Simone Sagovac, director of the Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition, is being recognized for her work with Trucks Off Our Streets.
The impact of truck traffic
She says the work began a few years ago to get protections to prevent truck routes from going through neighborhoods.
“On some of the streets, there were ranging between 500 and even up to 1,200 semi trucks, and we’re talking heavy-duty semi trucks that are part of our global economy here, and they were cutting through our neighborhood streets,” she says.
Sagovac says the trucks cause damage, emit emissions, and cause health impacts.
“There’s just a whole array of issues on top of the safety issues of living with trucks and people not being able to have kids play in the yards… we knew that it needed a larger strategy, so we formed the Trucks Off Our Streets Coalition that has representation from across all of the city districts,” she explains.
She says the organizations are rooted in the community that works with residents directly on issues related to trucks in the industry, air pollution and health.
Study underscores the issue
The work resulted in the Southwest Detroit Truck Route Implementation Study, a pilot program to create the first designated truck route network by placing signs in the city. It was developed by the Southwest Detroit Truck Network Implementation Study in 2024 to manage truck activity and reduce traffic impacts in Southwest Detroit.
Sagovac says Detroit communities are dealing with high environmental impacts, resulting in high rates of asthma and hospitalizations.
“From our data, children under 18 living next to a truck route have 68% higher asthma rates, so it is really significant, and it’s something that is within local control to address by having more sensible, healthier truck routes, and there are other strategies too,” she expresses.
Her response to the recognition
Sagovac says she’s grateful for receiving an award, but she says it’s a community effort.
“First, it’s very surprising to be recognized, but it’s not surprising for all of the work that so many in the community have done over these years,” she shares.
Although Sagovac is not Latina, she says receiving an award feels validating that her work is making a difference.
“It’s an incredible honor, probably the biggest honor to be recognized by people in the community. I feel like it validates something that’s really important to me, which is trust,” she says.
She says she’s happy to be a part of moving the work forward.
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Plans for a federal immigration detention center in Romulus appear to be dead.
The Department of Homeland Security planned to house up to 500 detainees at a warehouse. But local residents and immigrants’ rights groups opposed those plans.
The New York Times is reporting the Romulus location is one of seven nationwide ICE is looking to sell. The agency spent more than $700 million buying warehouses to house detainees rounded up as part of a nationwide crackdown on undocumented individuals.
Back in March, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed suit to block the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.
“Together we showed the federal government that they cannot come into Michigan, break our laws, disrupt our communities and expect us to sit on our hands,” Nessel said in a video statement on Thursday.
ICE’s decision to scrap its plans for a Romulus detention center is being greeted warmly by local officials.
“We want to thank DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin for listening to us and taking into consideration the issues that would have made this the wrong location for a detention facility,” said Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight in a press release.
Protesters wait to be let in at the Romulus City Council meeting. Most are turned away, told that the room already reached capacity.
“The City’s position should not be confused with opposition to responsible enforcement of our country’s laws. Instead, the facility’s proximity to residential neighborhoods, schools, and wetlands made it the wrong location. Locating a facility like this in our community would have been an incredible burden on our already limited public safety resources and a violation of our zoning ordinance,” McCraight said.
Nessel said the AG’s office will keep the lawsuit against ICE active until the paperwork for the sale of the property is complete and it’s official that DHS and ICE will not use the property for a detention center.
State Representative Dylan Wegela represents Romulus. He says this is a win for are residents, but the fight isn’t over.
“We are still seeing increased funding. We are still seeing ICE operate in ways that we do not want to see. They’re taking illegal actions, repeatedly losing in court, and we got to keep fighting back,” he said in an interview with WDET on Thursday evening.
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Over the past month, Michigan’s U.S. Senate race has emerged as one of the most competitive contests in the country. This week on WDET’s MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben break down the major developments that have shaped the race.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens appear to have pulled ahead of state Sen. Mallory McMorrow. Fellow state Sen. Sam Singh said he still hopes McMorrow can gain ground before the primary election.
“What we are seeing right now is significant investment by outside groups [supporting Dr. El-Sayed and Rep. Stevens]. My understanding is that McMorrow has some independent expenditures that are happening. Now that people are spending real money, I think you’ll begin to see a clear path.”
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Detroit Council Member Mary Waters has launched a write-in campaign for Michigan’s 13th congressional district.
Waters said in a statement that the people of Michigan deserve a representative who understands that public service is about delivering results, not chasing headlines. Her campaign focuses on lowering the cost of living, protecting seniors, and bringing critical federal resources back.
She originally launched a campaign last month but was disqualified for a lack of signatures.
Additional headlines for Thursday, June 18, 2026
Overdose rates decline
Michigan overdose death rate has declined by 47% since 2021 according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. Preliminary data suggests overdose deaths have continued to decline for the fourth year in a row.
The department attributes the decline to strategic investments largely funded by opioid settlements prioritizing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. The efforts include expanding harm reduction sites from 5 to 115 in 2025, and distributing over 1.8 million free naloxone kits, which resulted in nearly 34,000 reported overdose reversals.
Summer learning program enrollment closes soon
Enrollment for Summer Discovery, a no cost summer learning program, is closing soon. Put on by United Way of Southeastern Michigan and the Ballmer group, Summer Discovery connects students entering kindergarten through 10th grade with learning and enrichment opportunities. Spots are still available at Detroit Public Schools Community District sites, Detroit Police Athletic league, Brilliant Detroit and more.
The program is open to all students across Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties. To apply visit summerdiscoverymi.org.
Recall on Orb Funkee squeeze toys
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging is families to check their children’s toy boxes for Orb Funkee Monkee squeeze toys. The toy has been recalled because they may be filled with sand contaminated by asbestos.
The recall is for toys purchased from Walmart or Ollie’s Bargain Outlet stores between February 2025 and April 2026. Asbestos comes from minerals that create thin fibers when they crystallize and pose a human health risk when they enter the air.
As of June 18, the state health department had not received any reports of illness or injuries tied to these toys.
Metroparks survey
Huron-Clinton Metroparks is asking community members to fill out a survey to provide feedback about some of their parks. That includes the Lake St. Clair, Stoney Creek and Wolcott Mill Metroparks. It’s part of an effort to update their Park Master Plans to guide future projects, investments and facilities improvements.
