This week on The Shake Out: hear the Four Tops live at the Roostertail with help from audience members Marvin Gaye, the Supremes and the Everly Brothers, plus more Detroit music from Edwin Starr, Rodriguez, and Larry Knight and the Upsetters. 

You’ll also hear New Orleans funk from Eldridge Holmes and the Meters, the Beatles play ska, Beck remixes Dr. Dog, and much more.

One hour of soul and rock’n’roll on vinyl, every Tuesday at 8 p.m. with host Dave Lawson, The Shake Out on 101.9, WDET.

The Shake Out Playlist for Aug. 11, 2026

• “Shake” – Shadows of Knight

• “Can It Be Me” – Mel Williams

• “I’m Gonna Cut You Loose” – George Wydell

• “I Want My Baby Back” – Edwin Starr

• “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You” – Earl Van Dyke and the Soul Brothers

• “I Can’t Help Myself (live at the Rooster Tail 1966)” – Four Tops

• “Hitch Hike (live)” – Marvin Gaye

• “Which Way” – The Presidents

• “How Can You Mistreat the One You Love” – Jean and the Darlings

• “Pop, Popcorn Children” – Eldridge Holmes

• “Pig Snoots Part 2” – Natural Bridge Bunch

• “Hurt Me” – Larry Night and the Upsetters

• “Fantasy Island” – Tages

• “Buzzsaw” – The Turtles

• “I Call Your Name” – The Beatles

• “Soon You’ll Be Gone” – The Blues Busters with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires

• “Pound for Pound #1” – Carlos Malcolm

• “Street Boy” – Rodriguez

• “Country Pie” – Bob Dylan

• “The Hedye Rock” – The Incomparable Ralph Jones

• “You Belong to Me” – Elvis Costello and the Attractions

• “The Girl (Beck Remix)” – Dr. Dog

• “Daylight” – Bobby Womack

• “Groove Junction” – Hank Crawford

The Paint the Park Mural and Art Festival returns to Allen Park, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority and The Mural People. It’s free and open to the public Aug. 22-23.

This year’s event has grown with more activities for the entire family. Guests can grab an Allen Park watercolor kit, or watch live demonstrations of glass art, woodworking ceramics and more.

Eight muralists will create large-scale public artworks throughout the city, showcasing the vibrancy of the community. There will also be more than 50 artist and maker booths. 

Bike lovers are also encouraged to come out and ready to roll. This year Slow Roll Detroit will complete its first Downriver ride and mural tour led by founder Jason Hall on Saturday.

Jason Hall and Dan Armand, co-founder and co-owner of The Mural People, joined me to talk more about the festival and the Downriver communities.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand.

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

The Gordie Howe International Bridge includes a mile and a half of cable and steel stretching across the Detroit River. The architect calls it a work of public art. It can be seen from around the city.

On the American side sits Delray and parts of Southwest Detroit — neighborhoods that have long sat in the shadow of heavy industry.

The bridge was constructed in Delray for a reason: The area had a lot of vacant, publicly owned land available at low prices. Many residents didn’t want it there. Once it was clear the bridge was coming, they organized, and negotiated a $45 million community benefits agreement, including home repairs, new windows and air systems, and a buyout for those who wanted to leave.

The Metro is asking: When a billion dollar project lands on a neighborhood that spent decades being overlooked — can it actually leave the people who live there better off? 

Paul Draus is a sociologist at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He’s been tracking how folks near the Gordie Howe International Bridge have been affected by its construction. He spoke with host Robyn Vincent.

One note: Professor Draus worked with a community park that received a donation from the bridge authority for a public sculpture a few years back.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

In 2001, Detroit opened its polls with a big question on the ballot. Twenty-one people were running for mayor. Dennis Archer was stepping aside after two terms, and Detroit was about to pick somebody new.

But that wasn’t the focus for long. Because the day was Tuesday, Sept. 11, and the twin towers came down that morning. So, WDET had to turn east and stay home at the same time: cover the deadliest attack in the country’s history, and cover a city that was still, that same afternoon, quietly choosing who would lead it.

Jerome Vaughn helped run that coverage. It won an award, though the award isn’t the part he remembers. He remembers that the voting didn’t stop — that was the story underneath the story. “Democracy goes on,” Vaughn said.

He joined WDET in January 1992, when he walked into this building as an intern and — apart from one year away at Michigan Radio — never left. He’s run the WDET newsroom since 2007, through stories that defined Detroit: Rosa Parks; Aretha Franklin; Kwame Kilpatrick; a bankruptcy, and a city working to rebuild. Through it all, he was in the room, or he led someone who was.

