The city of Detroit and local leaders celebrated the opening of Rohns Apartments that will add 17 new affordable units to city’s housing stock.   

The long vacant historic apartment building was revitalized by the development company WIZE Detroit.

During the grand opening press conference Sophia Zembra, owner and managing director of WIZE, shared her thoughts around the project.   “Rohns Apartments is our first project. We are very grateful. The city of Detroit guided us all the way up.”

The project was made possible due to the Detroit Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) ordinance that was issued in October of 2024. The program aims to accelerate affordable housing development by simplifying and expediting the approval process for qualifying projects.  

Director of the Housing and Revitalization Department Julie Synder says this development is a product of public and private partnership.   “Rohns apartment shows that good housing policy can help make good housing development possible. Creating more affordable housing requires more than developers who are willing to invest…it also requires the tools to make that development possible to support their vision and come together to make projects like this a reality.”

Rent for a one-bedroom apartment starts at $900 per month, while rent for a two-bedroom apartment starts at $1,100 per month.    

WIZE is also using the PILOT program to redevelop the Dexter Linwood neighborhood. This will feature 34 residential units with a mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, and one studio unit. The project is expected to be completed in 2028.   

Additional headlines for Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026

Pay As You Stay returns

The city’s Pay As you Stay (PAYS) program returns. The program helps Detroit residents by reducing delinquent past property taxes and has helped prevent foreclosure for thousands of Detroit property owners. 

The program expired on June 30 of 2025. But after efforts from city leaders, the legislature continues.

Wayne County Treasurer Eric R. Sabree shares why the program is so important. “It keeps owner-occupied residents in their homes and keeps homes affordable. PAYS has been successful throughout the county. We needed to continue to be their for families…people who legitimately fall on difficult times due to changing economies or other circumstances beyond their control.” 

Since 2020 the PAYS program has helped approximately 18,000 Detroit property owners keep their homes.   

Sports  

Lions  

The Detroit Lions are set to have their second preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Detroit Lions edge rusher Derrick Moore shares how a preseason game can help reset players. “I’ve been out for two weeks. Getting back into the rhythm of being able to go against different competition and different looks and showing everyone what I’m capable of doing”.

Kickoff is at noon at Ford Field.  
  
Tigers  

The Detroit Tigers have slid back down the American League Central division and their back-to-back losses against the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t help. They hope to bounce back this weekend against the Kansas City Royals.

First pitch for tomorrow’s game is at 8:10 p.m. at Ford Field. First pitch is at 8:10 p.m. EST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City Missouri.   
  
DCFC

Detroit City Football Club will go against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday at Keyworth Stadium. Game starts at 7:00 p.m .

Detroit Bourbon and Blues

Detroit Bourbon and Blues is back for the fourth annual immersive tasting and live music event. Organizers say this unique experience invites guests to sample a variety of bourbons and whiskeys as well as enjoy good music.

This is all going down at Eastern Market Shed 5 on Sunday, Aug. 23 from noon to 7 p.m.   

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 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.

The number of Michigan residents suffering from cyclosporiasis continues to rise.  State officials say more than 10,000 cases have been reported in Michigan as of Tuesday.  The parasite can cause gastric distress, including watery diarrhea.  

Most of the Michigan cases are in Wayne, Washtenaw and Oakland counties.  Investigators have traced the problem to iceburg lettuce sold by Taylor Farms and distributed to many Taco Bell restaurants.  That lettuce has been recalled.  The parasite is usually spread through food or water contaminated by feces.  The outbreak has spread to several other states.  

Additional headlines for Wednesday, July 29, 2026

WIC benefits can be used online at Meijers 

The state of Michigan says residents who use the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, otherwise known as WIC, can now use their benefits online at Meijers. 

 Beneficiaries could already use those benefits when they shop inside the store.  The state Department of Health and Human Services says the program will be available at all 122 Meijer stores in Michigan.  Officials say they plan to expand the program to other retailers in the future.  

Michigan’s WIC program serves more than 187,000 women, infants and children each month.   

Ford posts 2Q loss 

Ford Motor Company says it lost money from its electric vehicle business in the second quarter of this year.  But the Dearborn automaker is still predicting a more profitable year overall than experts previously expected.  

Ford officials say the automaker took a net loss of $1.3 billion in the second quarter, partially as the result of ending a joint electric vehicle battery partnership with a South Korean company and stopping other EV related efforts. 