The surveys are open until Wednesday, July 15.
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After another year of standout reporting, storytelling and music programming, WDET has earned more than 40 awards from some of the industry’s most respected journalism and broadcasting organizations.
“It’s a great honor for the WDET staff to receive these awards. We work long hours to bring Detroiters the news, music and conversation that they deserve,” said News Director Jerome Vaughn. “Despite the challenges we face, we will continue providing listeners with the information they need to understand what’s going on in the region and make informed decisions in the voting booth.”
Leading the honors is a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, one of broadcast journalism’s most prestigious recognitions. WDET also received awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Society of Professional Journalists, Public Media Journalists Association and the National Headliner Awards.
The awards reflect the scope of WDET’s work, recognizing excellence in journalism, music programming, digital content and community storytelling.
Station Manager Mary Zatina feels that the awards WDET received reflects the importance of quality local journalism. “I am super proud of the WDET team. These awards from external experts underscore that the station staff are truly fulfilling our mission of community service and doing so with professionalism and excellence.”
Local-interest series such as “Citizen Vox Project,” “CuriosiD” and the culture-focused “Container on The Metro” were among the recognized projects, alongside award-winning reporting from programs including “The Metro,” “All Things Considered: Detroit” and “Morning Edition Detroit.”
“These awards reflect the talent, diligence and creativity of our entire team. Whether it’s local journalism, music programming or community storytelling, our staff works every day to create content that is distinctly Detroit and deeply connected to the people we serve. It’s gratifying to see that work recognized by our peers,” said Program Director Adam Fox.
Pat Batcheller wins the Region 7 Murrow for ‘Morning Edition Detroit’ newscast
The award-winning 7 a.m. broadcast of “Morning Edition Detroit” on Oct. 16, 2025, featured coverage of Detroit’s mayoral debate and residents’ reactions, city beautification efforts and other local news from across the region.
As in all of his broadcasts, Batcheller navigates seamlessly between news, weather and traffic, demonstrating the skill and versatility of a seasoned host and trusted reporter.
“Our newscasts are a team effort. I’m grateful to work with journalists who go out and get good stories and bring people’s voices into our daily coverage of what’s happening in our community,” said Batcheller.
This marks his first Murrow Award.
Local Awards
Society of Professional Journalist awards
The Society of Professional Journalists honored WDET journalists with first place in several reporting categories, such as arts, auto, investigative, education, sports and more. Stories documenting ICE detention and global conflict from local perspectives spoke to the key issues of today, earning The Metro several awards.
Newscast 8:04 a.m. WDET news 02/18/25 Pat Batcheller
Michigan Association of Broadcasters
The Michigan Association of Broadcasters recognized WDET’s work in the social sphere and gave a nod to music shows like Waajeed’s The Boulevard and Mike Latulippe’s The Detroit Move— a great send off to the latter show, which retired this past winter.
Founded in 1934 by the Press Club of Atlantic City, the National Headliner Awards are among the oldest and most respected journalism competitions in the country. Earning national recognition in the contest is an achievement in itself, and WDET received two awards this year.
The Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) champions journalistic excellence across public media, honoring journalists whose work informs, engages and empowers their communities. The national awards program recognizes some of the best reporting and storytelling from stations across the country. This year, WDET earned five PMJA awards, highlighting the impact of its journalism and community-focused programming.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
Celebrate Juneteenth along the Detroit riverfront with an afternoon of music, storytelling, art and community reflection. The free event explores Detroit’s history, culture and resilience through African drumming and dance, poetry, spoken word performances and conversations with local artists and community members.
Attendees can also browse the Michigan Black Business Alliance Vendor Market, enjoy arts and crafts activities, take guided tours of the Stories of Us exhibit and purchase food and beverages from local vendors.
Celebrate Juneteenth at Detroit’s original Juneteenth Parade & Celebration, now in its fourth year. The community event features a parade and festivities honoring Black history, culture and freedom in the heart of Midtown.
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2080 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit Friday, June 19 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free
Celebrate Juneteenth with a day of history, culture and community at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The annual event features family-friendly activities, educational programs, live performances and interactive experiences that honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrate the contributions of Black communities.
Highlights include crafts and games, a community quilting workshop, book giveaways, film screenings, cooking demonstrations, cultural presentations and a closing concert by Mollywop! Visitors can also take part in discussions focused on history, health, food and freedom.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit Friday, June 19 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$15
Join Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO) for a Juneteenth celebration featuring a community parade, live music and family-friendly activities. The event includes performances by local artists, including Big Chuck and InspiHER, along with free food, giveaways and youth-focused activities.
Parade begins at Livernois and Grand River and ends at Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield Bridge Center Library, 9928 Grand River Ave., Detroit Friday, June 19 | Starting at 10 a.m. Free
Support local entrepreneurs and sample a variety of homemade foods at the Juneteenth Market & Cottage Food Tasting Fair. Hosted by the Brightmoor Artisans Collective, the event showcases Black-owned businesses, local food makers and community vendors in a family-friendly outdoor market setting.
Brightmoor Artisans Collective, 22735 Fenkell Ave., Detroit Friday, June 19 | 3 p.m. Free
Celebrate Juneteenth with an evening of live music, comedy, food and community at the 4th Annual Juneteenth Music Festival Detroit. The outdoor event commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Texas more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The festival features performances by G-Note-7, The James Shelton Band, comedian Josh Adams, JD Green, Quest Mcody, Galaxy the Poet and other local artists. Food is included with admission.
Boston-Edison Historic District Friday, June 19 | 5-11 p.m. $35
Celebrate Juneteenth at this annual community gathering in Oakland County. The family-friendly event features live music, dancing, food, networking opportunities and activities for children, all designed to create the feel of a traditional family reunion while honoring Black culture and community.
Goldengate Park, 18890 Rainbow Drive, Lathrup Village Saturday, June 20 | Noon Free
Mt. Arvon, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is the highest natural point in the state.
It’s also a draw for prospective developers.
But the private company Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands aims to keep that peak pristine with only minimal cutting for maintenance.
It’s part of a conservation easement affecting about 73,000 acres of land in the area.
Lyme’s co-General Manager Amber Marchel says the effort is a balancing act between protecting forestland and safeguarding Michigan’s logging industry.