He also spent those years mentoring generations of Detroit journalists who credit him with their entry into media, and created the Detroit Evening Report so that Detroiters of color would hear about their own city in their own voices

On his last day at WDET, he joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to look at how the city changed over his three decades in journalism, and what he learned along the way.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

More stories from The Metro

The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, or ACCESS, is hosting its 11th annual Back to School Health Fair from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Health and Research Center in Dearborn.

Mona Makki, director of the ACCESS Community Health and Research Center, says the organization has hosted the event for the past decade. This year, organizers are putting an increased focus on providing essential hygiene products after hearing from families, community members and school administrators about the need.

Makki says about 2,000 people are expected to attend.

The fair will also include vision and health screenings, free haircuts for hundreds of children and other community resources.

People can RSVP by calling 313-216-2200.

Michigan Immigrant Rights Center loses federal contract for legal services

The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center says its federal contract to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children has ended, leaving hundreds of children without legal representation.

Last year, MIRC represented about 1,100 children. This year, the organization says it can take on only 420 cases. MIRC also expects to lose about 70 staff members in October because of the funding loss.

The organization says it will maintain offices in Detroit, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Lansing, and its other programs will continue.

Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act in 2008, establishing protections for unaccompanied children, including access to legal services. MIRC says the Trump administration sought to end federal funding that provided legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant children. Its contract with the federal government ended Aug. 1.

People can learn more about MIRC and ways to donate or volunteer.

Detroit to honor Imam Abdullah El-Amin with street designation

The city of Detroit will unveil a new street sign honoring the late Imam Abdullah El-Amin, co-founder of the Muslim Center.

Abdullah El-Amin Way will be designated at Woodrow Wilson and Davison streets near the Muslim Center. Dream of Detroit, Carey Strategy Group and Legacy Story Keepers are among the organizations hosting the street-naming ceremony.

El-Amin was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and moved to Detroit when he was 7. He spent decades serving the community through interfaith efforts and other civic work.

El-Amin co-founded the Muslim Center with his wife, Dr. Cheryl El-Amin, in 1983. He served as the first executive director of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan and as a Neighborhood City Hall manager under Mayor Dennis Archer from 1994 to 2001. He was also a columnist for the Muslim Observer, an author and a provider of funeral services for Muslim families.

The unveiling will take place from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at 13148 Woodrow Wilson St.

Register for the Abdullah El-Amin Way unveiling through Dream of Detroit.

Taste of Hamtramck fundraiser supports local food pantry

Detroit Friendship House is hosting a curated walking food festival featuring several Hamtramck restaurants, including New Palace Bakery, Polish Village Cafe, Srodek’s and Amicci’s Pizza.

Taste of Hamtramck: Take a Bite Out of Hunger will showcase the city’s culinary heritage while raising money for Detroit Friendship House programs that provide nutritious food and other resources to local families.

Tickets are $85, with proceeds benefiting Detroit Friendship House.

Taste of Hamtramck takes place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30.

Reserve a spot for Taste of Hamtramck through Detroit Friendship House.

Happy retirement, Jerome Vaughn

And finally, WDET wishes a happy retirement to News Director Jerome Vaughn, creator of the Detroit Evening Report podcast.

You will be missed, Jerome, but certainly not forgotten.

The American Human Rights Council and the Dearborn Police Department are urging the public not to engage with outside groups expected to attend Dearborn’s city council meeting on Aug.18. Far-right influencer and activist Jake Lang may attend the meeting.

Chief of Police Issa Shahin says outside groups have come to the city to seek attention and provoke confrontations in the past. Shahin says the most powerful thing the community can do is refuse to give them an audience.

Tuesday’s council meeting is the first since Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic nomination for Senate. 

Additional headlines for Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

Attorney General Nessel warns about scammers

Michigan’s attorney general says scammers posing as banks or credit unions are targeting customers.

Dana Nessel says they use spoofing technology to make their caller ID look legitimate. When the target answers the phone, the scammer claims there’s an issue with the consumer’s account and offers to resolve it in exchange for personal information they can use to steal their money.

Nessel says people who get a call they’re not expecting should hang up and call their financial institution directly.  

Healthy Homes Resource event

The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office and the City of Detroit are holding a Healthy Homes Resource and Foreclosure Prevention Event this Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents can receive assistance with their homeowner’s property exemption application, meet with representatives from the assessor’s office, water department, and more.

Attendees will also have a chance to win a flat screen TV, gift cards and more.

Those who need a ride can call 866-313-2520 to schedule a ride with the Lyft rideshare service. The event will be held at Joesph Walker Williams Center at 8431 Rosa Parks Boulevard.  

Veterans meeting

Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion, and Opportunity Department (CRIO) is hosting a Veteran’s Task Force meeting next Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 2:30-4 p.m. over Zoom.

