southwest Detroit.  The authority will hold a ceremony Thursday to launch the assembly and operation of a tunnel-boring machine. The tunnelling is scheduled to begin in the spring. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced a new housing development in Detroit’s North Corktown neighborhood.  The project will create 23 new apartments and retail space.  About 30% of the apartments will be classified as affordable housing. President Donald Trump says he will deliver an address to the nation tonight.  The live address from the White House takes place at 9 p.m. and will be available on select broadcast and online platforms. Just across the river, the Chaldean Association of Windsor is holding a special street renaming ceremony.  A section of Marentette Avenue will get the secondary name “Chaldean Way.”  The association says there are thousands of Chaldeans living in and around Windsor.  The event takes place at 3 p.m. on Friday. Many merchants around Detroit will be busier than normal as residents do their holiday shopping.  Many large retailers will have extended hours to accommodate additional shoppers.  Independent stores may have expanded hours too, but check before you go. And if you haven’t been downtown in a while, you can look for several new shops, especially along Woodward Avenue near the new Hudson’s building.  

Detroit mayor-elect Mary Sheffield has chosen her deputy mayor. Brian White has been her chief of staff during her time as city council president. White says he'll help Sheffield deliver on her promises to spread Detroit's growth into the neighborhoods.  Sheffield has also announced she will keep Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison in his position. In a press statemen the Sheffield transition team credited Bettison with a record drop in violent crime across the city. Sheffield said the chief has the “respect of his peers…the loyalty of the rank and file… and the hearts and trust of the people.”  Additional headlines from Tuesday, December 16, 2025 New federal bills would replicate a Michigan program to help with childcare in every state. The “tri-share” childcare program splits the cost of childcare between income-eligible families, employers and the state. Republican Representatives Hillary Scholten and John James co-sponsored the bill. Governor Gretchen Whitmer says improving Michigan's student reading skills will be her number one priority next year. She says she will share more details about her plans during her final State of the State address early next year. Kids Count ranked Michigan among the ten worst states in 4th and 8th grade reading scores.  Detroit attorney Maurice Morton joins the race for District 13 Representative. Morton will challenge Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar as an independent.  The state’s last virtual FAFSA webinar of 2025 is this week. The FAFSA is used by colleges and funding organizations to determine financial aid for students. The MiLEAP webinars also offer information on federal financial aid programs, state financial aid programs and resources for finding scholarships. The last FAFSA webinar of the year is Thursday, Dec.18 at 6:30 p.m. To register or to find a recording of a previous webinar, go here.

Arab American candidate Abbas Alawieh has announced that he’s running to become the next state senator in District 2. The newly drawn district includes Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and parts of Allen Park and Detroit.  Alawieh says he is running to uplift people’s voices.  “I want to become a state senator that wields the power of a movement of people that will come together around this campaign to say, hey, District 2 is here to play.  We're going to show up with our values, with our leverage, with our people power.”  Alawieh previously worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Representatives Andy Levin and Rashida Tlaib. He also served as chief of staff to Congresswoman Cori Bush.  Alawieh also co-founded the Uncommitted National Movement, which aimed to pressure then Presidential candidate Kamala Harris to address U.S. policy on the war in Gaza.  Additional headlines from Monday, December 15, 2025 Inaugural Rising Voices Artist & Creatives Cohort The Asian American civic engagement nonprofit “Rising Voices” has launched a new project.  The Rising Voices Artist & Creatives Cohort will sponsor four emerging creatives next year. Each artist will receive $2500 and a mentorship to create pieces for a gallery exhibition in July. The theme will be “Revolution, Resistance & Joy.”  The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 1. Winning artists will be announced in March, with work time between April and June.  Bus safety in Dearborn The City of Dearborn and the Dearborn Public Schools unveiled a new bus safety program today. The program detects and penalizes drivers who illegally pass school buses. About 40 million drivers in the U.S. illegally pass bus stops annually, leading to 2,200 violations. School buses in the city will be equipped with “BusPatrol” technology  which uses stop-arm enforcement cameras to record violations and report them to the Dearborn Police Department. The new features are part of an effort to increase traffic patrols and educate the public about how to keep children safe as they’re getting on and off school buses.  Hospitals make a call on vaccines Several Michigan hospital systems reportedly plan to disregard federal recommendations and continue giving infants the hepatitis B vaccine.  A federal advisory panel said earlier this month that doctors should wait to vaccinate babies against hepatitis B unless their mother tested positive for the disease.  Health experts warn that will lead to an increase in childhood liver disease. Evidence shows giving newborns the vaccine early is safe and has drastically reduced hepatitis B in kids.  The Detroit Free Press reports that Corewell, Henry Ford, McLaren, Munson and the University of Michigan health systems will continue to give the vaccine to children within the first day after they are born.  Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter and Pat Batcheller   Warming centers  The city of Detroit has opened warming centers to help residents escape the bitter cold. City officials say residents can escape the frigid conditions during the day at Detroit's recreation centers and public library branches. Overnight shelter is also available.  Those in need should call the Detroit Housing Resource Help Line for assistance at 866-313-2520 or online at detroitmi.gov.  People can also go to a Detroit police precinct.  Weather forecasters say the potentially life-threatening sub-zero wind chills are expected to abate later this week.  Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter 

