politics

Donavan McKinney, a 32-year-old State Representative for Michigan's 11th House District, has launched his congressional campaign to challenge incumbent Shri Thanedar in Detroit's 13th Congressional District. McKinney, who grew up experiencing Detroit's struggles firsthand, emphasizes his working-class background in contrast to Thanedar's millionaire status and self-funded campaigns. McKinney's platform focuses on economic security, environmental justice, public education, and workers' rights, with his campaign already garnering support from numerous local leaders and the national organization Justice Democrats. The campaign highlights concerns about Thanedar's significant personal campaign funding, taxpayer-funded self-promotion, and corporate PAC contributions while positioning McKinney as an authentic representative who understands the urgent needs of the district's communities.

Bank of America partnered with The Michigan Chronicle to launch a transformative two-part experience in Detroit focused on building generational wealth in Black and under-resourced communities. The initiative included "Bridging Ambition and Wealth" at Michigan Central Station on April 23, featuring keynote speaker Mark Wilson who challenged over 200 attendees to focus on collective prosperity. This was followed by "From Capital to Legacy" on April 25, which provided workshops on business growth, capital access, and financial strategy at New Lab, offering practical tools to turn inspiration into action for building lasting economic legacies in a city where 77% of residents identify as Black or African American.

As the April 22 deadline approaches for Detroit's 2025 mayoral race candidates to submit nominating petitions, only three candidates (City Council President Mary Sheffield, Joel Haashiim, and Jonathan Barlow) have been officially certified for the August 5 primary ballot as of April 17. Former nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins and DaNetta Simpson recently submitted their signatures, while Council Member Fred Durhal III plans to submit on the deadline day, with election officials having 10 days to validate all signatures. The mayoral race is taking shape alongside City Council contests across all districts, with various candidates at different stages of the certification process, and several candidate forums scheduled in the coming months to allow voters to hear directly from those running.

Stormie Anderson, a registered nurse and certified health coach, has launched Stormie Lynn's Weight Loss Supplements as an affordable alternative to expensive medical weight loss injections. The FDA-approved vitamin system includes a morning Fat Burner, Multivitamin Gummies, and evening Detox Supplements containing natural ingredients designed to support metabolism, energy, and gentle detoxification. Anderson developed this solution after witnessing health disparities, including the fact that obesity affects nearly 50% of Black women in the U.S. and is linked to serious health conditions that disproportionately impact this group. During a 21-day trial with 103 participants, the supplements combined with meal plans and light exercise resulted in an average weight loss of 20 pounds per person, demonstrating the product's effectiveness as a more accessible option than traditional treatments that can cost $400-$1,000 monthly without insurance.

The Michigan Chronicle's Pancakes & Politics Forum 2 brought national and local leaders together to discuss the consequences of diminishing federal support and political chaos on communities. For the first time in its 20-year history, the forum featured national voices alongside Michigan's leaders to address how financial and institutional systems are negatively shifting for nonprofits, local governments, and working-class families. Moderated by Dennis Archer Jr., the discussion covered racial disparities in banking, institutional attacks in Washington D.C., manufacturing changes, and the vulnerability of the nonprofit sector, which employs 10% of Michigan's workforce with 90% of nonprofits relying on federal funding. The forum emphasized that Detroit must protect its built systems and community voices rather than waiting for federal solutions.

The Detroit City Council has unanimously approved transferring a 0.58-acre sacred burial mound at Historic Fort Wayne to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) for $1. The mound, dating back to 750 A.D., was once part of the larger Springwells Mound Group consisting of approximately 20 earthworks along a riverside bluff, predating Detroit's founding as a French settlement in 1701. Tribal Chairperson Dorie Rios described the transfer as "the beginning of a renewed era of collaboration" between the tribe and Detroit, emphasizing their goal to protect and preserve the mound where their ancestors are buried. The action represents an attempt to rectify historical wrongs, as many of the original mounds were destroyed during archaeological excavations that removed human remains and artifacts, with the NHBP having previously reclaimed and reburied ancestral remains from the mound group in 2014.