The meeting is an opportunity for veterans to have their voices heard, share input, and tell city officials about their needs. The event is in partnership with Council member Mary Waters and the Office of Veteran Affairs.

Grant for experimental artists

The non-profit arts organization Culture Source is announcing the Flourish Fund in partnership with the Andy Worhol Foundation.

The grant supports experimental artist-organized projects in Southeast Michigan. The Fund offers six $10,000 grants toward innovative, public-facing projects across the seven counties of Southeast Michigan. 

Applications close Sept. 11.

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

One Year Anniversary Reading of Women Who Submit

Women Who Submit celebrates its Detroit chapter’s first anniversary with readings from members, plus snacks and resources for writers interested in submitting their work.

27th Letter Books, 3546 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216, USA
Friday, Aug. 14
womenwhosubmitlit.org/events-2/

Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront

Families can enjoy live read-alouds, music and interactive entertainment, plus free books for children.

Gabriel Richard Park, 7130 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit
Friday, Aug. 14, sessions at 10 and 11:30 a.m.
Free
detroitriverfront.org/events/calendar/2026/08/14/reading-rhythm-on-the-riverfront

Bold Women’s Health Day

BasBlue hosts a day focused on women’s health, with expert discussions, wellness resources, screenings and a free community resource fair.

BasBlue, 110 E. Ferry St., Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Community Resource Fair is free
eventbrite.com/e/bold-women-health-day-health-summit-tickets-1993930703409

Woodward Dream Cruise

Thousands of classic, custom and specialty vehicles take over Woodward Avenue for Metro Detroit’s annual celebration of car culture.

Woodward Avenue, Ferndale to Pontiac
Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Free
woodwarddreamcruise.com/visitor-guide/events-route-map/

Black Bottom | Black Legacy Festival

Celebrate Black Detroit’s history and culture through storytelling, art, performances, workshops and interactive experiences.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free
thewright.org/events/black-bottom-black-legacy-festival

Community Mural Painting

Add your brushstrokes to a community mural inspired by Detroit’s people, waterways and natural beauty.

Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Included with museum admission; adults $15, discounts available
detroithistorical.org/events/community-mural-painting

Time to Art with Dave Chow

Detroit illustrator Dave Chow shares stories and artwork from his career spanning comics, cars, music and advertising.

Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 11 a.m. to noon
Included with museum admission; adults $15, discounts available
detroithistorical.org/events/time-art-dave-chow

Detroit Youth Sports Showcase

Kids can try more than 30 sports and activities, including basketball, soccer, tennis, skateboarding, chess and robotics.

Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park, 1801 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Free
detroitriverfront.org/events/calendar/2026/08/15/detroit-youth-sports-showcase

Bee Fest

Celebrate Detroit’s pollinators with beekeeper talks, honey tastings, crafts, gardening tips and other bee-friendly activities.

Belle Isle Nature Center, Detroit
Saturday, Aug. 15, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free
belleislenaturecenter.org/event/bee-fest/2026-08-15/

GrillFest

Sample grilled eats and drinks from local vendors while enjoying live entertainment and a summer marketplace.

Eastern Market Shed 5, Detroit
Sunday, Aug. 16, noon to 4 p.m.
Ticketed event
detroitgrillfest.com

Tacos & Trivia

Grab tacos and test your knowledge during free team trivia, with concert tickets and other prizes up for grabs.

Campus Martius Park, Detroit
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 6 to 8 p.m.
Free trivia; food and drinks available for purchase
downtowndetroit.org/event/tacos-trivia-presented-by-long-drink-9/

The Peacock Room that left Detroit 100 years ago lives on today in Rachel Lutz’s boutique.

When looking for a name for her business,  Lutz referenced Detroit art collector Charles Lang Freer, who first brought the Peacock Room to Detroit as a part of his art collection.

Now the shop has evolved, making a name for itself with careful curation, styling expertise and intimate knowledge of the stories behind the pieces sold. The New York Times recently included The Peacock Room in a list of 25 favorite stores across the country.

Rachel Lutz joins the show to talk about Detroit history, what’s behind the success of her store and what lays ahead. 

The origins of The Peacock Room

In 1876 and 1877, Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room was completed by artist James McNeill Whistler. 

It was originally a dining room in the London home of Frederick Richards Leyland, a wealthy shipowner from Liverpool, England. The room was to house Leyland’s priceless Chinese blue-and-white porcelain.

But while Leyland was away, the room became a fresh canvas. Whistler covered the ceiling with imitation gold leaf and peacock feathers, gilded the shelving, and painted peacocks across the shutters. 