But the automaker says customers, including those building data centers, remain interested in using Ford’s electric batteries to store energy.  Ford earned more than $48 billion in revenue in the second quarter, beating Wall Street analysts’ average expectations.  Officials say there’s still strong demand for Ford trucks and SUVs, despite high fuel prices. 

-Quinn Klinefelter

Rocket Mortgage Classic begins tomorrow 

The Rocket Mortgage Classic has returned to Detroit.  The PGA Tour event will be played at the Detroit Golf Club Thursday through Sunday.  147 golfers will take part in the tournament.  

This will be the final Rocket Mortgage Classic.  The PGA tour announced earlier this year that it has had trouble attracting top golfers to the Detroit event and will discontinue the classic after this year.  

The tournament will be nationally-televised Saturday and Sunday on CBS.   

Lions training camp underway 

The Detroit Lions have begun their training camp.  Players are gathered at the team’s Allen Park facility to begin preparing for the 2026 season. 

The Lions missed the playoffs last year with a record of 9 wins and 8 losses but hope to make it back to the post-season this year.  The team has a new offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, who previously worked for the Arizona Cardinals.  

Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are not expected to take part in training camp activities.  They’re still recovering from injuries that ended their seasons last year.  

The Lions first pre-season game takes place August 13 against the Bengals in Cincinnati.  Detroit’s first regular season game is September 13 in Ford Field against the New Orleans Saints. 

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

The 45^th annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games was held at Huntington Place in Detroit earlier this month. 

When the games began in 1981only 77 veterans gathered to participate. Now, over 500 vets compete in more than 20 events. 2026 marks the first time the games were held in Detroit and brought people from across the nation to the city.

“Detroit is proud to be home of more than 22,000 veterans,” Victoria Westbrooks addressed the crowd on behalf of Mayor Mary Sheffield. “And we are committed to supporting those who have served our nation. Hosting this milestone event is a reflection of that commitment and our city’s spirit of resilience.”

One of the many competitors was Lisa Maddox, who served in the Army for nine years. Maddox competes in many events including pickleball, table tennis, softball, basketball, field events and air pistol. She says she enjoys the wheelchairs games not only for sports, but for the unique opportunity it presents.

“There’s a camaraderie that not just having a disability but also being a veteran that is here. That is not the same in other adaptive competitions,” Maddox said.

Maddox says vets have a deep connection.

“Even though we’re different services we all went through what I call a ‘similar suck’ in BASIC training or bootcamp. It’s hell. And we all went through that BASIC training so that’s the similarity.”

William Ward served in the military for 16 years and has participated in the games for many years. At the 2026 games, he competed in the wheelchair slalom, a sort of obstacle course race.

“This is the one event that’s one of the toughest,” Ward says. “I stopped doing it for like the last two years and because it’s always a challenge, one of the hardest ones. I don’t know my results yet, but I think I did pretty good.”

 The Detroit games were the fourth for Air Force Veteran Eva De Jesus. She says the event has helped her grow as a person.

“It’s more than sports,” De Jesus says. “For me, it’s the community, the people you meet, how you see people in, sadly, worse conditions than you are and do more than you do. So, for me it’s just a learning and beautiful experience to be here.”

The 2026 Wheelchair Games’ opening ceremony was held on July 8 and it ended with a closing ceremony on July 14.

This story originally aired July 15, 2026.

The city of Detroit’s Health Department is offering guidance and respite centers to help residents to stay safe from the Canadian wildfire smoke.  

In a press conference this week, Mayor Sheffield acknowledged the hazardous air quality conditions.  “We know we have unsafe air quality outside, and we are doing all that we can to get that information out to residents to stay in and to stay masked and to ensure we’re checking on our loved ones.” 
  
In response to the air quality, the health department has informed residents to check the website, airnow.gov to check up to date air quality conditions in your area.   

They also advise residents to stay indoors as much as possible, keep windows and doors closed, move physical activities indoors, and wear masks.  Residents that don’t have air-conditioning can check out some of Detroit’s recreations centers at detroitmi.gov. There you will find centers near you and the numbers to contact them.     

Additional headlines for Friday, July 17, 2026

Detroit invests in sewer line repair

The city is also investing $184 million to repair a long list of damaged sewer lines. This project will help prevent sewer backups and sinkholes that are most common in low-income neighborhoods.

Gary Brown is the director and CEO of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). He says these repairs are too expensive for homeowners to repair. “In Detroit, homeowners and the maintenance of these lines are the homeowner’s responsibility. Many residents don’t realize they’re responsible for the connections.  Unfortunately, it is also the deepest most difficult and most expensive portion of the sewer repair.”   

