Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Before yesterdayMain stream

Nonprofit holds contest to find biggest trees in Michigan

9 June 2025 at 11:00

The two-year search is almost over for participants of the Big Tree Hunt

The contest, held by environmental nonprofit ReLeaf, challenges everyday citizens to try and find the biggest trees in Michigan. 

There are five prize-winning categories, including:

  • Largest tree submitted by someone under 15
  • Largest tree submitted by someone 16 and up
  • Largest tree by county
  • Largest white pine (Michigan’s state tree)
  • Any tree that is equal to or greater than the current state champion of a species

“We wanted to get people outside and looking up and being aware of trees and their benefits,” said ReLeaf Executive Director Melinda Jones. She hopes that the friendly competition better connects people with nature and tree conservation.

Looking for trees is one way ReLeaf engages families with young kids, but contestants span all ages.

“It also appeals to a lot of retirees,” said Jones. “They get just as big of a kick.”

ReLeaf reports that they’ve gotten submissions from 70 counties in Michigan so far. They hope to see submissions from the remaining 13 counties: Baraga, Branch, Hillsdale, Lake, Luce, Menominee, Montcalm, Newaygo, Ontonagon, Osceola, Otsego, Schoolcraft and Tuscola. 

Crowning new champion trees

ReLeaf also wants Michiganders to work together to find new state and national champion trees.

Big Tree Hunt entries are sent to the Michigan Big Tree Register. Specialists then add additional information such as the height of the tree and its overall health before the tree is added to the national register. 

Michigan currently has five recognized National Champion Trees.

How to enter

All you need to enter the Big Tree Hunt is a tree’s circumference at “chest height” — that’s 4.5 feet above the ground — and the tree’s location. All entered trees have to be alive, accessible, and new additions to the Michigan Big Tree Register in order to win prizes.

After submissions close, the biggest trees entered into the contest are verified by volunteers, who verify the circumference and species of the nomination. 

The last day to enter online or through mail is August 22, 2025. 

bigtreesfb

A photo submission from the 2023-2025 Big Tree Hunt, provided by ReLeaf Michigan

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post Nonprofit holds contest to find biggest trees in Michigan appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit Evening Report: InsideOut Literary Arts celebrates 30 years with new mural

6 June 2025 at 20:45

Detroit’s “largest and oldest literary nonprofit,” InsideOut Literary Arts, celebrated its 30-year anniversary last week by unveiling a new Detroit City Walls mural along the Avenue of Fashion.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The mural was designed by artist Oshun Williams and inspired by InsideOut student poet Charisma Holly. It features a quote from her poem entitled “If I wake up in Detroit 25 years in the future,” which reads “In the Detroit City, the D has always been for dreams.”

The mural is located on the side of the Yoshi Hibachi Grille on Livernois Avenue along Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion.

“Detroit is where I was born and raised,” Holly said. “I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of this mural project because Detroit is truly the place where I learned to dream big.”

Other headlines for Friday, June 6, 2025:

  • Money Matters for Youth is looking for help to keep their student trip to Washington D.C. alive.
  • Motor City Pride is taking over downtown this weekend, June 7-8 at Hart Plaza, with the parade beginning at noon on Sunday.
  • The city celebrated the opening of the Orchard Village Apartments with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, bringing 48 affordable units across four buildings to the Old Redford neighborhood.
  • Michigan’s First Native American Music and Cultural Festival, Vibes With the Tribes, is coming to the Russell Industrial Center this Saturday, June 7, with doors opening at 2 p.m.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post Detroit Evening Report: InsideOut Literary Arts celebrates 30 years with new mural appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit Evening Report: Dearborn receives ‘Tree City USA’ status for 38th year

6 June 2025 at 02:09

The Arbor Day Foundation has renewed Dearborn’s “Tree City USA” status for its efforts to maintain a healthy tree canopy. 

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Timothy Hawkins, Dearborn’s public works director, says the city has kept the title for 38 years. 

“We continually make the investment to be a Tree City, and we continually plant more than we remove to maintain our tree city status,” Hawkins said.

He says the city planted 1,200 trees in 2024 and removed about a 1,000 due to disease or construction.

To qualify for Tree City USA status, cities must adhere to the standards laid out by the Arbor Day Foundation, including maintaining a dedicated department for tree management, passing a tree care ordinance, and spending a minimum of $2 per capita annually on its forestry program.