Leyland became infuriated and the two men feuded over the work and the bill for the rest of their lives. It remained intact in Leyland’s home until his death in 1892.

Enter Charles Lang Freer, a Detroit railroad-car manufacturer and later a student of art. He was an avid collector of Asian and Middle Eastern art works and bought The Peacock Room in its entirety. Freer had it shipped to his home on East Ferry Avenue in 1904. It remained in Detroit until 1919. 

The room currently is on display in its entirety in the Freer Gallery at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.

Detroit’s new Peacock Room

Rachel Lutz’ retail store The Peacock Room pays homage to Charles Lang Freer’s vision of collecting and the room Detroit lost. Located in The Park Shelton and Fisher buildings, since 2011, Lutz has curated her spaces like galleries. 

This fall, The Peacock Room Antiques Studio opens in the Park Shelton, which will be an event-driven destination for collecting, education and community.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand.

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed says he saw it coming.

“When you launch a campaign and you’re trying to get money out of politics,” he told The Metro, “that invites record amounts of spending against you.”

More than $60 million in outside money went into last week’s Michigan Senate primary, most of it aimed at stopping him. The largest single source was AIPAC, whose super PAC spent about $30 million backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens — the most the pro-Israel group has ever put into a congressional primary.

El-Sayed won by fewer than 15,000 votes.

He ran health departments in Detroit and Wayne County, and he now faces Republican Mike Rogers for a seat that could decide control of the Senate. If he wins, he would be the first Muslim to serve there.

He sat down with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent — in the same studio where he announced his run in April of last year.

The money that defined the race

El Sayed came back to the spending repeatedly, including when asked why he lost Detroit. “Ask yourself, if there was no outside spending in this campaign, where do we think votes would have gone?”

He won’t stop saying genocide

Did calling the war in Gaza a genocide drown out his message on health care? He said it isn’t a trade he’ll make: “The job’s not worth it. The work is worth it.”

To Jewish voters who hear his criticism of Israel as criticism of them: “Judaism and the Jewish people are a light unto the world. But Judaism and the Jewish people are different than AIPAC and the Israeli government.”

Black Democrats and the ‘uncommitted’ vote

Many Black Democrats in Michigan blame the 2024 “uncommitted” protest vote, which El-Sayed backed, for costing Kamala Harris the state. Keith Williams, who chairs the state party’s Black Caucus, endorsed Stevens and said El-Sayed was with uncommitted only when it suited him.

“Convenience would have been to say nothing and stay quiet,” El-Sayed said. He noted that Harris endorsed him Friday. “I don’t think she thinks I’m the reason that she lost.”

On mistrust between Black and Arab Detroit, he said Arab and Muslim Michiganders can’t object to anti-Arab racism while tolerating racism toward Black Detroiters. “Standing up against racism is about principle. It’s not about tribalism.”

Data centers and health care

El-Sayed said what he’d write into federal law on data centers, after campaigning against the Oracle and OpenAI project in Saline Township: protections for local water, no utility rate increases, guaranteed union jobs, and money held in escrow before construction begins.

On Medicare for All, he acknowledged a freshman senator can’t deliver it alone. “You can’t get it all in one shot. But politics, as all of us know, doesn’t just move linearly.”

The Metro has invited Republican candidate Mike Rogers on the program several times and has not heard back.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

More stories from The Metro

If you’re looking for the Loomi Cart on (most) Thursdays at Bumbo’s Bar in Hamtramck, it’s not hard to miss. Just walk outside to the patio where chef Andrew Stevick is getting the coals hot inside of a shopping cart that he’s rigged into a grill. 

It’s one of the most bizarre set-ups I’ve seen, but instantly makes Stevick’s pop-up a visually intriguing one. 

The food follows suit. 

Stevick’s cooking is colorful and rustic. His al pastor tostada offers big slabs of marinated meat and chunks of pineapple all splayed over a massive fried chip. It’s a meaty portion, essentially spilling over the plate and feels like something you’d get at a friend’s holiday barbecue (if your friend was as good a chef as Stevick).

Or how about a watermelon salad that’s served like a steak and just as satisfying to cut into? This is a surprising, beautifully bright dish with the fresh watermelon activated by lime juice and tajin, covered in a chipotle vinaigrette, jellied and pickled jalapeños on top, and a sprinkle of queso fresco. It’s a full-on sensory display: the satisfying feel of cutting into it, the flavor itself, and the humble presentation — a paper plate in the bar’s backyard, smoke from the shopping cart grill filling the air.

Open late

“We usually sell 80% of our food by 9 p.m. and then I like to stick around for the industry people. It picks up with all the late-nighters,” says Stevick. “That’s what people want in Detroit. There’s not enough good late-night food. I can only go to Grandy’s Coney Island so many times.”