The federally funded project will repair nearly 9,000 clogged or broken sewer connections in mostly low to moderate income neighborhoods. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.  

Sports 

MLB  

The second half of the Tigers season starts this weekend after the all-star break. The home team goes against the Los Angeles Angels for a 3-game weekend affair.

The Tigers are currently trying to dig out of the American League Central against an Angels team that is trying to do the same.   

First pitch for today’s game is 9:35 p.m. at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.   
  
Soccer

Detroit City FC go against the Indy Eleven tomorrow at Keyworth Stadium. Game starts at 7 p.m.  
  
FIFA 

And the FIFA World Cup final takes place on Sunday, July 19 with Spain facing Argentina in a game that will make history with Lamine Yamal and Lionnel Messi leading their respective teams. Game starts at 3 p.m. at the MetLife stadium—temporarily known as New York New Jersey Stadium in New Jersey.     

Festival of Books  

And this Sunday is the 9th Annual Detroit Festival of Books. Organizers say that at this event you’ll be able to shop for rare, unique, and unusual books, vinyl records, comic books and more.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 19 at Eastern Market.  

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

For the last month Americans have been watching soccer with the World Cup being played on U.S. soil for the first time in more than 30 years.  The final game is this weekend.

As people from around the globe visit, the tournament has highlighted a sharing of cultures. Not only as people show off their own communities in support of their national teams, but also as tourists try American cuisine.

Videos on social media have shown people from Europe coming over and being impressed by the food. That raises the question of what makes the culinary landscape in the U.S., a country founded by immigrants, so different.

Chef Nick Sanchez is an immigrant who serves as the director of the Patchwork Culinary Project. He joins The Metro to discuss the impact of immigrants and refugees on the country’s culinary landscape.

“They bring their food and culture and their flavors with them,” Sanchez say. “Those flavors eventually become our daily meal staples.”

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

Hear the full conversation using the media player.

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

Steve Yzerman won 3 Stanley Cups as the captain of the of the Detroit Red Wings.

His time as general manager wasn’t nearly as successful.

The team announced that Yzerman is stepping down as GM after seven years, during which the Wings never qualified for the National Hockey League playoffs.

His departure comes about two months after team captain Dylan Larkin asked Yzerman to trade him to a contender while he can still be productive. Larkin turns 30 on July 30.

It also follows another late season collapse that took the Red Wings out of playoff contention after the Winter Olympics in Italy.

Detroit Free Press hockey writer Helene St. James says Hockeytown is a mess.

“The team is in shambles that I don’t think we’ve seen since 1982 when Bruce Norris tried to celebrate 50 years of his family’s ownership and was booed off the ice,” she says. “It’s such a bad look.”

The man with the (Yzer)plan

When owner Chris Ilitch hired Yzerman in 2019, Detroit had missed the postseason for three straight years. He inherited an aging roster, bloated contracts, and a barren farm system, not to mention Larkin.

Yzerman set out to build the Wings from within by drafting talented young players. The first player he drafted was Moritz Seider, a gritty defenseman from Germany. Seider quickly developed into one of Detroit’s best players, along with Sweden’s Lucas Raymond, who Yzerman drafted a year later.

Still, St. James says Yzerman’s approach to building a roster was too conservative.

“He hasn’t made any bold trades or free agent signings that would excite a fan base,” she says. “I think that’s a huge part of the problem.”

Because of his success as a player, Wings fans might eventually forgive Yzerman’s missteps. But St. James says they might not forget them, either.

“I don’t think you can just sweep this under the rug, this seven years of futility,” she says. 

Who’s next?

It’s not clear yet who will replace Yzerman. His top assistants were Kris Draper, who played with Yzerman, and Sean Horcroff. 

Larkin’s future in Detroit also remains in doubt. Could he change his mind and stay with the only team he’s played for? Or might the next GM be inclined to deal him? And if he does come back, would he still be the captain?

St. James says only time will tell.

“They can’t just trade him because he wants to be traded,” she says, noting that he has a no-trade clause. “They have to get players who can help them now in return.”

In Detroit, there’s always a lot of action in liquor store parking lots.

Fender benders. Loitering. Impromptu barbecue pop-ups. Arguments and negotiations. Entrepreneurs hustling their wares. You name it.

This is the first time, however, I’ve witnessed one hosting a World Cup watch party.