The City of Detroit is activating warming centers in response to the extreme cold weather forecasted this weekend. The City has also declared a cold weather health emergency and is advising residents to remain safe. One of the warming centers is the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries on 13130 Woodard Ave. They are opening Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. through Tuesday Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. Residents in need can access the temporary overnight stand by shelter anytime by walking in without any referrals. You could also call the Detroit Housing Resource Help Line at 866-313-2520 which is operating 24/7 during this health emergency. For more information on helpline resources, respite locations and other warming centers go to detroitmi.gov. Additional headlines from Friday, December 12, 2025 Former Michigan coach faces criminal charges Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore will be arraigned in court Friday on stalking and home invasion charges. This happened just days after the shocking news of his firing from the Wolverines program over allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. According to prosecutors, he faces charges of home invasion in the third degree, stalking and breaking and entering or entering without breaking. The judge has agreed to a $25,000 cash surety bond, continuation of mental health treatment and a GPS tether for Moore, making it clear that any contact with the alleged victim would be a violation of the terms of his bail. More: Former U of M football coach Sherrone Moore arraigned in Washtenaw County Sports NFL The Detroit Lions have a reunion with former QB Matthew Stafford as they face the Los Angels Rams. If the Lions win on Sunday they will have a 72% chance of making it to the playoffs. If they lose, their chances drop to 42% according to NFL research. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. EST as SoFi Stadium. NBA The Pistons face the Atlanta Hawks today at Little Caesars Arena. The hometown heroes are currently number one in the Eastern Conference.  Tip off for Friday’s game is at 7:00 p.m. NHL The Red Wings face the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday Dec. 13 at the United Center. The game starts at 8 p.m. Chris Webber hosts basketball showcase And this Saturday, NBA Hall of famer, Detroit native and former Pistons during the 2007 Chris Webber, is hosting his Michigan basketball showcase this weekend. Basketball fans across the state will gather at the University of Detroit Mercy's historic Calihan Hall arena to witness the top girls and boys high school teams in Michigan. The boys event will be on Saturday Dec. 13 at noon and Sunday Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m. The girls event will be Sunday at noon. For more information go to udmercy.edu.

