Detroit historian Janese Chapman has died. She led the city’s historic designation advisory board, which aims to protect Detroit’s architectural and cultural heritage.

She also managed the Secondary Street Sign program, which honors well known Detroiters by adding their names to selected roads. Some of the honorees of the Secondary Street Sign program in Detroit include Aretha Franklin, J Dilla, JoAnn Watson, and Viola Liuzzo.

Janese Chapman was 70 years old.

Additional Headlines for Monday Oct. 12, 2026

Michigan Supreme Court weighs case involving an employee at Calvin University 

The Michigan Supreme Court is hearing arguments over the limits of state civil rights laws. One question before the court is whether or not the law applies to discrimination by association.

Lower courts ruled against a man whose Calvin University contract wasn’t renewed after he officiated a same sex wedding.

The courts found his own sex wasn’t an issue in the matter. 

Lawyer Charissa Huang represents the plaintiff. She argues the law was meant to apply beyond just the direct members of a protected class.  

“Allowing this court of appeals holding to stand would have a chilling effect upon people of different races and cultures and sexes and sexual orientations. They could be fired for association with one another with no resources.”

Calvin University’s lawyers argue that since the colleague whose wedding he officiated didn’t face discrimination, the man can’t argue sex-based discrimination on his own.  

Free breast exams offered by the city’s health department

The Detroit Health Department is offering free breast exams tomorrow and next Tuesday. Offerings are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 13 and Oct. 20.

Both free exam dates include educational offerings and light refreshments. The Detroit Health Department is located at 100 Mack Avenue. To register, call 313-876-4319. 

2026 Neighborhood Vitality Survey now available

The 2026 Neighborhood Vitality Survey is now live. Detroit residents aged 18 and up can share their thoughts and experiences around health, safety, housing and other topics.

The first 6,100 respondents will get a $25 gift card for completing the survey. Responses help shape policy and guide funding for community projects. 

$50,000 in field trip funds available through Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Huron-Clinton Metroparks is giving out $50,000 in funds for field trips.

Teachers can apply for the funds through the Huron-Clinton Metroparks’ Get Out and Learn Scholarship program.

The funds pay for field trips for hands-on experiences at the Metroparks or in classrooms.

It also hopes to remove financial barriers for students to participate in more STEM learning. The money can be used to pay for transportation costs for field trips up to $500.

Eligible schools must show they are 50% economically disadvantaged based on the Center for Educational Performance and Information score. In 2025, 54,000 participated in Metroparks field trips or classroom-based learning.

After nearly a year of back and forth with Flat Rock officials and residents, Huron-Clinton Metroparks is advancing a plan to partially remove the Flat Rock Dam and construct ‘rock arch rapids.’

Located in Flat Rock on the Huron River, the 100-year-old dam is in fair condition, but has a “high hazard potential” rating. Despite the risk, Flat Rock residents and officials strongly opposed the Metroparks’ plan for partial removal.

Flat Rock Mayor Steve Beller spoke at an Aug. 14, 2025 board meeting after Flat Rock City Council unanimously passed a resolution to urge Metroparks not to remove the dam.

To buy, or not to buy

In September 2025, Huron-Clinton Metroparks offered to sell the dam to the City of Flat Rock for five dollars and provide an additional $4.5 million to help pay for fish ladder improvements.

The city spent months weighing their options and ultimately decided not to take ownership of the dam. 

Huron-Clinton Metroparks CEO Amy McMillan says the organization respects the City of Flat Rock’s decision:

“No matter how we look at it, this is a change for that community. And so, being transparent and listening and disagreeing where reasonable people will disagree, we’re happy that we’ve come to this conclusion and we’re looking forward to moving forward.”

John Webb, president of the Flat Rock Dam Coalition said in a statement his group supports the partial removal plan, as long as Huron-Clinton Metroparks ensures water levels are maintained. 

“It is critical that the [Huron-Clinton Metroparks] clearly and unequivocally mandate to their engineers and contractors the requirement to maintain existing impoundment waters or preferably raise these water levels.”

Dam removals growing more common

A third of the dams in metro Detroit have “high” or “significant hazard” ratings from the National Dam Inventory. Catastrophic flooding like that seen in Midland with the Edenville Dam failure has drawn attention to questions of ownership and accountability of privately owned dams.

Dam removal is growing more common statewide and nationally. Last year, EGLE announced nearly $15 million dollars in funding for dam removals across the state. To date, Michigan has removed 125 dams. There are roughly 2,500 dams in Michigan.

Proponents of dam removals point to improved river health and biodiversity. They also mitigate the risk of catastrophic dam failures.

In the case of Flat Rock Dam, the Metroparks feasibility study for this project notes improved fish passage for sturgeon, walleye, and salmon to travel up the Huron River to spawn.

Guests:

• Amy McMillan, CEO of Huron-Clinton Metroparks
• Brian Graber, senior director of river restoration at American Rivers. He spoke with the Metro’s David Leins. Dave started by asking why Michigan has so many dams in the first place? 

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