“We’re proud of this designation and plan on keeping our status as a Tree City USA community for many years to come,” said Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud in a news release. “We understand the importance of trees not just to our neighborhoods, but to public health and air quality, which is why we’re intentional in our tree planting efforts.”

Other headlines for Thursday, June 5, 2025:

  • The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says there’s an increase in recreational nitrous oxide use, or laughing gas, leading to more emergency room visits.
  • Detroit’s Kronk Gym is making its return to the city under new management and at a new location — the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center.
  • Smoke from Canadian wildfires will linger over metro Detroit through the first half of the day on Friday. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued air quality alerts for the entire Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula.
  • Outlier Media is hosting an audio recording training with Detroit Documenter and assistant producer for WDET’s The Metro, Jack Filbrandt. The training will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. June 12 at Tech Town.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post Detroit Evening Report: Dearborn receives ‘Tree City USA’ status for 38th year appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: The important legacy and activism behind Motor City Pride

5 June 2025 at 18:30

The streets of Detroit will be filled with color and courage this weekend as Motor City Pride returns to Hart Plaza June 7-8.

The annual festival and parade is Michigan’s largest LGBTQ+ pride event, but it offers much more than just a celebration.

Fifty-six years after the Stonewall Uprising ignited the modern movement for LGBTQ rights, Pride remains both a celebration and a protest. And in 2025, that duality feels more urgent. Since January, the Trump administration has enacted multiple executive orders rolling back LGBTQ protections. 

These federal actions mirror a broader national trend. More than 580 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year alone, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. These bills target health care, education, and public accommodations.

In this climate, Motor City Pride is more than a parade. It’s a declaration that visibility is vital. 

Dave Wait, chairperson of Motor City Pride, joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss the event’s history and important legacy of advocacy and what that looks like in today’s political climate.

–WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: The important legacy and activism behind Motor City Pride appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: Detroit youth shine at Keys2Life Performing Arts Summer Camp

4 June 2025 at 17:33

Finding enriching child care options can often be a challenge for parents during the summer months, especially for those looking for programs specifically geared toward the arts.

For the past 12 years, Wayne State University’s “Keys2Life Performing Arts Summer Camp” has provided that outlet to metro Detroit students ages 11–13.

The six-week day camp program, led by Detroit youth nonprofit The Yunion, offers a diverse range of performing arts experiences, led by top Detroit artists, mentors and certified teachers. 

Camp Director Darell Campbell Jr. joined The Metro on Tuesday to share more about what this year’s program will entail.

Registration is now open for the day camp, which runs 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 30 through Aug. 8 on the campus of Wayne State University. For more information, including rates, visit theyunion.org/camp.

—WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: Detroit youth shine at Keys2Life Performing Arts Summer Camp appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

MSU urban planning professor says Detroit’s next mayor should invest in neighborhoods

4 June 2025 at 16:53

Detroit residents will be voting for a new Mayor this year, and one Michigan State University Professor has some ideas on how the winner can improve support for neighborhoods during their term.

Deyanira Nevárez Martínez is an associate professor of urban and regional planning at MSU. She recently wrote an article for The Conversation outlining where Detroit needs the most work. 

She says there needs to be a focus on ensuring new growth in the city does not displace legacy residents.

“Maybe you look into programs where you can suspend their property taxes for a few years, or you look into programs that will help them invest into their own property and be able to make sure that they can stay in their property.”

Martinez suggested investing in more social infrastructure such as after school programs and community health clinics.

“There is a growing number of folks who need assistance with their housing. They’re not unhoused.” Martinez said. “They are struggling to pay rent, or they’re struggling with other issues. They need assistance with their health care. They need assistance with their schooling, and so those things are incredibly important as well for a thriving community.”

Martinez says the next mayor should prioritize developing more housing on vacant land in the city.

“We insist on having single family residential housing, and potentially, if you have a neighborhood that has several of these lots that are vacant, you can build duplexes on them or triplexes,” Martinez said. “Bring more density into a neighborhood, and then also bring housing types that could be accessible to different kinds of folks in the area as well.”

She also suggested investment in other vacant land opportunities that benefit neighborhood communities, highlighting the city’s solar neighborhood initiative as a great use of vacant land if done responsibly.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post MSU urban planning professor says Detroit’s next mayor should invest in neighborhoods appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro at MPC: Skillman CEO on investing in Detroit’s next generation

29 May 2025 at 20:38

The Skillman Foundation is one of Detroit’s most influential philanthropic organizations, using millions of dollars to shape education policy and priorities in the city.