Most of the World Cup games so far have been broadcast on a TV or projection screen in the parking lot of Marcus Market, a small liquor and grocery store near Wayne State’s campus.

They sell everything from tacos out of a counter in the back to beer and fresh produce and cigarettes and kayaks (they technically haven’t sold one yet but they are for sale).

It’s a popular spot with college kids and people from the neighborhood; a major community hub of commerce and social interaction in the city’s Cass Corridor.

And now it’s a de facto sports hub for the initiated or those just passing by and curious what the shouting is all about.

Under a pop-up tent in a corner of the parking lot, there’s a loyal band of soccer fans each with their own rooting interests. The crowds have swelled to nearly 90 people for the U.S. men’s soccer matches. Brands and sponsors noticed, dropping off swag for fans.

Other times, often for day games victimized by the sun and heat, it’s just a handful of diehards.

Some are sitting in camping chairs they brought. Some are sitting on milk crates pulled from the back of Marcus Market and provided by cashier Sishir Cherry Buddharaju, who started this whole thing.

“It’s the best way to watch the World Cup,” says Buddharaju, who’s known around the neighborhood simply as Cherry.

Fans are more than welcome to head into Marcus Market and buy a snack or a drink, but it’s really not a sales tactic for the store, he says.

“Most World Cup viewing parties are in bars or you have to RSVP,” says Buddharaju. “There’s not many that are free, that you can stay as long as you want and you don’t have to spend any money.”

In fact, at a lot of these parking lot games, there’s not much drinking at all. It’s become a lazy cliche mostly plastered on sports advertisements, but these watch parties have become bigger than the game itself.

It ended up being more about strangers in the neighborhood getting to know each other and hanging out outside the structure of a bar.

Buddharaju says at least a few regulars have become friends since the watch parties started back in June, showing up together and making plans after the games. Another watch party regular said he’s worried he won’t see his friends as much when the games end. It’s the most time he’s spent with them in a while.

“It almost feels like a summer camp sort of thing because it’s essentially the same group of strangers that show up every day,” says Buddharaju. “They all became friends from just being at the same place every day together for two hours for 30 straight days.”

There’s been some trials and tribulations along the way. A heavy rain forced them to take the television inside the nearby Bronx Bar to watch the rest of the England versus Mexico match. During Argentina versus Cape Verde, a powerful storm popped up quickly and ravaged their set up within seconds, sending the pop-up tent flying and the TV crashing to the ground. 

The screen is cracked and partially blacked out now, but the group watches on.

After Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals, a handful of fans watching the game thank Buddharaju for setting up once again and start stacking milk crates and put away the 10×10 tent they’ve been watching under. They ask Buddharaju when the next game is and if he’ll be grilling hot dogs again.

“It’s a weird feeling,” laughs Buddharaju, “because I was going to do this even if nobody showed up. It was just going to be me outside watching the World Cup in the parking lot.”

But there hasn’t been a game that he’s watched alone yet. There’s always someone from the neighborhood walking up, sitting down, and watching with him – and the rest of the neighborhood.

There’s still a handful of World Cup watch parties being hosted in the Marcus Market parking lot. They are free and open to the public.

• Tuesday, July 14 – at 3 p.m. for France versus Spain

• Wednesday, July 15 – at 3 p.m. (teams to be determined)

• Saturday, July 19 – at 3 p.m. (World Cup Final)

This story was originally published on Midbrow.

Federal regulators say the autonomous vehicle company Waymo must stop its cars from blocking first responders. Waymo has been testing its vehicles in Detroit. The head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the agency found several cases of Waymo driver-less vehicles traveling into emergency scenes, blocking firefighters or failing to stop for flashing lights and flares. Federal regulators say they will meet with autonomous vehicle developers to devise ways to address the problem. A Waymo vehicle will stop, however, if it notices nefarious activity from kids riding in it. A Waymo car in California recently stopped in a parking lot and called police after two teens in its back seat allegedly began drinking alcohol and shooting water beads from a toy gun.

Additional headlines for Friday, July 10, 2026

Bar IX location coming soon?  

Detroit’s first women’s sports bar is crowdfunding to open a permanent space. Bar IX hosts pop-up watch parties for women’s sports. The bar has raised 65 percent of if its 125-thousand-dollar goal since the campaign kicked off on June 30. Organizers are giving away merchandise such as stickers, keychains, and t-shirts with donations. 

