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

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

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

Additional headlines from Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Dearborn chooses superintendent 

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

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

WXYZ TV-7 returns to Xfinity 

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

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

Gas prices update 

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

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

Pistons win opening game of round two 

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

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

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

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

The city of Detroit celebrated 10 years of Project Clean Slate with the program’s 20,000th expunged conviction.

Project Clean Slate is a program that removes barriers that limit the economic, social, physical and mental well-being of residents with criminal records. There are multiple benefits that come from expungement. Studies from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce show that companies that give second chances to returning citizens see reduced employee turnover and an overall higher quality of work.

During a press conference this week celebrating the decade-long program, Mayor Mary Sheffield announced her administration will offer a new opportunity for justice-impacted individuals.

“We just recently opened a new Office of Community and Neighborhood Safety. A part of that work will be working with justice-impacted residents through our new Office of Returning Citizens. When we invest in people and when we choose compassion, we don’t just change the lives of individuals, but the entire community,” Sheffield said.

Project Clean Slate currently has 4,000 open and eligible convictions in process and/or ready to be expunged.

Additional headlines for Thursday, April 30, 2026

Michigan gas prices continue climbing across the state

Michigan gas prices are going up again, with some areas seeing prices around $5 a gallon.

The average cost in the state is about $4.58, up about 33 cents from the day before and 71 cents higher than last week. A year ago, the average price was $3.23.

These surges are connected to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran and disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz, halting multiple shipments of oil.

Some experts say prices should stabilize after today.

Detroit teams face pivotal weekend across basketball, baseball and soccer

Pistons force Game 6

The Detroit Pistons avoided elimination Wednesday night, beating the Orlando Magic 116-109.

Now the hometown heroes travel to Orlando for a must-win Game 6 if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The showdown is set for Friday, May 1. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.

Tigers look to climb AL Central standings

The Detroit Tigers face off against the Texas Rangers this weekend.

As the second-place team in the American League Central, they could find themselves in the top spot in the division with a successful weekend.

All three games will be played at Comerica Park.

Detroit City FC returns to Keyworth

Detroit City FC faces Louisville City FC at Keyworth Stadium.

The match is set for May 2 at 6 p.m.

Detroit Vinylfest returns for second year

The second annual Detroit Vinylfest returns this weekend, featuring records, CDs, tapes and more.

The event, presented by the Detroit Bookfest team, will feature more than 70 vendors selling vinyl records, cassette tapes and other music collectibles.

Vendors will also offer music-related posters, T-shirts and other memorabilia for collectors and music fans.

Some musicians will host autograph signings, and DJs will be spinning vinyl throughout the event.

For more information, visit detroitbookfest.com.

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

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield took office on New Year’s Day. But she’s celebrating her achievement with a public swearing-in ceremony this week.

Detroit City Council members, police commissioners and the City Clerk will also take part. The ceremony at the Detroit Opera House features poetry and music performances as well.

Sheffield is the first woman ever elected mayor of Detroit. She says her team is developing an action plan for her first 100 days with input from the community. But she’s also retaining several key officials from the past mayoral administration including the corporation counsel—the city’s top lawyer—and Detroit’s fire commissioner.

Sheffield also announced today that the city will join a program that gives financial support to pregnant women and infants. The city has already raised 9 million dollars to participate in RX Kids. It’s looking for $2 million to fund the program for 3 years.

Sheffield says she hopes to secure the funding to launch the program within her first 100 days.

Additional headlines for Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

State utility regulators demand more transparency

DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, and other regulated utilities in Michigan must do more to inform customers about potential rate hikes. This is because of a new order by state utility regulators.

The Michigan Public Service Commission wants to increase customer participation in utility issues, including cases that set new rates. After March, regulated electric utilities must inform customers when they asked for higher rates, and how much their bills would go up if that amount is approved.

There’s concern that this could confuse people, since rarely do utilities get their full requested amount. But supporters of the change say advance notice will let more people find out about and comment on potential rate hikes before the cases are resolved.

Gas prices

Michigan gas prices have dropped 11 cents since last week. According to the auto group AAA, you can get regular unleaded for $2.70. This new price is 18 cents less than a month ago and 44 cents less than this time last year, making this new price the lowest since February of 2021.

The US strikes in Venezuela this weekend don’t seem to have impacted oil prices just yet, according to AAA. The organization also says Venezuela crude oil exports have been limited due to the sanctions in the last couple of years.

Sports updates

NFL

The Lions beat the Chicago Bears 19-16 yesterday with a walk off field goal kick from Jake Bates, ending the season with a winning record. Now all eyes are on the off season, the NFL draft and seeing how they will bounce back for the 2026 season.

NBA

The Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday 114-110 and remain on top of the Eastern Conference. Their next game is today at Little Caesars against the New York Knicks and again at Little Caesars on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls.

Tip off for both is at 7:00 p.m.

NHL

The Red Wings play against the Ottawa Senators tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Red Wings are currently third in the Atlantic Division.

Carl Thomas performs

And R&B singer Carl Thomas known for his smash 2000 hit “I Wish” will be performing at Sound Board on Sunday Jan. 11, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

The artist from Illinois hit the Billboard Top Hot 100 and peaked at 20. And this year marks the 26th anniversary of his debut studio album “Emotional.”

To hear Thomas live, go to soundboarddetroit.com for tickets and more information.

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