As Detroit’s public schools struggle with chronic underfunding, low literacy rates, and crumbling infrastructure, Skillman’s decisions hold real weight for educators, parents and children.

Angelique Power, president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation, joined The Metro during the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference to talk about how the foundation is leveraging its wealth and influence to change the trajectory for Detroit kids.

Power said while people across Michigan want something better for Detroit youth, the education systems in the city are “complicated.”

“History matters in terms of the things that have happened to Detroit,” she said. “Whether it is things that policy has done, things that philanthropy sometimes have done, often it happened to Detroiters, or for Detroiters, but not with Detroiters.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro at MPC: Skillman CEO on investing in Detroit’s next generation appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

DER Weekends: Hoarding is common. A local woman wants help to be just as common

24 May 2025 at 12:00

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we hear a local woman’s story of discovering and trying to address her mother’s hoarding.

Brenda McGadney says her work as a social worker focused on gerontology did not prepare her to identify her mother as a hoarder or to address it.

Hoarding disorder affects about 3% of the population. Older adults and people who experience depression and anxiety are more susceptible to the condition than others.

McGadney told WDET’s Sascha Raiyn that she turned to family, clergy and community professionals for help. They weren’t prepared to help either. Now, McGadney is working to increase awareness about the disorder and to advocate for a Hoarders Task Force in Wayne County.

Listen to the episode using the media player above.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post DER Weekends: Hoarding is common. A local woman wants help to be just as common appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: Jalen Rose’s next play is championing education and community empowerment

21 May 2025 at 19:27

Jalen Rose is probably best known for what he’s done on the basketball court. He was one of the leaders of the University of Michigan’s Fab Five basketball team in the ’90s, and then went on to play for various teams in the NBA before becoming a broadcaster. 

But in addition to his many accolades in sports, Rose has been an advocate for educational equity — giving back to the city he grew up and started his career in. In 2011, he started the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy charter school in Detroit, which is now expanding to Royal Oak Township. 

Rose is also hosting an event in Detroit this week as a part of the “State of the People POWER Tour” — a national grassroots campaign to center Black voices and advance the Black community through service and strategic action. He joined The Metro to share more about the tour and his life in Detroit.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: Jalen Rose’s next play is championing education and community empowerment appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: Ypsilanti nonprofit empowering local youth through poetry

20 May 2025 at 18:55

Literacy rates in Michigan lag behind the national average, with the pandemic making things even more difficult for students — both in Michigan and across the country.

A fairly new Ypsilanti nonprofit, Dzanc House, is working to support youth in Washtenaw County through literary and cultural arts programming and workshops.

To talk about the organization’s efforts to support youth literacy, Charlene Choi, director of programs and communications for Dzanc House, and Digital Coordinator Paola Ortega joined the show.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: Ypsilanti nonprofit empowering local youth through poetry appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit Evening Report: EPA lifts emergency order on Flint drinking water

20 May 2025 at 20:45

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has lifted the emergency order on the city of Flint’s drinking water.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The EPA announced Monday that Flint’s water system is now in compliance with lead standards and has replaced over 97% of lead pipes carrying water to homes.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says it’s a major accomplishment.

“The EPA has been working closely with our state and local partners in Flint, Michigan for several years to restore safe drinking water. It’s been a long, arduous journey, but significant progress has been made over the last decade to revitalize their water infrastructure and ultimately achieve this goal,” Zeldin said. “It’s been more than nine years since the emergency order was placed in January 2016, after a switch in drinking water source caused the corrosion of pipes and leaching of lead into resident’s homes. 

–Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley, WDET News.

Other headlines for Tuesday, May 20, 2025:

  • The state has launched an initiative it hopes will make it easier for workers and employers to manage substance abuse recovery. The Michigan Recovery Friendly Workplace program provides education for managers, owners and human resources staff on policies, practices and issues related to substance use disorder. 
  • Detroit Champions of Hope and Black Mother’s Breastfeeding Association Mommy Ambassadors are inviting families to the “Capture Black Joy” event at 5 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the James E. Tate Community Center, 21511 W. McNichols Rd. Registration is open to the first 50 families with children under 7, and includes access to giveaways, community resources and a free family portrait.
  • Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post Detroit Evening Report: EPA lifts emergency order on Flint drinking water appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Honoring a legend: Detroit celebrates Amp Fiddler Day with street renaming

20 May 2025 at 18:07

Love poured out onto the corner of 7 Mile and Revere Street on Friday, May 16, as the city of Detroit honored one of its most gifted, generous and influential musical sons: Joseph “Amp” Fiddler.