African World Festival

The African World Festival is this weekend at Hart Plaza. The festival celebrates culture and history with music, spoken word, food and a retail marketplace. The festival starts today and runs through Sunday. Visit Charles H Wright museum website at for more info and to buy tickets.

Lake St. Clair Metropark to receive updates

Lake St. Clair Metropark is getting 15 million dollars in improvements. The improvements include reopening the North Marina, expanding accessibility across the park, adding new trail connections and modernizing infrastructure. It’s the biggest investment in the park in decades. Renovations at the marina will fully reopen the marina with 78 boat slips for transient docking and bring accessible floating finger docks back to the North Marina basin. All renovations are expected to be completed by the end of summer 2027.

Detroit Riverfront tour

The Detroit Parks Coalition is hosting a free walking tour about the Detroit Riverfront tomorrow, July 11 from 10 a.m. to 11a.m. The tour will give an overview of the history of the riverfront as a well as more info on the newest Ralph C Wilson Centennial Park. Meet at the Dock, located near the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden across from the Plaza. Parking is available along Jefferson Ave, Rosa Parks, and in the nearby Bagley Mobility Hub and Assembly garages.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League held its draft in Detroit last month. Players from around the country and around the world were in town to secure a spot on one of its 12 teams – including the one that will play in the Motor City in the fall.

WDET recruited two young hockey players to cover the event.

Camila Sanchez is a rising sophomore at Cass Technical High School who played center last season with the Livonia Knights. Kyla Foreman played forward with the Downriver Otters before an injury took her out for the season. She’s headed to the 8^th grade.

Both girls learned to play in Clark Park’s hockey program – a program focused on introducing the sport to Latino kids and other kids of color, with a strong focus on girls.

During the PWHL Draft, Camila and Kyla attended press conferences, conducted interviews and recorded events.

They met women who already play for the PWHL, the women who lead the league, and the women who were top prospects for spots on teams across Canada and the U.S.

Camila and Kyla share their memories and reflections on the experience with WDET’s Sascha Raiyn, including their encounter with defender Laila Edwards.

Though Clark Park became famous for hosting ice hockey during the winter, they are teaming up alongside Chandler Park with Motown Lacrosse to teach children box lacrosse this summer.

For those unfamiliar, founder of Motown Lacrosse Liam Mcllroy  says, “it’s a more fun version to train and compete in.”

As the U.S. celebrates a 250th birthday, these practices also serve as a secret history lesson; lacrosse began on Native American soil before the country was founded. “Lacrosse is the oldest team sport here in America,” says Mcllroy. He’s excited to be leading the next generation through the sport.

He joins The Metro to discuss the dynamics of box lacrosse from the costs to the indigenous roots behind the game.

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 Detroit Football Club’s supporting group, the Northern Guard, began Prideraiser in 2017. Every goal scored over the course of June would generate money for the Ruth Ellis Center, a social services agency fighting for LGBTQ+ youth since 1999. 

Prideraiser is now celebrating 10 years in Detroit.

They earned more than $300,000 over the past 10 years, all powered by local volunteer labor. Not only do they paint banners during the month of June, but they work with the community throughout the year. “It’s amazing to see everybody participate,” says Jam Johnston, a board member of the North Guard Supporters.

Johnston and Director of Development and Advancement at the Ruth Ellis Center Jake Lenz joined The Metro to talk about how grassroots organizations came together despite corporate and sports controversies to improve the lives of young queer people.

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 onApple Podcasts,Spotify,YouTube,NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The tuition at Wayne State University is rising by 4% for its undergraduate and graduate students. This comes after a unanimous decision from the university’s board of governors. 

How will this affect the university students? Well, undergraduate students can see a tuition increase of about $250 and graduate students will see an increase of $33 dollars per credit. 

The university increased their tuition last year by 4.5%. According to the school’s officials the 2026-2027 housing rates will not increase. 

This rate increase is following a trend occurring in 4-year public and private universities and colleges across the country––tuition increases due to inflation, a drop off in enrollment post pandemic or uncertainty around state funding. WDET is licensed to Wayne State University.  

Additional headlines for Friday, June 26, 2026

Community Health Assessment shows positive results

This week, the city of Detroit released a Community Health Assessment that revealed that community improvements positively affect the health of residents. 

The report was an assessment of about 6,000 residents, some commuity organizations, public health experts and local data. 