The Michigan Chronicle's Pancakes & Politics forum, now in its 20th year, will host its second session of the season on April 17, focusing on the impacts of federal funding reductions on Michigan communities. The forum will feature panelists Nicole Sherard-Freeman, Don Graves, David Egner, Kelly Kuhn, and Michael T. Pugh, who bring expertise from various sectors to discuss solutions to the funding crisis. As Angelique Power of The Skillman Foundation emphasized, these cuts will disproportionately affect vulnerable populations who rely on nonprofit services like after-school programs, food banks, and health centers. The forum aims to foster collaboration between public and private sectors to develop resilient strategies that address the inequitable impact of budget cuts, particularly on Black and Brown communities.

Detroit Metro Airport's McNamara Terminal is deploying autonomous wheelchairs developed by Whill Inc. through a partnership between Delta subsidiary Unifi Aviation LLC and the Wayne County Airport Authority. Starting Monday, these wheelchairs will offer passengers with limited mobility the ability to navigate independently using a control pad, equipped with safety features like collision-avoidance sensors and emergency stop buttons. The pilot program, funded by a grant from the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform, represents a step toward greater accessibility and inclusion at the airport. After completing trips, the wheelchairs automatically return to their base station near the terminal's front water feature, improving efficiency and ensuring availability for other travelers.

The 4th Annual Ride for Equity, hosted by Black Leaders Detroit, will feature cyclists traveling 1,645 miles from Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Wall Street in New York City from May 31 to July 4, 2025. This cross-country journey aims to raise awareness and funds to close the racial capital gap and support African American entrepreneurs in their quest for economic justice. Led by CEO Dwan Dandridge, the event highlights how Black entrepreneurs and labor have historically generated wealth that has been stripped away or denied to them. Participants can join the full route or ride independently, with those raising at least $100 receiving an official jersey.

Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans delivered his 10th State of the County address at Woodhaven High School, highlighting a decade of transformation under his leadership with the theme "Collaboration is the new currency." Evans emphasized how Wayne County has moved from near-bankruptcy to financial stability with ten consecutive balanced budgets and an improved credit rating. The address detailed numerous initiatives including programs to eliminate medical debt, distribute fresh produce through Eastern Market, provide financial support to expecting mothers, deliver free eyeglasses to students, and invest in infrastructure improvements. Evans also highlighted public safety achievements and emphasized the importance of countywide transit reform that will eliminate opt-out provisions by 2026, requiring all communities to participate in transit planning.

The Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) has launched the #DontTouchMe movement in Detroit to address systemic failures in protecting child abuse survivors. This initiative was sparked by cases like Na’Ziyah Harris and a 12-year-old who reported misconduct by her stepfather, a police officer. The campaign demands accountability and reforms to support survivors. NSO provides same-day and next-day support for survivors and advocates for mandatory trauma-informed training for law enforcement, judges, and investigators.

The Detroit City Council recently passed a $3 billion budget for 2025-26, revising roughly $36 million of Mayor Mike Duggan's initial proposal to better align with residents' needs across areas including affordable housing, youth employment, senior transit, and small business equity. This marks the 12th consecutive balanced budget since Detroit's 2014 bankruptcy exit and is Duggan's final budget as mayor, with his veto deadline set for April 11. Detroit's financial structure relies on four main revenue sources: $432 million from income tax, $292 million from casino wagering taxes, $174 million in property taxes, and $253 million in state revenue sharing. Council members negotiated through late nights to redirect funds toward core community needs, managing to reshape 2% of the General Fund and 1% of the entire budget despite only $1.58 billion being eligible for discretionary changes.

Detroit artists Asaka The Renegade and Sam Watson recently competed in T-Pain's March Music Madness competition, with Asaka ultimately winning the contest. The competition, personally funded by Grammy-winning artist T-Pain, offered an impressive prize package including a single deal with Nappy Boy Entertainment, a feature from T-Pain, marketing support, a new car, and studio equipment. Despite facing thousands of competitors and a scandal where another contestant attempted to block Asaka from advancing through underhanded tactics, Asaka persevered and emerged victorious on April 1st. Both artists, who are signed to CM2 Entertainment, view this achievement as a significant milestone for themselves and for Detroit's music scene, with Asaka now focusing on his upcoming record with T-Pain.