In a ceremony filled with rhythm, reverence and raw emotion, the city officially unveiled Amp Fiddler Avenue, permanently inscribing his name on the very block where so much of his magic was made.

It was the centerpiece of the second annual Amp Fiddler Day, a now-official recognition established by the Detroit City Council to commemorate a life lived in the service of music, community and connection.

Progressive Underground Host Chris Campbell speaks at the unveiling of Amp Fiddler Avenue in Conant Gardens, Detroit, May 16, 2025.
Community members gather to celebrate the renaming of Revere Street in Detroit to Amp Fiddler Avenue, May 16, 2025.
Artist J.R. Strozier paints a portrait of Amp Fiddler during the Amp Fiddler Avenue unveiling on Friday, May 16, 2025.
A painting by local artist J.R. Strozier is displayed during the Amp Fiddler Day celebration on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (from left, Amp Fiddler's widow Tombi Stewart Fiddler, and Detroit Councilmember Coleman A. Young II at the Amp Fiddler Avenue unveiling, May 16, 2025.

I stood there on that familiar street, not just as the event’s host, but also as someone deeply connected to the man we honored. Amp was my friend. We were both raised in Conant Gardens, a neighborhood that has quietly birthed giants.

“To be part of this day wasn’t just professional. It was personal. It was a full-circle moment.”

–Chris Campbell, host, The Progressive Underground

He appeared on The Progressive Underground more than any other guest I’ve hosted in the show’s 13-year history — his spirit, warmth and fearless creativity made him not just a friend of the show, but by extension, a friend of WDET. To be part of this day wasn’t just professional. It was personal. It was a full-circle moment.

Amp was more than a master musician. He was a musical architect and a connector of generations. His fingerprints are on the sounds of Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince, Maxwell, Seal and Tony Allen. He infused Detroit soul into every synth line and groove he touched, creating an unmistakable sonic signature that made him a legend’s legend. But his true genius may have been the space he created for others.

It was in his modest home studio on Revere Street where countless artists gathered — where conversations turned into collaborations, and where a young James Yancey, better known as J Dilla, was handed his first MPC and a passport to change the future of hip-hop and neo-soul.

On this day, dignitaries, artists, family members, community elders and students came together to lift up Amp’s name and legacy. Councilmember Scott Benson opened the ceremony by reading the formal city resolution that first established Amp Fiddler Day and affirmed the renaming of Revere Street to Amp Fiddler Avenue.

He was joined by Councilmember Coleman A. Young II, who offered personal reflections, and Detroit Entertainment Commission Chair John Collins, who honored Amp’s influence on the city’s creative economy.

Poetic tributes came from internationally-renowned poet/activist/actor Mike-E (Mike Ellison), while Michigan State University faculty members Julian Chambliss, Mark Sullivan, Terra Goforth, Natasha T. Miller and John Collins offered insight into Amp’s cultural legacy.

Written words were shared from T3 of Slum Village, Ma Dukes, the mother of J Dilla and RJ Rice of RJ’s Latest Arrival, acknowledging Amp’s impact on their personal and professional journeys, and how he helped nurture a global movement through music.

But it was Amp’s wife and creative partner, Tombi Stewart Fiddler, who delivered the day’s most powerful remarks. Through tears and deep composure, she spoke of Amp not only as a world-renowned musician, but as a man who led with love, whose humility and compassion uplifted everyone he encountered. She announced the continuation of his legacy through the Camp Amp Foundation and stewardship of his estate, ensuring his work and vision will continue to nurture the next generation.

The program ended with nationally-renowned songstress Monica Blaire leading the crowd in a joyful countdown as the veil was lifted from the new street sign, officially renaming Revere as Amp Fiddler Avenue. Cheers erupted, and Amp’s music floated through the air as a soundtrack to a moment long overdue.

In a city known for birthing genius and too often letting that genius go uncelebrated, Friday’s ceremony stood as a righteous act of recognition.

Amp Fiddler was more than a sound. He was a force. A neighbor. A mentor. A beacon. Detroit showed up to say: We see you. We remember you. We honor you.