(Interview edited for length and clarity.)
Amber Marchel: This is a working forest conservation easement. So not only is Mt. Arvon involved but there’s actually a larger set of acreages, 73,000 roughly, that’s going to be protected by this. And Mt. Arvon is one of the great scenic parts of it. But there’s a lot of other types of habitats as well. This includes things like moose habitat, deer wintering complexes, a magnitude of rivers, lakes, streams. And then also protection around the Yellow Dog River Corridor and special trout streams as well. This conservation easement was put into place between Lyme and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources with the goal of ensuring it stays as a working forest into perpetuity. To put it plainly, it’s not that the land is being locked up, it’s just making sure that it’s a forest forever. And then still have it actively managed and accessible by the public for numerous types of recreation, things like fishing, hunting, kayaking, ATV and snowmobile use. All will be protected under this easement.
Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: Why did you guys decide to do this?
AM: First and foremost, it’s gonna protect this large swath of land forever and keep it as a working forest. We hear a lot about folks moving to Michigan from other parts of the country. There’s definitely an increased real estate pressure in this area. It’s not uncommon for large blocks of land to be parceled up over time and that makes management more difficult from both a forestry perspective and from a wildlife landscape level perspective. So this project ensures that it’s never gonna be subdivided, never gonna be fragmented, it’s always gonna be kept as a working forest. What does that do? It balances conservation and the working forest economy here in Michigan. It’s gonna support local mills, logging contractors and the regional forest economy, which is about a $27 billion-dollar industry in Michigan. So it’s a big deal up here and that’s what this forest conservation easement aims to protect. It’s going to make sure that those jobs and the forest that they’re tied to remain together into perpetuity.
QK: How will it protect jobs? If you’re going to have a certain area that should be left alone so that it becomes old growth forest, then no one’s able to use that for logging or other timber-related things.
AM: There are parts of the easement that are going to have less active management. One of those areas is Mt. Arvon specifically. That’s a very rare location. It’s Michigan’s highest natural point. There are certain protections up there that’s gonna really minimize management. So that might seem counterintuitive, thinking how can we protect jobs if areas aren’t gonna be harvested? But that’s a very small portion of this 73,000 acres in total. So the way that it facilitates those jobs over time is that it makes sure it’s a large block of land. You’re not dealing with fragmentation where maybe 40 or 80 acres gets sold off, therefore making even access and very simple things to facilitate timber management difficult over time. This ensures that whole block is together in perpetuity. There are parts of the easement that do limit management to some extent, but they’re pretty isolated. And one of those is on the top of Mt. Arvon, to ensure we protect some of the scenic value and the overlook area.
QK: President Trump had enacted tariffs on Canadian lumber, which many U.S. home builders relied on. He said they could make it up by harvesting more from U.S. forests. Given that, has there been any reaction from the logging industry in your area to maintaining this forest on Mt. Arvon or to conservation moves in general?
AM: For the forest products economy here in Michigan, we’re actually quite fortunate. It’s still a struggle with rising costs, especially fuel as of late. But we do have a pretty robust forest products industry here. We’re very fortunate to have a lot of sawmills within striking distance of this conservation easement. Not only sawmills, but pulp mills are especially important. There’s entire regions of the country where they don’t have that luxury. So, although it can still be a difficult industry to operate in at times, the Great Lakes states are pretty good spots to practice forestry. And we feel very lucky to have the supply chain that we do, which is another reason why it pays to keep this forest land together into perpetuity. It helps keep these local mills and contractors going for the foreseeable future.
QK: In regards to the Mt. Arvon area, has there been any pushback from the logging industry about you guys not allowing anybody to go there?
AM: I haven’t heard of any pushback in terms of the light touch management on top of Mt. Arvon, mainly because it is such an isolated area. I think people understand when we’re talking 73,000 acres versus that immediate location on top of Mt. Arvon proper. It really is a small portion of this footprint. And you have to weigh your options. What’s most valuable? Is it timber management, recreation, aesthetics? And Mt. Arvon is just so special, it does warrant a different type of management. So no, I don’t think there is any pushback. If anything, folks are excited that it is going to be publicly accessible into perpetuity. Because, I’ll be honest, the real estate pressure’s there. We’ve had people call us looking to buy sections of land and some of those sections including Mt. Arvon. This just ensures this block is put together forever so people can continue to enjoy the views up there.
QK: People have wanted to buy places on the top of Mt. Arvon?
AM: You would be shocked, but yes. Again, the real estate pressure is definitely ramping up in the area. Sometimes you might hear Michigan being coined a climate refuge. People are realizing not only our property values are more affordable but we also kind of have less environmental issues. Knock on wood, we don’t have hurricanes, wildfires, things of that nature. So Michigan’s kind of a safe bet, if you will. And you take a look at the map, we’re surrounded by water. So yeah, it’s not uncommon to get phone calls from folks in cities from across the country who are looking to buy large swaths of land. And that can change things up here. It can be easy to take this for granted, but we have a lot of publicly accessible land. And our goal is to keep it that way.
Support local journalism.
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Have you ever wondered which communities in Metro Detroit are part of the Downriver area, and how it got that name?
Listener Scott Troia of Ann Arbor wonders.
“I was curious about where the term ‘Downriver’ originated from: Who, when, why they started using it. Is it a geographic boundary, or is it cultural? Who identifies as being from Downriver?”
WDET’s Pat Batcheller does. He was born and raised in Trenton and has lived in Southgate with his wife Amy since 1999. Pat’s happy to answer Scott’s question.
What does “Downriver” mean?
Elizabeth Park sits along the Detroit River in Trenton, Michigan.
As the name suggests, Downriver refers to those communities on the Detroit River as it flows down into Lake Erie. Humans have lived in the area for thousands of years. The term Downriver is more recent. It appears as two words in a 1917 magazine published by the city of Wyandotte. In 1963, Thomas J. Anderson wrote a book called “The History of Southgate and Downriver”—one word. Today, the term covers a lot more territory than just the riverfront.
Which communities make up Downriver?
That depends on who you ask. Lisa Wayne is the CEO of the Downriver Community Conference. The nonprofit helps people find jobs through the Michigan Works program. It also coordinates grants for its 20 member communities.