Stevick’s ethos of serving service industry folks and staying open late adds another layer of flavor and character to Loomi Cart, which is undoubtedly the best food I’ve had in the city this year. 

To boot, the energy his pop-up brings to Bumbo’s on a Thursday night truly feels like a thriving nightlife scene you’d expect in cities and countries overseas with a more robust embrace of nighttime economy and culture.

Worldly flavors

Stevick’s perspective and flavor profile are both from his own background and travels.

After closing the brick-and-mortar version of Loomi in Ann Arbor in 2022, Stevick took a sabbatical and headed to South America, traveling and cooking through Peru, Argentina (where he says he got the idea for the mobile shopping cart grill), and Mexico. Stevick took those experiences and blended them with his family’s Palestinian roots to mix Middle Eastern influence with South American cooking with a sprinkle of his time living in Arizona in a Mexican neighborhood.

All of that experience and flavor shows up on every plate from Loomi Cart, one of the most exciting and visually stunning culinary experiences in the city right now.

This story was originally published on Midbrow.

The city of Detroit and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation celebrated the third Green Grocer ribbon cutting in the Motor City. This is part of the effort to have more fresh and healthy food available at retail food locations in the city. 

The Counter Detroit is a 400-square-foot grocery store anchoring community marketplace, Shops on Six, in the Bagley neighborhood. 

Owner Karlyta Williams says that her store is meant to bring people together and to represent the diversity of the neighborhood. “That is what the Counter stands for. It is for every neighbor. Every piece that goes onto their shelves, every neighbor is thought of. There is something magical that happens when the business that shows up in your neighborhood feed you.” 

Mayor Sheffield says that the goal is to have six Green Grocer stores by the end of the year. 

Additional headlines for Friday, Aug. 7, 2026

Gas prices on the rise 

As the summer comes to close…are you trying to go on a last-minute summer trip? 

Well if you plan on going on one this week, you might need to budget some more for gas. According to AAA gas prices in Michigan have risen to 13 cents from a week ago. Michigan drivers are now paying an average $4.36 per gallon for regular unleaded gas.  

Fuel prices have increased in large part due to the continuing war in Iran that has caused the blocking of about 20% of the world’s supply of oil and gas from the Stait of Hormuz. Another reason is that gas prices typically peak during the late spring/early summer when refineries switch to a more expensive summer blend of gasoline. 

AAA says while the market conditions remain unpredictable, drivers may continue to see the prices go up and down.  

Sports

MLB

The Tigers laid a beat down against the Seattle Mariners yesterday with the score of 11-0. They now face the San Francisco Giants this weekend as they continue to claw and climb from the bottom of the American League Central division. 

First pitch for today’s game is at 10:15 p.m. EST. 

Soccer 

Detroit City FC faces off against FC Tulsa tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. at the Tulsa Drillers Baseball Team Stadium in Tulsa Oklahoma.  

Football 

And with the Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs agree to 3-year, $67.5 million extension. The three-time Pro Bowler is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The record deal surpasses the extension Bijan Robinson signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week—which is a reminder that anything can happen in football.  

Cyclosporiasis cases slow

The state health department says the number of new cyclosporiasis infections is slowing down, and fewer people are showing up at the hospital with diarrhea-related emergencies.

The agency is lifting its recommendation to avoid bagged salad mixes, one of the possible sources of the outbreak. It says people may also resume their usual food handling practices, but should still avoid recalled lettuce.

Michigan has had more than 12,000 confirmed and suspected cases of cyclosporiasis since late June. So far, 279 people reported going to the hospital. Two people with significant health problems died after getting the disease. 

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

This weekend offers a feast of food-based festivals around metro Detroit, including a pierogi fest, a vegan extravaganza, the aptly named Detroit Foodie Fest and a zesty Pickle Festival. In the coming week, it’s time for live music with WDET’s Sounds Like Detroit and more.

Dearborn Homecoming

Ford Field Park
Aug. 7-9
 Free

Dearborn Homecoming is back. Visit a collection of local artists and non profits manning the booths. Meet DCFC players, PAWS the Tigers mascot and more. Activities include crafting, a kid-centered “Baby Bash”, live music with headliners Martina McBride and Chance the Rapper. Plus, we can’t forget the firework show! Check the schedule to see what events are going on, from noon to 10:30 p.m. both days.

CatVideoFest

Detroit Institute of Arts
Aug. 7-9
$11.50

Sit back and enjoy a curated showing of feline films. Handpicked by organizers who receive unique submissions throughout the year, the CatVideoFest is an annual event at the Detroit Film Theater. Tickets cost $11.50 for general admission, with a discount for members, seniors and students. A portion of ticket sales go to supporting pet-centered charities, shelters, and humane societies.