And now, every time someone turns onto Amp Fiddler Avenue, they’ll be reminded that love, art and community live on, in the city Amp helped shape, and in all the souls he helped set free.

Support the shows you love.

WDET’s unique music programs are dedicated to exploring the music and culture of our region and the world. Keep the music going. Please make a gift today.

Give now »

The post Honoring a legend: Detroit celebrates Amp Fiddler Day with street renaming appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

DER Weekends: ‘Shustho’ series explores how health insurance access, community care impacts Bangladeshi women

17 May 2025 at 12:00

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we listen to the third story in WDET reporter Nargis Rahman’s series Shustho.

The four-part series explores the barriers Bangladeshi women face in accessing high quality health care, and efforts to bridge those gaps.

In this story, we visit the Health Unit on Davison Avenue (HUDA) — the largest free health clinic in Wayne County — to learn about the services it provides to members of the community without health insurance.

Stay tuned to DER Weekends throughout the month of May to hear the entire four-part series.

Listen to the episode using the media player above.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post DER Weekends: ‘Shustho’ series explores how health insurance access, community care impacts Bangladeshi women appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: New National Public Housing Museum offers stories of hope, amid struggle

14 May 2025 at 19:32

The muted complexes and concrete towers that paint the image of America’s public housing tell a deeper story. It’s a story of segregation, of communities trying to survive along the margins, and of money and power shaping neighborhoods.

In Detroit — as in many places — it’s a layered story, one that involves neighborhoods like Black Bottom and Paradise Valley — majority Black middle-class communities that were razed in the late 1950s in the name of “urban renewal.” Many of the residents who were displaced were promised better housing in public projects, but those promises rarely came to fruition. 

But even in the most challenging times, many public housing residents have made the best of it, raising children, organizing neighbors, and demanding more. Now, a new museum in Chicago is illuminating those histories — not to romanticize them, but to confront them.

The National Public Housing Museum honors the people who made homes in a system stacked against them. It also asks: What should public housing in America look like today, and how can it be a place where people and families can thrive?

Lisa Yun Lee, executive director and chief curator at the museum, joined The Metro to help us answer these questions.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: New National Public Housing Museum offers stories of hope, amid struggle appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit Evening Report: Belle Isle fountain closing for $6M in renovations

13 May 2025 at 21:35

Belle Isle’s James Scott Memorial Fountain will undergo an 18-month, $6 million renovation beginning this weekend. 

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple PodcastsSpotifyNPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is working quickly to use the remaining American Rescue Plan Act funding allocated to the park to replace the bowl of the fountain. 

DNR spokesperson Tim Bissett said this year marks the centennial anniversary for the iconic fountain. 

“It’s unfortunate that we can’t run it during that anniversary,” he said. “But obviously the time constraints to be able to do that preclude us from being able to run it this year and then wait, we have that very strict guideline and that timeline that we have to stick by in order to get the project done.” 

The DNR is replacing the bowl and foundation beams of the fountain. 

The department expects the renovations to be completed by the end of next year, with plans to restart the fountain in 2027. 

Other headlines for Tuesday, May 13, 2025: 

  • Free enrollment for Pre-K is now open for all families across Michigan, regardless of income for the 2025-26 school year.
  • Michigan State Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) launched his campaign for U.S. Senate on Sunday.
  • The Detroit Public Library is hosting free estate planning workshops through the spring and summer seasons, with the first one taking place on May 17. The workshop will cover planning tools such as wills, deeds, and trust agreements.
  • The Coleman A. Young Recreation Center reopened over the weekend after an $11 million renovation and a five-year closure. Improvements include parking lot repairs, EV charging stations, new exterior windows, gym floor refinishing, pool system enhancements and updated HVAC and electrical systems.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post Detroit Evening Report: Belle Isle fountain closing for $6M in renovations appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

DER Weekends: ‘Shustho’ series explores how cultural awareness among health care professionals impacts Bangladeshi women

10 May 2025 at 12:00

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we listen to the second story in WDET reporter Nargis Rahman’s series Shustho.

The four-part series explores the barriers Bangladeshi women face in accessing high quality health care, and efforts to bridge those gaps.

In the second story, we meet several Bangladeshi American health care professionals working to provide culturally competent care to women in their community. Rahman explores how culture, relationships and education affect how Bangladeshi women experience treatment.