Detroit Public Schools officials want Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release four high school students the government is holding, including a star baseball player at Western International High School. Agents arrested Santiago Jesus Zamora Perez and his mother last weekend. Their lawyer says ICE is holding them in Texas. At a school board meeting Tuesday, students and teachers described a climate of fear at the school in Detroit's Mexicantown neighborhood. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says he and the school board will write a letter to ICE asking them to release the students it detained.  Additional headlines from Thursday, December 11, 2025 Kronk Gym reopens Detroit’s Kronk Gym officially reopened this month in the old rec center where Joe Luis trained. It’s now in the recently renovated Brewster-Wheeler recreation center. Kronk Gym was Founded by Emanuel Steward and trained dozens of world boxing champions including Thomas Hearns and Lennox Lewis.  Kronk Gym memberships range from $90 to $129 a month, with training and HIIT classes, or $35 a month for youth.  Human Rights Day march The social justice group CodePink Detroit will join a coalition of grassroots organizations for a Human Rights Day march this Saturday starting at Hart Plaza. The groups are calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and Military aid to Israel, abolishing ICE and ending National Guard presence in some U.S. Cities. The march begins at 2:00pm. For more information visit codepink.org/detroit1213.  Dearborn Heights tree lighting saved by local businessman Dearborn Heights came close to canceling it’s annual tree lighting ceremony this year but a local business man saved the day. City officials had ordered an artificial tree from China but the shipment ran into serious delays. The city decided to try to find a replacement tree, and businessman Sam Hussein helped pay for it. Hussein told Channel 7 he felt it was the right thing to do and was a great way to give back to his community. The tree lighting ceremony will take place Friday at 6:30 p.m. outside of the Dearborn Heights City Hall.  Season of Soul The Charles H Wright Museum’s Season of Soul is back! The daylong event is Sunday Dec. 14 starting at 10 a.m. The event falls on Second Sunday. The museum offers free admission on the second Sunday of every month. Activities include morning yoga, photos with Black Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a holiday silent disco. For more information, check out the events page on the museum’s website at thewright.org. 

Detroiters had to deal with a messy commute this morning – as snow overnight turned to rain, making a slushy mess on area roads and sidewalks.  While northern suburbs received as much as five inches of snow, the city got about two inches before rain moved in.  The National Weather Service says the rain is expected to turn back into snow this evening.  Temperatures will drop through the day as a cold front moves into town.  Make sure to shovel your sidewalks or driveways today, because any slush will freeze tonight, with lows dropping to around 19 degrees.  Highs for the rest of the week will only be in the 20s.    The Detroit Public Schools Community District closed today because of the weather.  Students, teachers and staff got to stay home and all district buildings remained closed.  Hundreds of other schools in metro Detroit were also closed today.  With temperatures expected to fall into the 20s over the next few days, the City of Detroit has put out a list of places where residents can warm up.  The city’s 13 recreation centers will be available.  Some will be open until 7 p.m.; others until 9 p.m.  Detroit Public Library branches are also places where you can go to warm up.  Additional headlines from Wednesday, December 10, 2025 Detroit casino earnings rise slightly  Detroit casinos brought in just over $108 million in revenue last month.  That’s up one-tenth of a percentage point from November 2024.  MGM Grand retained the top spot in Detroit with 47% of the market share.  Motor City had 30%.  Hollywood Casino at Greektown controlled 23% of the market.  The three casinos paid $13.2 million in taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit last month.  They paid another $8.6 million in taxes to the State of Michigan.   Kilpatrick wants restitution cut  Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick wants to have a federal judge reduce his restitution payments.  Kilpatrick appeared on WJR saying assets previously seized and restitution already paid should cover the remainder of what he owes the city.  The Detroit News reports Kilpatrick owed the city hundreds of thousands of dollars last year at this time.  He was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison on racketeering conspiracy and other charges, but President Trump commuted his sentence in 2021.    Court refuses to block marijuana tax  A Michigan Court of Claims judge has declined to block a 24% wholesale tax on marijuana in the state less than a month before it’s scheduled to go into effect. However, Judge Sima Patel allowed the challenge to the tax to proceed. The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association claims the new tax is unconstitutional because it improperly alters a 2018 ballot measure that legalized the drug. Patel disagreed, writing that the new law was “another tax,” not an amendment to the ballot measure.   Detroit celebrates free “Rides to Care”  The City of Detroit is celebrating its “Rides to Care” program.  Over the past year, the service has provided more than 20,000 free roundtrip rides for pregnant women and caregivers of babies up to a year old to get to medical appointments.  The goal of the program is to make it easier for those women to get to important prenatal and early childhood medical care. 