During a press conference about the assessment, Mayor Sheffield expanded the idea of what health means. “Health is much more than what happens inside of a doctor’s office. It is also about prevention. Health is about whether a mother has access to prenatal care. It is about whether a child has healthy food nearby and it is about clean air, safe housing, transportation and whether families can access the care that they need when they need it.”  

Sports 

FIFA

The U.S. had their first loss of the 2026 World Cup to the already eliminated country of Turkey. Turkey kicked a last minute goal to win the match. The U.S. also had mostly reserves playing in the second half of the game to ready the team for their next game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. That game is Wednesday, July 1.  

NFL 
The Lions’ defensive back Terrion Arnold was arrested this week in Tampa, Fla. on alleged felony charges of robbery and kidnapping. 

Six other individuals were arrested, but according to police Arnold was the one coordinating and directing the codefendants. Arnold is from Tallahasse, Fla., which is about 4 hours away from Tampa.  

The Lions said in a statement that they are aware of the news but are not commenting “out of respect of the ongoing legal process.” 

MLB 
The Tigers loss to the Astros yesterday in the score of 4-1. Next game is today at Comerica Park. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.  

Burger Battle

And this weekend get ready for what organizers are calling the biggest burger battle in the Midwest. This weekend the 10 year anniversary of Detroit Burger Battle is going down in the Motor City.

Fifteen of metro Detroit’s top restaurants will bang burgers and chef it up for the crown. Participants of the battle get a single voting card to pick their top 3 burgers. Whoever gets the most votes wins.

This is all going down on Sunday, June 28 from 1-4 p.m. at Shed 5 of the Eastern Market.

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

The Detroit Red Wings do not have a first round pick in the 2026 National Hockey League draft. They traded it, along with a third round selection, to the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Justin Faulk in March.

At the time, the Wings were in a good position to reach the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. They thought adding Faulk would bolster their chances of making the postseason for the first time in almost a decade.

Instead, Detroit collapsed, losing 13 of their last 19 games. The team now has the longest playoff drought in the NHL at 10 seasons.

Besides giving up a first round draft pick, the Wings could lose their team captain this offseason. Dylan Larkin has asked for a trade, preferably to a playoff contender. Larkin has played his entire career in Detroit. But he turns 30 in July and wants to win a Stanley Cup while he can still play at a high level.

Helene St. James covers hockey for the Detroit Free Press. She says Larkin’s desire to leave traces back to the Winter Olympics in February, when he and Team USA won the gold medal.

“I was there covering the team, and I’ve never seen him look happier,” she says. “I think it really hit home to him what he has been missing out on in Detroit.”

Larkin has a no-trade clause but can waive it if General Manager Steve Yzerman finds a team willing to acquire Larkin.

Deal or no deal?

St. James says Yzerman doesn’t have to trade Larkin. If he does, he would want a similar player in return.

“He would need to get an established NHL player in his mid-to late-20s who can play center,” she says. “They really need value players now.”

Larkin listed the Florida Panthers as one of his preferred destinations. They won the Stanley Cup in 2025 but missed the postseason in 2026. And they have already made a big roster move that makes a deal for Larkin unlikely.

Florida acquired Larkin’s Olympics teammate Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators on June 21. Like Larkin, Tkachuk was a team captain and their statistics are similar. But Tkachuk is three years younger than Larkin. And the Panthers gave up several draft picks, including two first-rounders in this year’s draft.

St. James says trading Larkin for draft picks would set Detroit’s rebuild back by several years.

“Those guys are not going to materialize into NHL contributors for a few years, especially later in the draft,” she says.

A new leader waits in the wings

If Yzerman refuses to make a trade, then it would be up to Larkin to decide if he wants to play in 2026-27 or sit out the season. Either way, Yzerman and head coach Todd McLellan could pick a new captain to replace Larkin.

St. James says defenseman Moritz Seider would likely be that player.

“He has emerged as a leader in every respect, on the ice and off the ice,” she says. “He shows up all the time.”

Seider, 25, captained Germany’s national team in the 2026 Olympics. He was also the first player Yzerman drafted when he became GM in 2019.

Detroit Police shot a teenager who was running away from them after they arrested another teen near Campus Martius downtown.

Chief Todd Bettison says officers approached a group of young men and arrested one who was holding a suspicious-looking backpack. He says they searched the backpack and found a gun in it. An 18-year-old started walking away from the group and officers chased him.

Bettison says the officer who shot the fleeing teen feared for his safety. This happened a few hours before the annual fireworks over the Detroit River. Police said the teen was shot several times and is in serious condition. 