Stay tuned to DER Weekends throughout the month of May to hear the entire four-part series.

Listen to the episode using the media player above.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post DER Weekends: ‘Shustho’ series explores how cultural awareness among health care professionals impacts Bangladeshi women appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit Evening Report: State raises awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People

8 May 2025 at 21:14

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has expanded its support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. 

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The National Institute of Justice reports that four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced domestic violence 

Lorna Elliott-Egan is the director of tribal government services and policy at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She says there are about 4,000 open cases in Michigan of MMIPs. 

“When we look at Native American data, we generally know that the impact is much more than the data reflects, because it’s not always easy to collect those numbers,” she said. “You can’t look at your neighbor and know whether they’re Native American or not, unless they tell you and are they enrolled in a tribe.”

Elliott-Egan says there is grant funding for domestic violence and crime victim programs for members of the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan. 

“They have their own domestic violence programs, human services programs, health clinics, their own tribal police, and so each one of those tribes is working sort of off of a federal template to create a murdered and missing indigenous persons plan for When these things occur,” she said.

Elliot-Egan says the state is working on a resource hub for Native American residents to find information in one place. 

Other headlines for Thursday, May 8, 2025:

  • The TRUE Community Credit Union is providing $75,000 over five years to the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) to set up a recovery center for substance use disorders.   
  • The Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition is hosting its 16th Annual Hamtramck Health Hike from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 17. The first 400 people will receive freebies. Register at tinyurl.com/HealthHike
  • The city of Warren is hosting its second annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Celebration from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave. The event will feature music, food and vendors.
  • The supermarket La Jalisciense is expanding to Taylor, Michigan. The supermarket offers Mexican cafeteria style foods and groceries. The new store, La Jali, is an expansion of its Southwest Detroit store that’s been family run for over a decade. The new store is located at 9411 Telegraph Rd.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post Detroit Evening Report: State raises awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: Reflecting on motherhood ahead of Mother’s Day

By: Sam Corey
8 May 2025 at 16:41

No matter who you are, being a parent is a tough job. There’s no one definitive playbook for how to best love and guide your kids. 

And mothers are frequently the ones to care and nurture us, to keep us in line when it matters and to expose us to different people and places. 

The former U.S. Surgeon General said last year that parental stress is a significant public health issue. But we know that, in addition to the challenges, there are a lot of joys that come with motherhood. 

There are opportunities for creating stronger connections, for providing and maybe sometimes receiving care and for expanding love. 

And as Mother’s Day is coming up, we’re looking at what a day in the life of a mom is like. Today on The Metro, two mothers from different places in our region share their perspective on motherhood and what it means to them.

Ambra Redrick runs the nonprofit Teen Hype in Detroit. She has two biological daughters and her husband has two children that she helps raise as well. Lori Goldman is a mom of four.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: Reflecting on motherhood ahead of Mother’s Day appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Metro Detroit election results: Voters approve school bonds in Ferndale, Redford

7 May 2025 at 19:49

Voters across metro Detroit made key decisions on school funding, local government changes, and city leadership in the May 6 special election.

To learn more about this special election visit the “Michigan special elections: What metro Detroiters should know before May 6” published on May 2, 2025

✅ Ferndale voters approved both a school improvement bond (70% yes) and a Headlee override millage (58% yes).

✅ Redford Union School District passed a $44 million bond proposal with 54% support.

✅ Southgate Community Schools saw all three of its funding proposals pass.

❌ Mount Clemens voters rejected a $91.8 million bond proposal for school upgrades, with 67% voting no.

❌ Lamphere Schools in Madison Heights also failed to secure an $85 million bond, with 58% opposed.

❌ Clawson voters turned down two charter amendments related to city council size and term lengths.

🏛 In Wyandotte, Mayor Robert DeSana was reelected with 79% of the vote. Six city council members were also elected, and three administrative offices were uncontested.

For full details, visit the Detroit Free Press election coverage.

Know your rights

Voter intimidation hotlines:

  • English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
  • Spanish bilingual: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)
  • Arabic bilingual: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)
  • Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali (all bilingual): 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)
  • American Sign Language video-call: 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683)

Michigan’s primary election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. Check back for updates to WDET’s Voter Guide as the election gets closer.

Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.

WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

Donate today »

The post Metro Detroit election results: Voters approve school bonds in Ferndale, Redford appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

❌
❌