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan gave his exit interview at the Detroit Economic Club Monday. He says he doesn’t plan to align himself with either party’s congressional races during his campaign for governor in 2026. Duggan was a lifelong Democrat until he decided to run for Whitmer’s seat. He says he’s not worried about how Michiganders vote in the U.S. House races. "I am going to work with the people in both parties to get results that won't get reversed every two years as the state flips back and forth. I'm going to try to do what I did in Detroit, convince people that actually solving problems is better politics than tearing each other down." Duggan says he plans to run his campaign for governor just like he ran his campaign for mayor—by meeting with voters directly. His term as mayor ends in January.  Additional headlines from Tuesday, December 9, 2025 Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield got married over the weekend. Her transition team confirmed social media chatter, saying she and Ricke Jackson, Jr. tied the knot in a private ceremony at The Godfrey Hotel on Sunday. Hanukkah starts Sunday and that means Menorah in the D! This will be the 15th annual lighting of the 26 foot menorah. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. with the menorah lighting at 5:30 p.m. The City of Pontiac will celebrate several new additions to its downtown business community tomorrow with a “mass ribbon cutting.” Eight new businesses will be welcomed to North Saginaw Street with ceremonies starting between noon and 4:00 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. there will be a celebration of the one year anniversary of interior design firm Designed Mindfully. Admission to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and the Detroit Historical Museum is free Sunday, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 this month. You can find information about exhibits at both museums at detroithistorical.org.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services plans to invest $38 million in housing support for Michigan residents recovering from substance abuse disorder. The funding is a part of the allocated Substance Abuse Disorder prevention measures for harm reduction, treatment and recovery services. The state recently found about 7,500 people left treatment without stable housing. The funding will support about 3,400 recovery housing beds by 2028—a 40% increase. Michigan will receive $1.8 billion from opioid settlements by the year 2040. Half of the funding will be distributed to the State of Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund while the other half will be distributed to county, city and township governments.   The Michigan Association of Recovery Residencies survey found that providing recovery housing assistance helped people get and keep a job as part of their road to recovery.   Additional headlines from Monday, December 8, 2025 HEALTH INSURANCE  There’s about a month left to apply for health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is reminding Michigan residents to purchase health insurance by Dec. 15 to have coverage by January 1. People who apply after that by January 15 will not get coverage until Feb. 1. DIFS Director Anita Fox says people should shop around for the most cost-effective plan with the best coverage. People can visit healthcare.gov or call 800-318-2596 for assistance.   LONELINESS IS ON THE RISE FOR ADULTS  A recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons or AARP found loneliness among adults 45 years and older increased to about 40%. That’s a 5% increase since 2018.   Heather Nawrocki is the Vice President of Fun and Fulfillment for AARP. She says people have fewer friends and their social networks are smaller than they used to be. She says men have higher rates of loneliness compared to women.  “They're just not getting out of the house as much. They don't have as many close friends and they're not joining community organizations, clubs or pursuing interests with others the same way as perhaps they did before.”   Nawrocki says the study also found people are volunteering less frequently, leading to less social interaction.  She says it's important to check on friends and loved ones to rekindle relationships for social health which also impacts health, happiness, and longevity.  Film Detroit  Film Detroit is hosting a free film experience this month. Attendees will learn how to build video production skills, including how to create trailers and teasers. People will also be able to sing karaoke with the Karaoke Kingz. They will have access to onsite film resources and permit support. The event takes place Dec. 22 from 5-8 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center located at 18100 Meyers Rd. Visit detroitmi.gov/filmdetroit for more information.  