Sweetest Heart of Mary Pierogi Festival

 Sweetest Heart of Mary Church
Aug. 7-9
Free

Starting at noon both days, this festival offers Polish culture on a platter. Enjoy cuisine like the pierogi, live music, a beer tent, a resale shop or take a stroll through the church’s gift store. 

Pickle Fest

 Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill in Armada, Mich.
Aug. 8-9, 15-16
$11.37

Pickle lovers, this one’s for you. Blake’s Pickle Festival gives attendees the chance to get hands-on pickling experience from picking cucumbers to building your own brine, as well as an array of pickled food and drinks. And no festival would be complete without a unique blend of music and market stalls to catch your eyes and ears. There’s also pickle contests to properly celebrate the pros. Stop by between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Detroit Foodie Fair / Detroit Vegan

 Eastern Market Shed 5
Aug. 9
Free

The 7th annual Detroit Foodie Fair is hosted in conjunction with Detroit Vegan to offer a wide spread of delicious bites from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Taste the best food truck court Detroit has to offer and browse stalls selling kitchen wares and goods. Learn more about getting plant-based foods in your diet. You’ll have the chance to vote for Detroit’s Best Foodie Find as well.

Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing

 Cranbrook Institute of Science
Aug. 12
$50 in advance, $55 at door

Stay late at the Cranbrook Institute of Science to catch a meteor shower alight in the night sky. Cranbrook offers a spread of activities to keep guests engaged, including yard games, a dusk nature walk, astronomy lessons and more. The Warren Astronomical Society will be in attendance to speak to the science behind the stars and provide telescope viewings. Get tickets in advance— pre-sale ends on Monday, Aug. 10!

SOUNDS LIKE DETROIT

 Batch Brewing Company
Aug. 13
$30 / $35 

Join WDET at Batch Brewing in Corktown for a Detroit Tiny Desk concert! Selected by listener votes, four local artists will be performing live and on stage, including KTCHN, Aisha Ellis, Jubilee Jackson, and Michelle Held. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show going from 7-10 p.m.

Michigan is reporting the first two fatalities among people suffering from the disease cyclosporiasis. Officials say medical records indicate the people had significant underlying health conditions. Officials add the disease, which can cause cramps and explosive diarrhea, is generally non-life-threatening. Deaths from it are uncommon in the U.S.

The state reports more than 11,000 cases since June, although it’s not clear how many of those people may have already recovered from the disease.  

-Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter

Additional headlines for Monday, Aug. 3, 2026

American Muslim Experience

Documentary photographer and visual storyteller Syed Yaqeen is visiting Michigan this week as part of the American Muslim Experience— a documentary project to preserve the stories of American Muslims through visual storytelling and conversations. 

He says he began the project to document stories of everyday Muslims to counter negative stereotypes and showcase what it means to be Muslim in America.  

“Like the complicated lives of everyday people who again happen to be Muslim. So for them to be able to see themselves as young kids, students going to school, getting jobs, first job, learning how to drive-you know-all these little simple things that people tend not to think of when they are, I guess, put in a specific group.”  

Yaqeen says his focus is on documenting the present-day lives of American Muslims to preserve that for the future.  

He is taking pictures in Hamtramck, Detroit and Dearborn.  

People can contact him on Instagram at americanmuslimexperience to schedule a session. 

Language access failure

The city of Detroit has failed to translate information in emergencies as required through an ordinance created last year to translate public service announcements, says the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. 

Bridge Detroit reports that includes hazardous smoke and extreme heat warnings. City officials say they will make improvements to provide Detroiters whose first language is not English access to resources or information.  

Meanwhile Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has tasked the Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity (CRIO), Office of Immigrant Affairs, and Media Services departments to improve language access in the city. 

BridgeDetroit found much emergency-based information was only posted in English on the city’s website or Facebook. 

The city hopes to provide translated information in Spanish, Bengali, Arabic, and French. Meanwhile, residents can use Detroit’s alert system and choose a language of their choice to access the city’s website. 

Detroit has spent more than $362,000 on language access services in the past year.  

Blood donations at extreme low

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations.

Sydney Henry is with the Michigan region of the American Red Cross. She says blood donations typically drop in the summer, but this summer is worse than usual.  

That’s likely because of the extreme heat events and wildfire smoke that choked some states, especially Michigan. 

Henry says the Red Cross has less than a day’s supply of type O positive blood. That blood can be given to most people in an emergency. 

-Reporting by Tracy Samilton

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) celebrated the completion of a $40 million stormwater development on Detroit’s westside Thursday. 

The Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project is the department’s largest green stormwater infrastructure plan. 

DWSD Deputy Director Sam Smalley says the new system will push more than 100 million gallons of water to the Rouge River. 

“This this feature provides filtering and settling, so there are actually water quality standards for the stormwater that we discharge, so it’s cleaner water faster. So we either slow the water down or better yet get it out of the system altogether.” 

The sewer network will move stormwater through to two new detention basins in Rouge Park for filtering and slow down water before discharging it into the Rouge River. 

Smalley says the new infrastructure will make the 1,200 homes nearby more resilient to weather related basement flooding.  

Additional headlines for Friday, July 31, 2026

Iris Taylor dies

Detroit health care and education leader Iris Taylor has died. She was 74.

A lifelong city resident, Taylor worked in health care for 45 years, serving as CEO of Detroit Receiving Hospital. She also helped shape the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as the health department’s head of nursing. 

Taylor was also a member and former president of the Detroit school board. Mayor Mary Sheffield calls Taylor one of the city’s most dedicated and impactful servant leaders.  

Bike lanes blocked by parked cars

Residents in Detroit’s Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood are complaining about drivers parking in bike lanes on Grand River.

Bike lanes were installed on Grand River between Woodward and McNichols in 2019.

 The road falls under the Michigan Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction. However, the state says the city is responsible for maintaining bike lanes. 

Detroit Police say they are planning to deploy officers in the neighborhood next week to ticket anyone parked illegally.  

Early election turn out

The Michigan Department of State reports a turnout rate of 11.3% of all active registered voters who have already cast their ballot a week ahead of the primary election.

More than 800,000 residents have voted with a mail in or absentee ballot and over 30,000 cast their ballot at an early voting site. Compared to the same time in 2022, the number of mail ballot requests have increased 58.8%.

Early voting will continue through Sunday. Mail in ballots must be received by clerks no later than 8 p.m. on election night, Tuesday, Aug. 4.  

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeks to approve a request from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to redesignate what qualifies as safe ozone levels in the Detroit region. 

The change would redesignate the region as meeting federal ozone standards after years of strict standards.

EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel says the change is partially due to reductions in air pollution. “Redesignations lead to faster and more predictable air permitting processes, while existing pollution controls continue to drive improvements in air quality,” Vogel says. 

Environmental advocates like Nick Leonard disagree. Leonard is executive director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.

He says ozone air pollution in the region is still above the health-based standard set by the EPA. 

“It’s been consistently above the air quality standard for the past 10 years,” Leonard says. “The EPA is nonetheless justifying its decision to find that air quality is attaining the standard… because they’re pinning the blame for a few high ozone days on wildfire smoke from the last few years.”

Officials say the change will ease the permitting process for industrial projects, which could help the region’s economy. 

Public comment on the proposal is open until Aug. 27.

The City of Detroit has announced a three year, $9.2 million investment to help unhoused families move out of emergency shelter and into stabilized housing. The Homeless to Housed initiative will provide families with 6- 12 months of rental assistance, help them find a home, and provide additional support along the way.  

The program touts that it will assist up to 140 households each year with this program, which is approximately 500 Detroiters each year.  

In a press conference for the program, the city’s first ever Chief Executive of Health, Human Services and Poverty Solutions Dr. Luke Shaefer says this program is about more than providing shelter. “Its about creating pathways to stability. The mayor has challenged us to build a system where homelessness is rare, brief, and non recurring.”

Shaefer also describes how they were able to fund this program.   “This didn’t happen by accident…it happened because dedicated public servants were willing to rethink how we use available resources, they strategically aligned federal emergency solutions and grant funding to launch the Homeless to Housing initiative leaning into the mayor’s charge to us.” 
 
Priority for this program will be given to families with minor children. This program is also expected to free up space in existing shelter homes to provide assistance to other Detroiters facing homelessness.  

Additional headlines for Thursday, July 30, 2026

Small business summit 

The city of Detroit is hosting a micro and small business summit on July 31 at the Wayne County Community College District Northwest Campus. 

The summit is part of the Office of Contracting and Procurement, and it’s part of an effort to build Detroit based micro and small business industries.

The free event will provide attendees an opportunity to interact with funders, banks, and partner organizations including Goldman Sachs, First Merchant bank, the Detroit Development Fund, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and the Small Business Association.

For more information and to register go to detroitmi.gov. 

Sports 

Detroit City FC faces Miami FC on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Pitbull Stadium in Westchester Florida. Also, the club soccer team’s development of their new home stadium broke ground earlier this month.

The AlumniFi Field will hold 15,000 seats, an increase from Keyworth stadium that only holds 7,000 seats. It will also be the city’s first soccer-specific stadium, and the state’s only privately owned major sports stadium. The project also includes a 421-space parking garage and a 104-unit residential building with 76 affordable housing units. 