Police also arrested minors who violated the city’s 8 p.m. curfew and held them 
until a parent or legal guardian came to get them. (Batcheller/Raiyn) 

– Pat Batcheller contributed to this report

Additional headlines from Tuesday, June 24, 2026

SCOTUS rules against Michigan family

The Supreme Court ruled today against a Michigan family who said their rights were violated when their county sold their house for less than half its open-market value to cover a tax bill of just over $2,000.

Isabella County maintained that auction sale prices are always lower than open real estate transactions. It said requiring foreclosure prices to match the open market would essentially end those sales.  

Project documenting Native boarding schools reaches close

A project that gathered testimonies from more than 360 survivors of Native American Boarding schools has finished its first phase. The Tulsa-based National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition collected video oral histories from Indigenous survivors across 19 states.

The stories will be preserved in the Library of Congress. The project aimed to document the systemic abuse endured in boarding schools and how survivors found healing. 

It identified eight boarding schools that operated in Michigan. Three are still open.

Huron Valley warden on leave following inmate deaths

Jeremy Howard, the warden at Michigan’s only women’s prison has gone on personal leave after three deaths at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility.

The Michigan Department of Corrections told the Detroit Free Press today the leave is “personal and unrelated to current events.” The deaths of Khaira Howard, Rebecca Fackler and Ashley Hoath are still under investigation.

A former corrections officer at the facility was sentenced last week for criminal sexual conduct involving an inmate. The warden at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson has been temporarily assigned to lead the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.  

PWHL announces outside investors

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced the Illitch Company is one of its first two outside investors. Toronto-based Kilmer Sports Ventures is the other.

Mark and Kimbra Walter founded and funded the league in 2023 with hundreds of millions of their own dollars. Mark Walter is the owner of the LA Lakers, the Dodgers, and the LA Spark.

The PWHL has not yet turned a profit but just two and a half years later has doubled its size to 12 teams – including Detroit’s scheduled to play at LCA in the fall. 

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

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority abruptly canceled festivities planned for the Gordie Howe Bridge ribbon cutting tomorrow.

Windsor Detroit Bridge officials said that the US and Canada have agreed to push back the opening of the span in order to take, “the necessary time to resolve outstanding issues”. The statement did not say what those issues are.

President Trump has planned to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge saying that he wants the bridge crossing to be a better deal for the US. Bridge officials haven’t clarified whether the construction of the span is complete.  

Additional headlines for Thursday, June 11, 2026

Charity car show

Local nonprofit Healing Choices is hosting a charity event on Sunday June 14 to support domestic violence survivors. It’s the Healing Choices Charity Car Show at Metro Beach featuring classic cars, hotrods, muscle cars and more.

The Detroit Police Department will be at the event to showcase some of their vehicles. And The organization will also provide resources to survivors.  

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 per ticket and can be purchased at the park entrance.  

Sports updates

FIFA 
Detroit City FC AND the El Paso Locomotive FC tied yesterday 1-1. Before the game the rain was non stop at the Keyworth Stadium but they were still able to have their match. Their next game is Saturday June 13 at 7 p.m. 

Also the Fifa World Cup starts today with co-host Mexico playing the opener in Mexico City against South Africa.

The United States plays their first game against Paraguay tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST at the Los Angeles stadium in Inglewood. 

MLB 
The Tigers lost against the Minnesota Twins yesterday 6-4. We’ll have the results of today’s tie breaker game of this three game series on tomorrow’s DER. 
 
NBA  
Last night, NBA history was made. The New Knicks had the largest finals comeback in history after erasing a 29 point deficit yesterday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Final score was 107-106.  

Henry Ford exhibits to recognize 250 years of the US

And last but not least, to celebrate America’s 250^th year the Henry Ford Museum is showcasing 250 acres of special programming, new exhibitions, exciting events and more to highlight the history of American innovation. 
 
Some of the exhibits will be: 

• Handmade: The Crafting of America  -This exhibit explores how fabrics helped shape American history.
• Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation – This exhibit looks at the important key documents of this nation. The Henry Ford is one of eight institutions across the U.S. where nine original founding-era documents and it will be on display.
• Artemis Adventure with LEGO® Bricks – This exhibit looks at American space exploration to the wonder of legos.  

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

This year’s running of the Detroit Grand Prix is in the books. The temporary walls along Jefferson Avenue will be coming down over the next few days.

While the eyes of race fans in the grandstands and parking decks were drawn to the drivers over the three-day weekend, auto racing is a team sport.