Detroit rapper Big Sean and music legend Usher are partnering to invest in a new $1 million entertainment production facility for Detroit youth. It will be called the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator and will be located inside the new Boys and Girls Club at Michigan Central. The program will give young people from the ages of 14 to 24 access to a virtual production studio, special effects lab, creators lounge and more. Both artists grew up going to Boys and Girls Clubs and are looking to give back with this effort. The new Boys and Girls Club location is slated to officially open with a ribbon cutting ceremony in February according to a statement from representatives. Additional headlines from Friday, December 5, 2025 Respite centers As the weather drops, the city is reminding Detroiters in need that there are respite centers available. Recreation centers and public libraries serve as respite centers during their regular operating hours. Some of the locations open this weekend include the Coleman A young Recreation Center at 2751 Robert Bradby, the Kemeny Recreation Center at 2260 S. Fort and the Bowen Branch of the Detroit Public Library at 3648 Vernor Hwy. For more locations and more information go to detroitmi.gov. City seeks sculptor The city of Detroit is looking for someone to sculpt a second statue of Joe Louis that honors his achievements outside the boxing ring. Officials already unveiled the first statue celebrating the Brown Bomber's contributions to golf. He was the first amateur Black golfer to play in a PGA-sanctioned event. The new statue will pay tribute to his impact on equestrian sports. Louis bought a horse farm in Shelby Township in 1939 and created the nation's first horse show featuring Black riders and trainers. Mahmood sues to count disqualified Hamtramck ballots In Hamtramck mayoral candidate Adam Alharbi was deemed the winner by 11 votes after a recount this week. But the race may not be over yet. Alharbi's opponent Muith Mahmood filed a lawsuit arguing that the city should count all 37 votes that were disqualified. The ballots were found improperly stored in the City Clerk's office and were excluded from the final count after the Wayne County Board of Canvassers deadlocked on the issue. Former Michigan state elections director Chris Thomas says although there is a security concern about how the ballots were handled Hamtramck residents should not be penalized. "Apparently these envelopes were received, their date, time and date stamped. The signatures were compared and found to be valid. So these voters have been disenfranchised, so there's no question about that. And the question before the court is, what are you going to do for these voters?" Another hearing is scheduled to settle the issue. Sports NFL The Lions bounce back from their Thanksgiving loss with a win against the Dallas Cowboys last night with the score of 44-30. The Lions haven’t had back-to-back losses since the 2022 season and now tie the all-time NFL record with 15 Straight wins after a loss. They look to continue their playoff hopes as they face the Rams on Sunday December 14th. NBA The Pistons have back to back matchups as they face the Portland Trail Blazers today at 7:30pm and the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be at Little Caesars Arena. NHL And the Red Wings fell to The Columbus Blue Jackets last night with a 6-5 loss. They hope to bounce back against the Seattle Krakens tomorrow at Climate Pledge Arena. Game starts at 10:00 p.m. EST. Merry Midtown Tomorrow the city will be merry with the first ever Merry Midtown event. There will be dining and shopping experiences, Santa sightings, Christmas music, a roaming photo booth and more. For more information go to citybirddetroit.com.

State energy regulators heard from people last night who oppose a large data center project near Saline. The Michigan Public Service Commission held a virtual hearing on DTE Energy’s request to fast-track contracts with the project’s developers.   The data center would require DTE Energy to substantially increase its peak electrical load. The company says that won’t raise customer’s rate.   Opponents say the facility would draw almost as much power as the city of Detroit.   Protestors rallied Wednesday in Beacon Park near DTE Headquarters.   More: Michiganders urge regulators not to rush approval for data center power plan DTE said the data center’s operators would pay for the energy they use, almost 1.5 gigawatts.  Additional headlines from Thursday, December 4, 2025 VERDAD tool Wayne State’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights received a $350 thousand grant for its AI powered tool “VERDAD", which stands for Verifying and Exposing Disinformation and Discourse.”  VERDAD founder and journalist Martina Guzman says the tool started monitoring ethnic radio stations for disinformation in Latino communities.   More: VERDAD disinformation monitoring AI tool receives grant to expand services Since VERDAD launched last year, more than 320 academics and journalists have registered to use the free tool. It will expand to all 50 states in multiple languages, including Arabic, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese.   Robocop statue A long awaited 11-foot-tall bronze sculpture of Robocop has finally taken its permanent place in Eastern Market. The statue is located at 3434 Russell St.  

