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Energy bills fluctuate during winter months due to several key factors that increase consumption. Homes require more natural gas and electricity to maintain comfortable temperatures in cold weather, with older homes experiencing even greater energy demands due to inadequate insulation and outdated windows. Holiday activities compound the problem through increased hosting, decorative lighting, and additional appliance usage. Additionally, billing cycles that vary between 26 and 35 days depending on when service started and weekend/holiday adjustments can create the appearance of inconsistent charges even when actual usage remains steady. # Key Takeaways

After retiring from a 21-year Navy career, DeShawn W. established a Detroit-based business connecting communities with essential services and discovered a significant shortage of certified contractors to help local families improve their homes' energy efficiency. He participated in the DTE Energy Efficiency Academy, a paid training program created in 2023 with Walker-Miller Energy Services that provides hands-on instruction and nationally recognized certifications in energy-related trades. Through the Academy, DeShawn obtained multiple Building Performance Institute certifications that now enable him to conduct energy assessments helping homeowners access free upgrades and rebates. His success demonstrates how the program transforms individual careers while simultaneously addressing Detroit's critical need for energy-efficient housing improvements that reduce families' utility expenses.

DTE Energy and Detroit have commenced construction on the Van Dyke/Lynch Solar Park, a 42-acre facility that represents one of five solar installations under the city's Neighborhood Solar Initiative. The project will produce 10 megawatts of renewable electricity starting in June 2026, sufficient to power over 2,000 residences and help operate municipal facilities including City Hall and emergency services buildings. Nearby residents will receive home energy efficiency improvements valued at up to $15,000 through DTE's program. This community-driven development supports Detroit's objective to transition all municipal buildings to clean power by 2034 and aligns with DTE's targets of achieving 50% renewable energy by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The family of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. has issued a statement correcting misleading media coverage about his health status. The civil rights leader is currently hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in stable condition while receiving treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurological condition he was diagnosed with earlier this year. Despite reports suggesting otherwise, he is not dependent on life support equipment and is breathing independently. The family expressed gratitude for medical care and public support, while his son Yusef confirmed that Reverend Jackson remains engaged in his advocacy work, recently calling for churches to provide food assistance during the holidays.

Dr. Anthony O. Kellum argues that Black Americans can reverse decades of systemic disinvestment in their communities through strategic property ownership and local investment. He explains that when Black residents purchase homes and businesses within their own neighborhoods, they create economic stability, retain wealth within the community, and prevent displacement-driven gentrification. The article emphasizes that despite a persistent 30-percentage-point racial homeownership gap, modern lending tools and strategic approaches can help close this divide. Kellum advocates for community-centered ownership as a pathway to both individual wealth building and collective economic empowerment that benefits entire neighborhoods. # Key Takeaways

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, DTE Energy, and Boston-based Lightstar Renewables broke ground on a major solar energy project that will convert 165 acres of vacant and blighted land across ten Detroit neighborhoods into solar arrays. The project will generate approximately 10 megawatts of clean energy to power 127 municipal buildings, including police and fire stations, with the first phase expected to be operational by summer 2026. While some residents welcomed the investment and improvements to long-neglected areas, the city had to use eminent domain lawsuits on nearly 100 parcels, though 21 occupied homeowners voluntarily agreed to sell for $90,000 each. Additionally, nearly 250 households in participating neighborhoods received between $15,000 and $25,000 for home energy efficiency upgrades like roof repairs, windows, and furnaces.

Detroit Council Member Scott Benson has requested a legal opinion on how the city could close the Kronos concrete mixing facility in District 3, following community protests. The facility, built in 2022 in the Cadillac Heights neighborhood by a Moroun family-owned real estate company, has operated despite initially lacking proper permits and has generated numerous environmental and quality-of-life complaints from local residents. Neighbors have specifically reported health issues from noise and dust pollution from the plant. Benson, who has faced criticism from residents who believe he enabled the plant's establishment, claims he previously helped temporarily shut down the facility and is now working to change zoning rules that permit industrial operations near residential areas.

The I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project in Detroit is facing divided opinions as Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) moves forward with plans to replace the freeway with a boulevard. While MDOT frames the project as improving safety and infrastructure, many community leaders, including Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, criticize the plan for failing to address the historical injustice of displacing over 100,000 people from Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods during the freeway's original construction in 1964. Despite receiving a $104.6 million federal grant and conducting numerous engagement sessions, concerns persist about whether the project genuinely repairs past harm or simply facilitates redevelopment that may not benefit those originally impacted, with critics noting that MDOT avoids using the term "reparative" in its materials.