“We serve Allen Park, Brownstown, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Huron Township, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Riverview, Rockwood, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Woodhaven and Wyandotte,” Wayne says.
The DCC started with 11 communities and includes Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Many consider those cities to be outside of the traditional definition of Downriver. Ron Hinrichs grew up in Dearborn but didn’t consider himself a Downriver resident.
“I remember someone asking me once, ‘where are you from?'” Hinrichs recalls. “And I said, ‘I’m from Dearborn.’ And they said, ‘oh, so you’re—you’re from Downriver.’ And I said, ‘I’m not from Downriver, I’m from Dearborn.'”
Hinrichs leads the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber, which promotes the Downriver area. He says if you ask ten people where Downriver is, you’ll get ten different answers.
Where does Downriver end?
Downriver does not have defined borders, but most descriptions stop at the Huron River separating Wayne and Monroe counties. That would make Rockwood part of Downriver, but not its next-door neighbor, South Rockwood, a village in Monroe County’s Berlin Township. Stephanie Hawkins is the president of the Berlin Charter Township Historical Society. She says if you ask South Rockwood residents, they’ll say they feel closer to Downriver than Monroe.
“They mentioned that when they want to do something like go shopping, they go north because it is closer than driving all the way down to Monroe,” Hawkins says. “So, I think that’s why you’ll find that the folks who live in the village itself do identify with being Downriver.”
So do people in Taylor, which is not on the Detroit River. Karl Ziomek is Taylor’s communications director and a former journalist at the area’s paper of record, the News-Herald. He recalls newsroom arguments about how far west Downriver reaches.
“And there are a lot of people I think to this day who would believe that Taylor is even stretching it,” Ziomek says. “Certainly, Romulus does. It goes on the other side of Metro Airport, then people start going, ‘well wait a minute, is this really Downriver?”
Pearl Varner laughs at the suggestion that Romulus is part of Downriver because of its distance from the Detroit River. Her family has lived in Romulus for over a century. She runs the city’s historical museum. But Varner says if it brings more visitors to the museum and the downtown area, she’s fine with being considered Downriver.
“You want people to come and see what you’re doing, what your museum is like, what your city is like, what your people are like,” Varner says.
What are people like Downriver?
Ted Butkin is a lifelong Wyandotte resident.
Each community is unique, but they all share common roots. Many are descendants of European immigrants who worked in factories or started their own businesses. Some settled in Wyandotte, where Ted Butkin has lived his whole life.
“We had a German festival, a Polish festival, a Mexican festival and there was one other that were just huge because everyone was represented in this melting pot of Wyandotte,” Butkin says.
Wyandotte is the second oldest incorporated city in Wayne County, after Detroit. Joe Gruber is the city’s economic development director. He says its vibrant downtown attracts people from Downriver and beyond.
Joe Gruber is Wyandotte’s economic and downtown development director.
“All of the small business owners and entrepreneurs in our community are really, really engaged and hard working,” Gruber says. “We try to offer a lot of fun quality-of-life events and opportunities for families to come, especially those events that are free.”
Anthony Beitel moved to Wyandotte a couple of years ago. Before that, he had lived in Detroit and the northern suburbs. Beitel says he didn’t know much about Downriver before relocating with his partner, who is from the area. He says he loves how people support the local economy.
“They have this whole ‘Shop The Dotte’ initiative, which is all about promoting small businesses,” Beitel says. “And it’s just really great to see that sense of community and everybody kind of supporting each other and lifting each other up.”
Industry drove Downriver for decades, for better or worse
Small businesses have always been a vital part of the Downriver economy, but through much of the 20th century, heavy industry was the main source of jobs and tax revenue. It was also a major source of pollution, such as coal dust. Lisa Donovan lives in Brownstown Township but grew up in Wyandotte. She says sometimes when the wind blew, it turned houses black with ash.
“And they would have piles of coal next to the park in Wyandotte that’s on the waterfront, and you’d come home with ash on you.”
Because of that, Donovan says some people—mainly outsiders—saw Downriver as a dirty place to live. That reputation lingered long after downturns in the automotive and steel industries forced many factories to close. Business and civic leaders suggested dumping Downriver in favor of something they thought sounded more attractive—Metro Shores. But, unlike coal dust, that name didn’t stick.
People have pride in Downriver, even those who are new to the area
Michael Echols moved from Detroit to Ecorse a couple of years ago. Ecorse started as one of Wayne County’s original townships in 1827. Today, the cities of Ecorse, Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Southgate, and Wyandotte comprise what used to be Ecorse Township.
Echols says Ecorse is a peaceful place.
“It’s a different variety of people down here, but it’s everybody getting on, and that’s the most beautiful part,” he says.
The river itself defines the region
John Hartig managed the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge for 14 years and has written several books about the Great Lakes.
Just a few hundred feet offshore from Ecorse is Mud Island, part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. John Hartig once managed the refuge, which includes Grosse Ile and the entire Michigan shore of Lake Erie. He says it took decades to repair the industrial damage to the environment and restore the river’s natural habitat.
“We’ve seen some dramatic improvements in water quality,” he says. “Bald eagles are back, and peregrine falcons, osprey, lake whitefish, lake sturgeon, river otter and beaver are back.”
Downriver has its own culture
Hartig says the river’s revival is changing perceptions of Downriver, its people, and its culture. Linda Francetich is trying to do the same. 15 years ago, she started a website called Discover Downriver to promote the area’s cultural activities, such as festivals and concerts. Francetich says the area might not have the vibe of Royal Oak or Birmingham, but that’s OK.
“Everyone has their own regional culture,” she says. “But I think Downriver has a very unique culture because of how close everybody is and how supportive everybody is.”
Francetich says Downriver has a lot of musical talent, including bands such as 50 Amp Fuse and the Transit Brothers. Chris French plays trumpet for the Transit Brothers and the Downriver Community Band. He also owns a family law firm and organizes yearly concerts to benefit Downriver veterans. French says the region has a lot to offer, including a variety of real estate.
“You want a farm, we have farms,” he says. “We’ve got water everywhere, so you can buy a house on the water.”
Some of the most impressive homes on the water are on Grosse Ile, which sits in the middle of the Detroit River. Tony Krukowski is the vice president of the Grosse Ile Historical Museum. He says the island’s scenery is a big draw.