Kyle Kirkwood is driver of the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda and winner of last year’s Detroit Grand Prix. He says the tight downtown streets play into his team’s hands.

“It’s like a thing for us at Andretti,” says Kirkwood, “that we’re really good in slow speed corners. The bumps, the low grip nature of the track, it suits our car.”

Kirkwood and his team came into the weekend looking to gain momentum. The Floridian drove his car to a mid-pack 16th place finish at the Indy 500 just days before coming to the Motor City.

It was a result that Kyle Kirkwood’s race strategist, Bryan Herta, says was a disappointment for the team.

“So we’re looking to kind of just get back on track here with Kyle and get a good result,” says Herta.

As race strategist, it’s Herta’s job to pick through data, communicate with the driver and call pit stops.

“Really I’m playing the telephone game,” he explains. “So we’ve got a number of engineers in the timing stand as well as in the truck relaying information to me throughout the race.”

But cars don’t just show up to the track and race. That’s why the Detroit Grand Prix is a multi-day event.

Practice and qualifying

Practice sessions allow teams to dial in their setup. That comes after teams spend hours running simulations and working on the car at the shop before it ever turns a wheel.

“Car rolls out of the trailer; we hope that we’re good,” says Kyle Kirkwood. “We have some test items that we want to get through.”

If all goes to plan, Kirkwood says his Andretti Honda won’t need too much tweaking.

“If you’re throwing changes at the car, looking for balance, trying to find speed, that’s when you typically fall behind a little bit,” he explains.

After practice comes qualifying, to decide the starting order for race day. Kirkwood says it can be hard to set a clean lap time in Detroit. Traffic is common on the narrow track.

“It’ll create some excitement for sure,” he says. “I don’t like the excitement if I’m being honest, because I think we just have really fast cars. But, same time, if we have a fast car we should be able to do the right thing.”

And he was fast in qualifying. The No. 27 Honda advanced through each round with a chance to start the Detroit Grand Prix on pole.

However, Bryan Herta says an error by Kirkwood on his final qualifying lap cost them a chance to roll off first on Sunday.

“We’ve had a really fast car,” says Herta. “I think we’re a little disappointed with qualifying in sixth.”

Despite that, Herta doesn’t expect the mistake to stick to his driver.

“The thing I’ll say is I really enjoy working with Kyle,” Herta explains. “He doesn’t get too up when things are going well and he doesn’t get down when we’re working through struggles… and he’s fast. He can deliver. He does what we need him to do in races.”

And what Herta needs Kyle Kirkwood to do is not always drive like it’s the last lap of the Detroit Grand Prix.

Strategy

Racing is about more than just raw speed. If you drive the car as hard as it can possibly be driven, you will use more fuel and wear the tires out quicker, slowing you down in the long run.

In IndyCar, there are two different kinds of tire — one that is slower but lasts longer, and one that is fast but has a shorter lifespan.

Teams must run both types of rubber during the race. Herta says that adds an element of strategy crews need to figure out.

“So it’s really just the order in which you want to run your tires that’s going to be the differentiator.”

Race day

On race day, Herta and Kirkwood played their strategy correctly. A well-timed pitstop early in the running allowed the Andretti team to move its way forward and into a fight for the race win.

When the checkered flag flew after 100 laps, Kyle Kirkwood crossed the finish line in second position. He says the result made for a good day.

“You can’t be very upset with starting sixth and finishing second.” — Kyle Kirkwood, IndyCar driver

“You can’t be very upset with starting sixth and finishing second,” says Kirkwood. “We did all the right things. Pit stops were great, strategy was great.”

The result moves the No. 27 Honda up into second place in the season-long championship standings. Unfortunately for the Andretti Global team, it the man leading the title fight, Alex Palou, won the race.

Never-the-less, Kyle Kirkwood says he has his eye set on winning his first title.

“I still think that we can catch up,” says Kirkwood, “It’s not done and lost by any means.”

Kirkwood and Herta still have time to make that happen. As the IndyCar series leaves the Motor City, there are 10 races left to decide this year’s champion.

The IndyCars and other racing machines have competed near Detroit’s Renaissance Center for several years now.

The chair of the Grand Prix, Bud Denker, is also in charge of a one-time race in the nation’s capital that required permission from President Trump.

Denker says organizers of the Detroit Grand Prix are thrilled with how the event is progressing.

Hear more in Quinn Klinfelters interview.