A recount in the Hamtramck race for mayor shows that Adam Alharbi has won the election.  Alharbi beat City Councilman Muhith Mahmood by just 11 votes.   Muhith requested a recount because the initial margin of victory was so small.  The Wayne County Board of Canvassers recounted just over 4,000 ballots by hand Tuesday.  Legal action continues in the case, though.  Mahmood has sued, claiming that 37 ballots found in the City Clerk’s office after the election should be counted.  Additional headlines from Wednesday, December 3, 2025 Master Plan Meetings  The City of Detroit is holding a series of meetings this week to give residents more information on its 20-year master plan. The meetings, held by the Planning and Development Department, will also give Detroiters a chance to provide their input on proposals for land use in parts of the city.  There’s a meeting for east siders tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Farwell Recreation Center on East Outer Drive.  Another takes place at 6 p.m. Thursday in Southwest Detroit at the Patton Recreation Center on Woodmere.  A virtual Zoom meeting will be held on Monday, December 9th.  Passcode: 900187 Detroit voter suppression sentence  Two conservative political operatives have been sentenced to probation in a scheme to discourage Black Detroiters from voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election. This week’s sentencing was the last court hearing for Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman in a multistate effort to generate and distribute thousands of robocalls. The pair were accused of creating robocalls that warned people they could be questioned by police, debt collectors and vaccine advocates if they voted by mail. Wohl and Burkman pleaded no contest to several crimes after unsuccessfully challenging the charges on free speech grounds. Ambassador Bridge fee rises  The price for crossing the Ambassador Bridge will rise next year.  Tolls for passenger vehicles traveling across the international bridge between Detroit and Windsor will rise to $10 each way starting January first.  That’s up from $9 right now.  For motorists paying in Canadian funds, the toll jumps from $12 CDN to $14.  State of Macomb address  Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel will deliver his State of the County address tonight. He’ll speak to an invitation-only crowd at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Clinton Township.  He’s expected to review events of the past year and preview the year to come.  Macomb County’s Black population is now at 12.4%.  That’s up from just around 1% in 1970.  Tonight’s speech is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.  You can watch it live at WDET.org.  Cold spell coming  Detroiters should brace for a deep cold spell over the next few days.  The National Weather Service says the worst of it in the short run will be now through Friday night.  Lows tonight are forecasted to be around 15 degrees.  Highs tomorrow and Friday will only rise into the mid-20s.  Lows Thursday night will drop to around 6 degrees with wind chills of -2.   If you’re headed outside, dress in layers.  Make sure you have a hat and gloves to keep you warm and avoid frostbite.

Merchants and organizations in the midtown area have organized a holiday event to keep the spirit of Noel Night going. The annual event’s 51st run has been canceled. But almost 60 shops, restaurants, and community organizations have come together to launch “Merry Midtown” in the spirit of Noel Night. City Bird’s Andy Linn says there will be concerts at the Detroit School of the Arts, exhibits at Wayne State, DJs at several sites and more. “And there’s going to be pop up markets at about a dozen of the larger businesses including a really cool vintage and flea market at the majestic. And then there’s going to be live music at a number of locations including Red Hook and Motor City Brewing Works. There’s going to be so many little surprises.” Business owners say Noel Night is often one of the most lucrative of the whole year – and also when many people discover small businesses in the area. They hope it returns next year, but Merry Midtown may also be here to stay. For more information about Merry Midtown events visit citybirddetroit.com/events.  Additional headlines from Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Detroit has welcomed three new lions at the Detroit Zoo. Pontiac is hosting its 44th Holiday Extravaganza Saturday. There will be a 5K Elf Run, a “Run, Little Elf” Run, a holiday parade, pony rides, winter festival, a visit from the Clauses and more. The event is a holiday celebration for Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Waterford and White Lake. It starts at 8 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. around Saginaw Street in downtown Pontiac. This fall was metro Detroit's driest autumn since 1998. The National Weather Service's preliminary data show we got just over four inches of rain, the least amount of precipitation for any fall this century.