Campus Martius Park in Detroit has been named the No. 1 Public Square in America for the third consecutive year by USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) and the City of Detroit have transformed this historic space at the intersection of Woodward and Michigan Avenues into a vibrant community hub that draws more than 4.5 million visitors annually. The park hosts over 1,200 free events each year and has become a model for urban reinvention that prioritizes community needs while earning numerous national accolades. This recognition highlights Detroit's approach to urban development that centers inclusion and cultural relevance rather than gentrification, making Campus Martius Park not just a physical space but what DDP's chief public spaces officer David Cowan describes as "the soul of the city."

The Bank of America and The Michigan Chronicle are presenting a two-part experience in Detroit this April for changemakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders focused on ambition, unity, and generational wealth. The first event, "Bridging Ambition and Wealth: A Networking Experience for Legacy Builders," will be held on April 23, 2025, at Michigan Central Station featuring keynote speaker Mark Wilson, an award-winning entrepreneur and author of "The Remarkable Power of Us." Following this, attendees can participate in "From Capital to Legacy: Unlocking Generational Success," a workshop on April 25, 2025, at the New Lab at Michigan Central Station offering tactical insights on accessing capital, sustainable growth strategies, and building generational wealth. The workshops will include expert-led sessions on business succession strategies, real estate investments, and long-term financial planning, with private consultations available at the Bank of America Lounge.

One Detroit Credit Union has named Stephanie Peoples as its new Chief Operating Officer, bringing over 20 years of financial services experience to expand access and build solutions rooted in the financial realities of Black Detroiters. Peoples joins CEO Portia Powell, the organization's first African American woman chief executive, forming a leadership team focused on strengthening outreach, innovation, and financial equity. With a background at JPMorgan Chase where she held key leadership positions including district manager and senior business consultant under the Minority Entrepreneur Program, Peoples plans to focus on operational soundness, business lending growth, and stronger community partnerships. Her leadership approach emphasizes five "People Principles": members, employees, processes, productivity, and profitability, while expanding programs that address household needs such as financial literacy and affordable financial products.

The Black Legacy Advancement Coalition (BLAC) is hosting a fundraising gala on May 16, 2025, at Detroit's historic Book Tower to support their Ground Up Initiative, which focuses on affordable housing, mentorship, and programming for vulnerable young adults. Since 2020, BLAC has invested over $500,000 directly into Detroit neighborhoods through various initiatives including housing projects, gardens, and wellness programs. Founded by Dexter Sullivan after losing his friend Ishmail Ali to violence in 2010, BLAC has evolved from a mentoring initiative into a coalition with over 3,000 members dedicated to empowering Black communities and building generational wealth. The gala will feature a silent auction with artwork, luxury experiences, and special presentations honoring Black History Makers, with all proceeds funding BLAC's community revitalization efforts.

The Scarab Club, a century-old cultural landmark and artistic hub in Detroit, has appointed Donna Jackson as its new Gallery Manager, making her the first Black woman to hold this position in the club's 117-year history. Jackson, who brings over 20 years of expertise in design, project management, and cultural programming, began her tenure during the Gilda Snowden Memorial exhibition and has already created her own Souls of Black Folk exhibition to highlight Black art and artists. With a multidisciplinary educational background including studies at Western Michigan University and the College for Creative Studies, Jackson currently oversees exhibition planning, artist relations, and program development while also serving as a marketing specialist for Plymouth District Library. In her new role, Jackson states "I want Black people to feel comfortable in this space," while working closely with Executive Director Kathryn Dimond and the Exhibition Committee to shape the club's artistic vision.

Life Support Training Institute (LSTI), operated by Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Michigan, Inc., has graduated a new class of ten emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to address Detroit's critical shortage of emergency medical responders. With over 500 open EMS positions in Michigan and approximately 1,500 vacancies in the Detroit metro area as of a 2024 report, LSTI is actively working to bridge this workforce gap through comprehensive training programs at their multiple locations. The institute offers an "Earn to Learn" program that provides full tuition reimbursement for students who commit to working with Superior Ambulance for one year, while also guaranteeing job placement at Superior Ambulance's Detroit station for all graduates. LSTI provides various training programs including Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), EMT, and Paramedic training, along with continuing education and specialty courses to ensure emergency medical services are equipped with skilled professionals.