“People just love to drive around the island, especially around East River Road and West River Road to take in the natural scene,” he says.
Two bridges connect Grosse Ile to the rest of Downriver. Listener Scott Troia, who asked the question, says he understands the area better now that we’ve connected the dots for him.
“What are the boundaries of it and do people from different communities actually self-identify with being part of Downriver that might be on some of those fringe cities? You very much covered those topics, really.”
Thanks, Scott. It’s why we’re here.
WDET’s CuriosiD series answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
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The goal of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program is to help ensure school-age children continue to receive healthy meals during the months when they are not in school.
The state says families who enroll will receive $120 for each eligible child during the summer. Some families are automatically eligible, while others will need to apply.
Sun Bucks benefits can be used at any retailer that accepts EBT. For more information, visit Michigan.gov and search for “Sun Bucks.”
Additional headlines for June 17, 2026
Flood watch in effect for Metro Detroit
Much of Metro Detroit is under a flood watch this afternoon through late tonight.
The advisory includes Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Storms are expected tonight, bringing the threat of gusty winds and heavy rainfall.
The National Weather Service says 1 to 2 inches of rain are possible within a three-hour period. That could cause flash flooding in rivers and streams and affect residents living in low-lying areas.
Heavy rains increase risk of beach closures
This week’s heavy rains are making temporary beach closures more likely in some areas.
Stormy weather can lead to high levels of E. coli bacteria in Michigan lakes, creating unsafe swimming conditions. Tom Barnes, environmental health division director at the Macomb County Health Department, says heavy rainfall can wash contaminants into the water.
“If you have a big rainy event and you have lots of goose feces on the beach, that’ll wash it into the water. That will definitely result in a higher E. coli count.”
Barnes says swimming in water with high E. coli levels can cause health problems.
Spot Lite and UFO Bar to close
Detroit’s nightlife scene is about to lose two well-known establishments.
The owners of Spot Lite and UFO Bar announced on Instagram Tuesday that the venues will close later this month.
Spot Lite’s last night of operation will be Saturday, June 28. UFO Bar will open its doors for the final time on Monday, June 30.
Detroit to host PWHL draft
Detroit will host another historic hockey event tonight.
The Fox Theatre will be the site of the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft. The league chose Detroit for the event after strong fan support helped break attendance records in back-to-back seasons.
Jayna Hefford, the league’s executive vice president of hockey operations, says the PWHL has helped grow women’s hockey by giving athletes a professional stage on which to compete.
“My generation would have loved this. We didn’t get a chance to have it, but I’m so happy that they get to have it. And then when we look at the next generation of young girls that are going to watch this and not know a world where there isn’t professional women’s hockey.”
Detroit’s PWHL team is one of four expansion teams signing players before league play begins this fall.
CBC ends ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ era
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known as CBC, has announced it will no longer broadcast “Hockey Night in Canada.”
The network has aired the Saturday night NHL games since 1952. The change comes after the public broadcaster could not reach a deal with Rogers Sportsnet, which has held the broadcast rights since 2013.
The move may make it more difficult for some Detroit-area viewers to tune in to Saturday night hockey. Generations of Detroiters have watched NHL games on CBC Windsor 9.
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This year’s Sounds Like Detroit Showcase is set for August 13, at Batch Brewing, and it will be my third year as your humble emcee. Now, we still need your help to lock in the line-up, so be sure to follow the link at the end of this article to vote for your favorite from our Top 10 Contenders, selected from recent submissions to the NPR Tiny Desk Contest. That being said, tonight was a fun episode, because I welcomed dynamo soul/R&B singer/performer Drey Skonie into the studio, who, with the Clouds Band, headlined my first year as the SLD host.
Drey Skonie was already on the rise when he received the most votes during the 2024 Sounds Like Detroit, and he and the Clouds Band have only gotten busier and better over the time since–including selling out Cliff Belll’s multiple times, and famously improvising an entire song on the spot at a recent Arts Beats & Eats performance where they were briefly interrupted by a passing train (the stage was set up right next to the railroad crossing), and that track became “Ride Me Like a Train,” which we sampled tonight.
While he hung out, Drey also shared his thoughts on the importance of supporting local music through programs like SLD, along with other programs like Motown’s Amplify series, which also honored Drey in the past; we also chatted about Drey’s memories and experience at the 2024 SLD concert, and what that meant to him and his band. We closed with “Rippin’ & Runnin'” the song that wound up getting Drey to the SLD stage in the first place.
PUG Fest organizers Ian Cruz and Kyle Minch
Also on tonight’s show, organizers from the annual PUG Fest joined us to talk about that upcoming mega-music festival happening this weekend, featuring lots of intense rock music, from heavy indie, to midwest emo, to metal-hybrids and pop-punk powerhouses. This is an all-ages independent DIY music festival organized in partnership between The Crofoot and The Pleasant Underground. The upcoming event splits its schedule across Ferndale and Pontiac, with multi-stage spaces, giving fans a stacked marathon weekend of music.
Organizers Ian Cruz and Kyle Minch joined me in studio to talk about the line-up which includes local artists like Former Critics, Riot Course, FrostIsRad, and many more, including high profile artists who are touring in from other scenes! We also heard an exclusive premiere from the band Feast FOUR The Crows, who have a new album coming out soon. PUG Fest splits up the week with a lineup at the Pike Room (part of the Crofoot complex) in Pontiac on Thursday, followed by a Friday night lineup at the Orchid Theatre in Ferndale, then back to The Crofoot in Pontiac on Saturday. Find more info here.
We also heard premieres, this week, from 800cc, Spa Day, and The Telephone Poles! All that and so much more! Make sure, btw, that you vote for our Sounds Like Detroit Showcase, HERE.
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The Detroit City Council has approved an extended curfew for the Detroit fireworks display on Monday, June 22.
Under the measure, minors will not be allowed downtown without parental supervision from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.
Councilmember Denzel McCampbell voted against the curfew. He said he does not believe curfews are effective because incidents still occurred during last year’s fireworks curfew.
“That’s what I’m bringing forth here is not an aspect of, do you care about public safety, do you want folks to be safe or not. My question before this council is, is this effective to achieve that goal or not? And in my view, it is not, because the data shows us that.”