Completion of the stadium was slated for spring of 2027 but its now slated for 2028 USL Champion season. 

Sports

MLB 

And the Tigers efforts to climb up the American League Central division stalled a bit with a high scoring loss to the Baltimore Orioles yesterday 10-9.

They now face the Athletics in a 3 game weekend affair at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California. First pitch for tomorrow’s game is at 9:40 p.m. EST. 

Talk it Out Walk it Out

And on Saturday August 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History is hosting Talk it Out Walk it Out. This free admission event is an annual community conversation and awareness walk to highlight health disparities impacting Black women.

The event serves as a start to Black Women’s Health Month in Detroit. The event is being held at the museum.  

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

This upcoming week is ripe with opportunities to unwind in the metro Detroit region, from swapping plants and gardening tips in the Arab American Museum’s heritage garden to letting loose with DanceAbility. There’s also yoga, a tour of the historic Elmwood Cemetery at dusk and more.

Upcoming events (July 30-Aug. 5)

What’s So Funny About Detroit

The Old Miami
July 30
$35 at the door

Join WDET for a night of laughter in the gorgeous backyard of The Old Miami. In The Groove’s Ryan Patrick Hooper hosts headliner Melanie Hearn, along with fellow comedians Zech, Heather Jowett, and Brett Mercer. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Al-Hadiqa Plant Swap

Arab American National Museum
July 31
Free

Swap plants and gardening tips with a group of green-thumbed community members at the Arab American National Museum’s Mymonie Elhage Jabara Heritage Garden. This plant swap, co-hosted with MetroSwaps, is open to all gardeners—no matter how green or experienced—and offers the chance to trade cuttings, seedlings, and stories. Join between 5-7 p.m.

Belle Isle Art Fair

Belle Isle
Aug. 1-2
Free with state parks pass

Returning for the eleventh year, it’s the Belle Isle Art Fair! This art fair set up by the famous Scott Fountain features dozens of artists and several craft stations for all to enjoy. Plus, a beer tent, an instrument garden, and an art dome made entirely of bottlecaps.

Elmwood Cemetery Twilight Tour

Elmwood Cemetery 
Aug. 1
Free

Detroit’s historic Elmwood Cemetery is open for a tour this Saturday, designed to show guests the sights at golden hour. The two hour walk will be mostly on pavement, but there are hills and uneven terrain. Guests may also want to take a closer peak at monuments by venturing into the grass as the fireflies emerge. The walk ends just after sunset, promising a breathtaking journey through the grounds. It’s free to attend, but register in advance to claim your spot.

DanceAbility

Robert C. Valade Park
Aug. 4
Free

DanceAbility creates supportive space to celebrate bodies and explore one’s relationship to disability. This workshop in the Shed at Valade Park starts at 11 a.m. with musician AnJelic, led by facilitator Cara Graninger. Dance freely in a creative space promoting connection and accessibility. DanceAbility offers online options over Zoom on Fridays, too.

Community Yoga with Citizen Yoga

Capitol Park
Aug. 5
Free

Take a deep breath and stretch with a certified instructor from Citizen Yoga in Downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park. All skill levels are welcome for this hour of community yoga starting at 6 p.m.

The law says if you come to this country and want asylum, you have to ask for it in your first year. For decades, people who did that were largely left alone while they waited. The application was proof you were doing it the right way.

Not anymore.

Last July, ICE issued a memo reinterpreting which part of immigration law governs detention — a change that stripped many people of the right to ask a judge to release them on bond. The Board of Immigration Appeals backed that reading in September. Federal courts have split over it, and in May the 6th Circuit, which covers Michigan, ruled against the policy.

Attorneys here say something else changed alongside it. Agents started showing up at the homes and workplaces of people with applications pending — people whose only offense is waiting in a line that takes years.

On today’s show, host Robyn Vincent speaks with three people living with these changes.

Kevin Piecuch is an immigration attorney and executive director of the Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center, a free and low-cost legal clinic. He describes a legal practice now dominated by detention cases, and recounts what he says he witnessed at a bond docket this month — arrest records submitted to a judge containing information he says was flatly false. 

We also hear from a young woman detained while her asylum case was still pending. We’re not using her real name.

Later, Pastor Kevin Casillas of the First Latin American Baptist Church in Southwest Detroit describes what these detentions have done to his congregation — and to his job. In January of last year, the federal government rescinded the policy that had kept immigration enforcement away from churches, schools and hospitals. Some congregations have since won court protection. 

The Metro contacted ICE’s Detroit field office and media department for comment. They did not respond.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org

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