Detroit Police and the Detroit Fire Department are hosting Public Safety Fun Day at Palmer Park tomorrow, Aug. 15. The free community event is an effort to strengthen relationships between first responders and residents.

The event was originally set for July but was postponed because of unsafe air from Canadian wildfires.

Activities include hands-only CPR training, a meet-and-greet with Detroit police officers, safety education, voter registration and more.

For more information, go to DetroitMI.gov.

Detroit employees receive first checks under new livable wage

The City of Detroit celebrated city employees receiving their first “livable wage” checks in a video on its YouTube channel.

In the spring of 2026, Mayor Mary Sheffield signed an executive order mandating that city employees be paid no less than $21.45 per hour, or $44,616 annually.

All full-time, budgeted positions in departments under the executive branch of city government are included in the new livable wage, as well as employees of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. That includes more than 1,100 people.

In the YouTube video, Sheffield marked the achievement:

“Economic growth is not measured only in the buildings that we construct. We also must invest in the people who make this city work every single day.”

The increase amounts to an average annual salary increase of $6,400.

Lions fall to Bengals in preseason matchup

The NFL season is here. Well, the preseason, at least. The Lions had their first test yesterday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Lions lost 16-14, but standout Ahmed Hassanein showed up with a sack on starting quarterback Joe Burrow. He says he envisioned the moment before the game.

“I truly, truly prayed about it and I manifested it. And I said, ‘I’m going to sack him,’ before the game. And Coach Campbell said the same thing. I just kept telling my wife, ‘I’m going to sack Joe Burrow, I’m going to get him.’ I just kept talking to God about it, and it truly just happened.”

The Lions’ next preseason game is Aug. 22 against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field.

Tigers look to climb AL Central standings

The Tigers have managed to claw their way into second place in the American League Central and hope to continue their climb against the Chicago White Sox this weekend.

First pitch for tonight’s game is at 6:40 p.m. at Comerica Park.

Detroit City FC hosts Loudoun United

Detroit City FC faces Loudoun United FC tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Keyworth Stadium.

J. Cole brings Fall-Off Tour to Detroit

And this Sunday, the Ville comes to the Motor City as J. Cole is slated to perform at Little Caesars Arena.

The Detroit stop is part of J. Cole’s Fall-Off Tour, supporting what he has said will be his final album.

The show starts at 9:30 p.m.

Hockeytown is getting a new team.  Officials from Ilitch Sports and Entertainment announced today that Detroit is getting a Professional Women’s Hockey League expansion team.  

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and others attended a news conference Wednesday just outside of Little Caesars Arena.  Sheffield says the new team means something special to her as Detroit’s first woman mayor.  “This moment is especially meaningful to me.  It represents the progress we are making as a city to ensure that women and girls are seen, supported, and given the opportunity to shine at the highest level.”   

Detroit’s new team, which doesn’t have a name yet, will start play in the fall.  The league will hold its national draft in Detroit in mid-June. 

Additional headlines from Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Dearborn chooses superintendent 

Dearborn has selected a new school superintendent.  The district has offered the top job to Mike Esseily.  He currently serves as the district’s Director of Special Populations.  That means he oversees special education, English language learner programs and mental health initiatives.  He’s worked in different positions in the Dearborn school system since 2007. 

The school board and Esseily are in the midst of contract negotiations.  The district says he’s expected to start in July. 

WXYZ TV-7 returns to Xfinity 

Metro Detroiters who have Xfinity for their cable service will be able to watch a local television channel once again.  A contract dispute between the cable provider and E.W. Scripps kept subscribers from watching WXYZ-TV 7 for several weeks.  That meant no access to the Southfield station’s national or local news or entertainment programming, including one of the Pistons’ nationally-televised playoff games.  

Customers were told at the beginning of the contract dispute that they could get an over-the-air TV antenna to watch Channel 7 at an additional cost, or watch on certain streaming services. 

Gas prices update 

Metro Detroit gas prices average $4.80 per gallon today.  That’s up 55 cents from just a week ago.  Crude oil prices remain at more than $100 per barrel, keeping fuel costs high.  

Negotiations reportedly are underway to end hostilities with Iran, but the Strait of Hormuz remains closed at this point, meaning oil tankers are not traveling the waterway as normal yet. 

Pistons win opening game of round two 

Pistons fans in Detroit are celebrating today.  The team won its first game in the second round of the NBA playoffs Tuesday night, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 111 – 101 at Little Caesars Arena.  

Cade Cunningham scored 23 points in the victory.  The Pistons built up a double-digit lead early, but let it slip away during the course of the game. 

The score at one point in the fourth quarter was tied at 93, but Detroit pulled away to secure the victory.  Game two in the best-of-seven series takes place Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena. 

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