McCampbell said the extended curfew sends the message that Detroit’s youth are not welcome downtown.
The discussion comes as city officials continue to address concerns about large gatherings of young people at so-called “teen takeover” events, a trend that has spread through social media.
Dearborn Heights police said a group of teens attempted to stage a teen takeover during the city’s Spirit Festival on Saturday. The Detroit News reported that city officials said arrests were made and several people were detained. Officials said multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the response.
Additional headlines for June 16, 2026
Mary Sheffield endorses Jocelyn Benson for governor
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Michigan’s race for governor.
Benson has lived in Detroit for more than a decade. Sheffield said that connection to the city was one factor in her decision to endorse the candidate.
“Every time I’ve called Jocelyn Benson, she has been accessible, she has been honest, she has been a hard worker, and she has always shown her commitment and her passion and her love for the city of Detroit.”
Sheffield said she and Benson share a goal of reforming Detroit’s property tax structure, which they believe is limiting opportunities for new housing development.
Benson has been leading Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in recent polling. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his Democratic bid for governor and is now running as an independent candidate.
Detroit City FC stadium opening delayed until 2028
The opening of AlumniFi Field, Detroit City Football Club’s planned stadium in Corktown, has been pushed back to spring 2028.
The venue was originally expected to open in 2027, but DCFC CEO Sean Mann said that timeline proved too aggressive.
Despite the delay, Mann said work is continuing at the site.
“We’ve already taken down the old Southwest Detroit Hospital, and it just came to a point of making sure that we have a timeline where we can confidently deliver a stadium.”
Mann said a groundbreaking ceremony for AlumniFi Field will take place next month.
Detroit City FC will continue playing its home matches at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck until the new stadium is completed.
Wayne State to host Juneteenth celebration
Wayne State University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence will hold its Juneteenth Celebration on June 17.
This year’s theme highlights the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The event will feature the premiere of the yearlong Campus Genealogy Project documentary.
Food vendors and community organizations will also be on site. The celebration runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Industry Innovation Center, 461 Burroughs St. in Detroit.
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A federal judge recently dealt another blow to the city of Detroit’s continuing challenges of its U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
The court rejected Detroit’s argument against what’s known as the “County Cap” rule.
That’s where the Census Bureau reduces the population estimate of all cities in a given county to match the total amount of people living in the county as a whole.
Census expert Kurt Metzger has studied Detroit’s population size for almost half a century.
He says although Detroit officials lost the most recent court battle, they have won other efforts to show more people are moving to the city.
(Interview edited for length and clarity.)
Kurt Metzger: The city was getting screwed because homes that were demolished were being counted against them and rehabs weren’t being credited to them. The Census Bureau thought that these were part of the housing stock they counted in 2020. If you knock them down, then they should count against you. If they were rehabbed, sorry, we’re not going to give you credit for it. I believe, looking at the housing unit count from the 2020 census, that the Census Bureau did not count a lot of them.
What happened was, houses were reported as a demolition in 2022 and they counted it against the city. But when you rehabbed a house and somebody moved in, the city said these houses were not counted in the 2020 census either because most of them were in bad shape. They didn’t qualify as housing units. They didn’t have windows, they had roof problems and things like that. But since then they were brought back into the housing stock and should be credited.
So all that went to change the whole methodology that the Census Bureau uses. Older cities and the Rust Belt cities that had tremendous disinvestment and tremendous vacancies now are gonna start getting credit for housing that they’re bringing back into stock. And that has really driven up the number of housing units estimated for the city of Detroit. But now we’re getting screwed because of this “county cap.” It just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: The judge in that case ruled that the Census Bureau’s use of the county cap was “neither arbitrary and capricious nor intentionally discriminatory.” Do you agree with that?
KM: I have to believe that. I don’t think it’s intentionally discriminatory. I think it does discriminate against older communities and poorer communities. The Census Bureau, for county estimates, matches Internal Revenue Service records. “You lived in a county one year, where did you live the next year?” They use those numbers as part of their estimates for migration. We argue that Wayne County’s population doesn’t follow standard migration numbers. Our argument is that poor counties are undercounted because of the methodology the Census Bureau uses for domestic migration. So, you could say that there is discrimination, but it’s not intentional.
QK: Detroit officials say that by doing that, the Census Bureau is undercounting the city’s population by almost 30,000. Do you think that’s correct?
KM: I do. First of all, I think that the census itself undercounted the city by 25,000 to 30,000 people, based on some of the research we did on vacancies and the way the census was conducted. But this whole rollback each time kind of builds upon itself. If we just played out to the numbers that the Census Bureau is giving us in housing and didn’t do all these county caps, yes, easily 30,000 more population.
QK: What else is tied to showing that more people are in the city than what the Census Bureau estimates? Why is a more precise estimate important?
KM: If for nothing else, it’s for public relations. A growing city is much more attractive than a city that’s losing population. It was always hard to make the case Detroit is a great city, you ought to come here, when we had just finished the 50th or 60th straight year of population loss. And we still come up with high poverty rates, plus a number of other factors. So, it’s turning around that kind of impression, I think even more so for some of the suburban and rural residents of Michigan. It’d be nice to get people in Michigan to have a better view of Detroit. And I think they’re finally coming around. We tend to be our own worst enemies going out there and bad-mouthing Detroit. But I think the impression of Detroit is improving. People feel much better about things. You go to ball games and you stay around and you go to a restaurant. So, there’s the local buzz.
But obviously it’s going to bring more money in for programming, because many funding programs are based on population or have population in the formula. The higher you go, the more money you get. It’s certainly going to attract more people. We’ve been trying to attract retail to Detroit’s Woodward Corridor, right?
QK: With all of your experience dealing with the Census Bureau, do you think there’s a realistic possibility of it changing some of its methodology? Or is it that they’ve done it for so long in a certain manner that it’s just the way it’s going to be?
KM: It’s a pretty closed operation. Because of confidentiality restrictions and everything, it’s been very “black boxy.” Numbers go in, but you never know exactly what the Census Bureau did during the interim to come up with their final number. I think the Bureau is constantly doing tests. The problem is you have nothing to compare it to until you get to the census. But I think the Bureau needs to seriously consider changing the methodology they use or certainly come up with some other options.