Packard Plant  Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield announced plans to redevelop the vacant Packard Plant today. The former auto factory near West Grand Boulevard and East Palmer has been empty for more than 60 years and became a symbol of the city's blight— sometimes attracting outsiders to take pictures of its crumbling walls.  The city demolished portions of it to make way for new development, including a new 400-thousand square foot manufacturing center.  Part of the changes include reactivating 28 acres of the former site for a public, private and philanthropic partnership. The changes include adding 42 affordable housing units, Detroit’s first indoor skate park and creative community programming areas. There will also be two acres of indoor and outdoor public spaces.  The project is estimated at $50 million. The Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation is the nonprofit partner and fiduciary. The project is expected to be completed by 2029.  Additional headlines for December 1, 2025 December starts cold  December starts cold with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below normal this week. The National Weather Service's winter outlook for southeast Michigan calls for temps close to normal and above-average precipitation. Meteorologist Trent Frey says La Niña, a cool patch of water in the eastern Pacific Ocean, could bring us more rain and snow.  "It is important to note that every La Niña is unique. So like I said. The odds are kind of tilted towards the wetter signal, and there isn't really a tilt for temperatures. But since it is unique each season, you know these outcomes aren't necessarily guaranteed."  On average, Metro Detroit gets 45 inches of snow each winter. 29 inches fell last winter. It's been eight years since we saw above-average snowfall.  Reporting by Russ McNamara Detroit teens detained by ICE  Detroit teens recently hosted a press conference to call for the release of two classmates from Western International High School from ICE detention. The detained teens and two of their parents were picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials last Thursday morning and are now being held in a Texas detention center, reports Chalkbeat Detroit. Students say they are worried about going to school or being outside due to the recent surge of detentions. ICE arrested the four individuals while they were sleeping, despite them having pending asylum cases. Students at the press conference also called on officials to do more to protect students, including having an immigration attorney on retainer at the school to help students.  Rising Star Scholarship  An armored vehicle company is offering its “Rising Star” scholarship. The scholarship will support two students pursuing secondary education in engineering or business, finance, or law. It aims to recognize students who demonstrate strong academic performance and leadership skills in engineering and business. Each scholarship is $2500. The scholarship is open to students enrolled full-time in an accredited university in the U.S. or Canada. Students must have a 75 percent average with valid citizenship, residency or study permit requirements and write an essay. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in March 2026. For more information, visit https://inkasarmored.com/inkas-rising-star-scholarship-program/

Detroiters are getting ready for the annual Thanksgiving Day parade.  The event brings floats, singing acts, and clowns down Woodward Avenue – culminating in the arrival of Santa around noon.   The parade kicks off just before 9 a.m.  For those of you who don’t want to deal with the crowds or the traffic or the cold, you can watch it in your pajamas on WDIV-TV.  The parade is leading to some road closures downtown.  Woodward will be closed, starting today, from Grand Boulevard all the way down to Jefferson as workers prepare the route for tomorrow’s event.   If you’re headed downtown, parking meters will be free tomorrow and Friday.  Just make sure you’re not parking somewhere illegally.  And the People Mover is up and running again to get you around downtown. Additional headlines for Wednesday, November 26, 2025 The Lions host the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field this Thanksgiving. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. Thanksgiving travel is expected to reach new records, with Wednesday afternoon and Sunday being busiest. Gas is down by 10 cents in metro Detroit.  Black Friday is fast approaching. Consider shopping at local businesses, who say that support makes a huge difference.  The University of Michigan plays rival Ohio State on Saturday.  

The Detroit Department of Transportation will be adding 53 new buses to its fleet thanks to a $50 million federal grant. That’s in addition to the 76 busses DDOT purchased in the last two years.  Mayor Mike Duggan says the new purchase will replace more than 40% of Detroit's bus fleet. Many of the new buses will operate out of the $160 million rebuilt Coolidge Terminal on Detroit's west side.   Additional headlines from Tuesday, November 25, 2025 Michigan's Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce is making its final recommendations, including giving out free gun locks and banning certain weapons, as well as suggesting standardized training for school resource officers and a school safety tip hotline. Pro-gun lawmakers disagree with some goals, like raising the age requirement to purchase a fire arm and banning high capacity magazines.  Former Detroit Pistons star Chauncey Billups pleads not guily to charges that he conspired with the Mafia to rig poker games. Both the money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy charges agsint him carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  With no Noel Night this year, Merry Midtown and A Noel Afternoon at the Detroit Public Library are going to bring some festive cheer.