On the other side, the question is do they have the funding? Does Congress even care? They’ve already been cut on their pre-2030 tests. They’re talking about using the U.S. Postal Service to do census work. The problem is there’s so many other funding issues that go on, the idea of federal research is not really highly valued, it seems, these days.
I’m hoping that they will continue to have the funding and the support for those units that are doing this work. Because I think that the methodology has to change or has to be updated, the sooner the better. I certainly don’t expect it to happen before the 2030 census though.
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A recent Gallup poll shows 86% of Americans surveyed think Congress is not doing a good job on behalf of the country. That’s not necessarily surprising in a fractious election year. But lawmakers say they can work in a bipartisan fashion.
Kristen McDonald Rivet is the U.S. representative for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. She spoke with WDET’s Jerome Vaughn at last month’s Mackinac Policy Conference. McDonald Rivet says there’s a formula to get lawmakers from different sides of the aisle working together.
She says Ohio Congresswoman Nancy Kaptur gave her some invaluable advice along that line.
“Find the people that are close to your district in terms of median income. Seeking out other members whose districts look like mine, who are worried about the same things that I am worried about.”
McDonald Rivet says there’s a gap between many voters’ perception of Congress and how things really are.
“The reality that you don’t hear on the 24-hour news channels is that most people in Congress are there because they are serious about making things better. Not all of them. Definitely not all of them, but most people are.”
McDonald Rivet is in her first term as a congresswoman. The 8th District includes Flint, Saginaw and Midland. The Democrat is running for a second term in office.
This week on Visions, I play disparate parts of what I’ve been listening to lately, discovering, and revisiting. I’ve got classics from Thelonious Monk, Gary Bartz, Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, Donald Byrd, and Clifford Jordan.
I play my new music discovery from Dana and Alden featuring Mei Semones. I also include new releases from Nicholas Payton&Butcher Brown, Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet, Tyshawn Sorey, and fairly new tracks from Jeff Parker’s ETA Quartet and Dave Holland.
Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.
Visions Playlist for June 15, 2026
“Oska T. (Live)” – Thelonious Monk
“Lee’s Greenhouse (feat. Mei Semones)” – Dana and Alden
“Resolution” – Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown
“Congregation (with. Julian Lage, Asante Santi Debriano & Will Calhoun)” – Joe Lovano
“When Will the Blues Leave?” – Ornette Coleman
“The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” – Sonny Rollins
“Chant” – Donald Byrd*
“Libra” – Tyshawn Sorey
“Like Swimwear (part two) [feat. Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose & Josh Johnson]” – Jeff Parker & ETA IVtet
“On A Misty Night (Live)” – Gary Bartz
“Jazzonia (feat. Mark Lockheart & Nikki Iles)” – Dave Holland, Norma Winstone, Kenny Wheeler & London Vocal Project
“Shoulders” – Clifford Jordan
“Truth Revealed (With Intro)” – Robert Hurst*
* indicates Detroit artists
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The Jews of Color Initiative is hosting a national listening tour across the U.S., with a stop in Detroit next week. The organization aims to increase awareness of regional experiences and foster conversations about racial equity within the Jewish community.
CEO Ilana Kaufman says the tour is an effort to center the voices and experiences of Jews of Color while also hearing from community members and understanding local needs.
“Detroit is one of those smaller communities for us where we know that the community has a sense of connection, an ability to transcend or at least set aside conflict in service of not only interracial and cross-racial relationships, but also relationships across faiths.”
The Detroit session will take place from 6-8 p.m. June 25. More information is available through the Jews of Color Initiative.
MDHHS highlights violence data dashboard, free gun locks
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is promoting resources during Gun Violence Awareness Month, including its Injury and Violence Dashboard, which provides data on violence trends across the state.
According to MDHHS, gun violence injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States among people ages 1 to 44. They are also the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.
MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel says the dashboards help communities, leaders and policymakers identify where additional work is needed to improve public safety.
The state also offers free gun locks at more than 100 locations across Michigan through Project ChildSafe, a program supported by the Michigan State Police.
Detroit skilled trades task force meeting scheduled
The City of Detroit is hosting a Skilled Trades Task Force meeting this week to connect residents with employment opportunities and tuition-free apprenticeship programs.
The meeting will take place from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Adam Butzel Complex in Detroit. Residents can also participate via Zoom.
The City of Detroit is hosting a meeting for retirees to share information and gather feedback from residents.
The City of Detroit Retirees Task Force hybrid meeting will take place from 1-3 p.m. June 18 at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center and on Zoom. The meeting is hosted by Councilmember-at-Large Mary Waters and Councilmember Denzel McCampbell. https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/82953432101
State, federal agencies invest $10 million in Detroit River restoration
State and federal agencies have announced $10 million in funding to support restoration efforts in the Detroit River.
EGLE Director Phil Roos says the Detroit River is an important natural resource and restoring it remains a priority.
The Detroit River was designated an Area of Concern in 1987 because of industrial pollution, untreated wastewater and stormwater runoff. EGLE and the EPA have been working to address contamination in the river since 2012.
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On this week’s Big Sonic Heaven, we heard Attic Ocean, a German shoegaze band; Philadelphian multi-instrumentalist Angel Ocana’s project, Forest Circles; and the latest from Kiss Facility, an Arabic shoegaze band out of Paris, France. We also celebrated 31 years of Bjork’s album Post and Swervedriver coming to Detroit! Along with your favorite Shoegaze, Dreampop, and Post-punk classics.
Big Sonic Heaven playlist for June 14, 2026
“The Same Deep Water As You” – The Cure
“Sleepsong” – deary
“Machine Gun” -Slowdive
“Plasma” – Kiss Facility
“Back to Fourteen” – The Twilight Sad
“Feed The Tree” – Belly
“In Real Life” – ACTORS
“Hello” – State Of Grace
“Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken” – Camera Obscura
“One Day” – Future Islands
“Thursday” – Asobi Seksu
“Texture” – Catherine Wheel
“The Headmaster Ritual” – The Smiths
“8th Deadly Sin” – Miki Berenyi Trio
“Smoke and Mirrors” – Doublespeak
“Neon Beanbag” – Stereolab
“Gorecki” – Lamb
“In Violet” – Searows
“Hyperballad” – Björk
“Your Love Is A Lie” – Roller Derby
“Juniper” – Forest Circles
“Rave Down” – Swervedriver
“Adrift” – Cranes
“Myth” – Beach House
“In The Flowers” – Sea Lemon
“Carolyn’s Fingers” – Cocteau Twins
“Out Of Sight” – Hooverphonic
“Serafina” – Kilbey Kennedy
“Fallin’ In Love” – Lush
“Coastal” – Attic Ocean
“The Beach” – Winter
“Leave In Silence” – Depeche Mode
“Mon Amour Sauvage” – Dead Can Dance
“Shock Me” – Red House Painters
“Until You Come Back Home” – Nother & Moon Leap
“All Nerve” – The Breeders
“The Dog-end of a Day Gone By” – Love and Rockets
“No Motion” – Dif Juz
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On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, after 20 albums with bands over the last 35 years, Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers, Scud Mt. Boys) is finally making a proper studio debut called “Sunny I Was Wrong.”
Also, past in-studio archives from Gregory Porter, Molly Tuttle, Shemekia Copeland and Linda & Teddy Thompson and much more.
See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.
Acoustic Café Playlist for June 14, 2026
“Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
“Hold You Now” – Vampire Weekend
“Like A Spark” – Rostam
“Mexico Honey” – Kacey Musgraves
“When Love Is New” – Shakey Graves
“Take Me To The Alley” – Gregory Porter (Acoustic Cafe performance)
“The Longest Time” – Matt Nathanson
“I’d Rather Look Away” – Joe Pernice (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
“Deep Into The Dawn” – Joe Pernice (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
“Love Is Gone” – Jalen Ngonda
“Cowtown” – Kevin Morby
“Last American Waltz” – Old Crow Medicine Show
“Old Me, New Wig” – Molly Tuttle (Acoustic Cafe performance)
“Hope Of Fool” – Brother Wallace
“Rock The Machine” – Dervish w/Iron & Wine
“Swimming Pool” – Hrishikesh Hirway
“Same Old Song” – Teddy Thompson
“Dear Mary” – Linda & Teddy Thompson (Acoustic Cafe performance)
“Middle Man (4-track demo)” – Jack Johnson
“Searching For Heaven” – Swamp Dogg
“When you Know” – Bebe Stockwell
“Tell The Devil” – Shemekia Copeland (Acoustic Cafe performance)
“Penthouse In The Woods” – Scud Mt. Boys (Acoustic Cafe performance)
“It Got Away From Me” – Joe Pernice (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
“It Won’t Be Me” – Joe Pernice (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
Listen to Acoustic Café with host Rob Reinhart every Sunday from 1-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org
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This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music we feature songs about songs, singing about singing… basically, just music celebrating the joys and pains of making music! This is the second episode of these songs, and I suspect eps 3 and 4 will be coming soon
See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.
Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for June 13, 2026
HOUR ONE:
“Sir Duke” – Stevie Wonder
“Old Songs Never Die” Rachael Baiman
“I’m With The Band” – Little Big Town
“Hip Hop Is Dead” – Nas
“Crappy Love Song” – Theo Katzman
“I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song” – Jim Croce
“I’ve Got The Music In Me” – Kiki Dee
“Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson
“Doo Wop (That Thing)” – Lauryn Hill
“Rock And Roll” – Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
“Max’s Kansas City, 1976” – Wayne County & The Backstreet Boys
“Don’t Stop The Music” – Rihanna
“Song For Sad Friends” – Feist
HOUR TWO:
“Lovesong” – The Cure
“Lovesong” – beabadoobee
“Lovesong For No One” – John Mayer
“Love Song” – Shemekia Copeland
“Love Song 43” – Ryan Racine
“Love Hate Song” – Alisa Amador
“Put Your Records On” – Corinne Bailey Rae
“Crazy About A Jukebox” – Taj Mahal
“Life Is A Long Song” – Jethro Tull
“Field Song” – Mon Rovia
“Song For No One” – Shawn Mendes
“A Great Idea For A Song” – Artichoke
“The Entertainer” – Billy Joel
“A Song For You” – Ray Charles
Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org
Support the shows you love.
WDET’s unique music programs are dedicated to exploring the music and culture of our region and the world. Keep the music going. Please make a gift today. Give now »
Southgate’s Pride celebration is back on thanks to The Library Network, a library cooperative based in Novi. The celebration was canceled after Southgate city officials decided not to pay for a vendor at the event, stating the city should not be used to pay for social or political advocacy activities. So, the Library Network offered to pay the vendor instead.
The event is scheduled for 2-3 p.m. on Saturday at Southgate’ s Veterans Memorial Library, located at 14680 Dix Toledo Road.
Cooling Centers are opening across Detroit to give residents a break from the heat.
High temperatures are known to pose health risks. Chief Public Health Officer and Director Ali Abazeed says these centers are an effective solution to keep at-risk residents healthy.
“Folks in Detroit, especially our vulnerable populations…. if they don’t have access to some of the critical infrastructure that we know is helpful in keeping and preventing extreme heat related health outcomes, then we want folks to know that these cooling centers are available. They’re open and we want our residents to take advantage of them.”
Detroit’s cooling centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. on weekends. They are open to anyone.
On Saturday, qualified residents can apply for Homeowners Property Exemption program to receive up to 100% property tax exemption. The exemption is given based on the homeowner’s income.
Those who make an appointment can get a free ride to and from any HOPE event. The next event is Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Samaritan Center on 5555 Connor Ave.
Infill development conference
The Detroit Land Bank is hosting the first-ever Developers Conference focused on infill development opportunities.
Infill development is the process of building on vacant lots in established neighborhoods. The Detroit Land Bank currently owns 56,000 parcels of vacant land and is working to return them to productive use.
Attendees will learn about development opportunities, financing resources, permitting processes and more. The event is June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Occupy the Summer program starts
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield launches a new summer recreation program for kids today. It’s part of her response to recent teen takeovers downtown, and it’s supposed to give them something creative to do.
More than 1,500 young people have registered for the Occupy The Summer activities, which include late night basketball games and longer hours at nine recreation centers. The city will give away 700 bicycles this afternoon.
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
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