Michigan news

Twelve-year-old Kyler Jackson from Grand Rapids, Michigan has been selected to represent his state at the 2025 NBA Math Hoops Global Championship in New York City from June 24-27. This prestigious event, hosted by Learn Fresh in partnership with the NBA and NBA Cares, brings together 24 students from across the globe who have excelled in the NBA Math Hoops program, which combines basketball with math education. Kyler, described as a standout student and athlete who consistently helps others, qualified through his dedication to the STEM Scholars Program at STEM Greenhouse, showing academic growth and exemplary character. The championship experience will include competitive gameplay, STEM workshops, tours, and even attendance at the NBA Draft.

The article examines the deteriorating situation for Chinese students pursuing education in the United States amid escalating tensions between the two countries. Recent visa restrictions announced by the Trump administration specifically target Chinese students, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicating revocations for those with Communist Party connections or studying "critical fields." This policy shift occurs against a backdrop of mutual suspicion, with Washington concerned about espionage and Beijing lodging formal protests against what it calls "politically motivated and discriminatory action." The difficulties extend beyond visa challenges, as Chinese graduates with American degrees also face growing skepticism when returning to China, where they may be viewed with suspicion by employers concerned about potential spies.

President Donald Trump recently commuted the federal prison sentence of Larry Hoover, the 74-year-old founder of Chicago's Gangster Disciples, as part of over two dozen clemency actions this week. Despite this federal commutation, Hoover still faces a 200-year Illinois state sentence for murder, which the president cannot commute, making his release unlikely in the near future. Among others receiving clemency were former New York congressman Michael Grimm, who served seven months for tax fraud, and several others including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley. This wave of pardons is part of a larger pattern during Trump's presidency, which has included over 40 pardons in his second term, in addition to approximately 1,600 pardons related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Michigan's SUN Bucks program is providing temporary food assistance to families during summer months when school meals are unavailable, offering $40 per child monthly from June through August via EBT cards with automatic enrollment for those already in programs like SNAP. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers in Congress are proposing stricter work requirements for SNAP recipients and shifting costs to states, which Michigan officials warn would devastate vulnerable families and local economies. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes that federal food benefits are necessities, not luxuries, and cutting them would force families into impossible choices between buying groceries or paying bills. While SUN Bucks provides temporary relief, it highlights the fragility of the food assistance system and the disproportionate impact that potential cuts would have on Black families, rural communities, and the working poor.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Pistons will present "Big Sean & Friends" on June 29, a groundbreaking concert that combines classical orchestration with hip-hop, headlined by Detroit native Big Sean. The event will feature performances by several Detroit artists including Skilla Baby, Tee Grizzley, Illa J, Nasaan, and Queen Naija, with a special orchestral tribute to legendary producer J Dilla. This collaboration represents the latest development in the ongoing partnership between the DSO and Pistons that began in 2018, with proceeds benefiting multiple foundations including the Detroit Pistons Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, and the Sean Anderson Foundation. Tickets for this genre-blending showcase at Orchestra Hall start at $75 and go on sale May 29.

The Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA) is challenging Detroit mayoral and city council candidates to present comprehensive agendas supporting Black-owned businesses, which employ over half of Detroit's workforce. Under President and CEO Charity Dean's leadership, MBBA has directed $12 million in funding to Black-owned businesses and helped create or retain nearly 5,000 jobs since its founding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a survey of over 200 Black-owned businesses, MBBA has developed a 2025 platform that advocates for policy changes addressing structural inequities in capital access, regulatory frameworks, and procurement practices. The organization plans to host public forums and release candidate report cards to ensure Detroit's elected officials prioritize Black entrepreneurship as central to the city's economy. # Who is affected * Black-owned businesses in Detroit * Detroit's workforce (more than half of which is employed by small businesses) * Black entrepreneurs seeking to build generational wealth * Detroit residents relying on the economic contribution of Black businesses * Detroit's commercial corridors along Dexter, Grand River, and Seven Mile # What action is being taken * MBBA is challenging all Detroit mayoral and city council candidates to release comprehensive agendas supporting Black-owned businesses * MBBA is conducting policy advocacy and maintaining statewide partnerships to increase access to capital and decision-making power * The organization is hosting public forums and developing candidate report cards to evaluate plans for supporting Black businesses * MBBA is pushing financial institutions to publish data on who receives loans and funding # Why it matters * Black businesses were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic * Current regulatory frameworks often treat small Black-owned businesses the same as multinational corporations, creating undue burdens * Despite Detroit being over 80% Black, Black business participation in city contracts remains disproportionately low * Entrepreneurship is one of the few tools available to build generational wealth in the Black community, yet Black entrepreneurs face significant structural disadvantages * Many COVID-era funding programs were one-time initiatives that are now ending, threatening progress made # What's next * MBBA will spend the rest of the year hosting a series of public forums * The organization will release a report card evaluating candidates' plans * MBBA will continue advocating for the Small Business Concierge proposal currently under consideration by City Council * The organization will push for financial institutions to publish data on Black business funding

Volunteers of America Michigan (VOAMI) has launched "Breaking the Stigma," an innovative pilot program at their Detroit Veterans Housing Program to help veterans struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. The initiative, funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, embeds a therapist and case manager directly in the transitional housing facility to provide on-site care and build trust with veterans who are often reluctant to seek help. The program offers comprehensive support services including individual and group therapy, case management, 12-step meetings, and healthcare navigation assistance, utilizing evidence-based treatment approaches. VOAMI reports that approximately 70% of veterans in their transitional housing program face substance use challenges, while more than a third of their social service clients have diagnosed mental health conditions.

Detroit City Council has postponed a decision on a $410,000 demolition contract for a historic building at 17205 Lahser Rd to explore preservation possibilities, despite safety concerns about the structure's condition. The demolition would be funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, but preservation would require finding alternative funding sources since ARPA funds are subject to federal deadlines. Additionally, the Council delayed a resolution to allocate $9.4 million in remaining ARPA funds across council districts for various community initiatives including mental health, neighborhood beautification, violence intervention, and home repair programs. Council meetings are canceled this week as members attend the Mackinac Policy Conference.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer warns that Republican-proposed Medicaid cuts would severely impact healthcare access for millions of Michigan residents. She emphasizes that Medicaid supports 2.6 million Michiganders, including nursing home residents, children, people with disabilities, and expectant mothers, while also sustaining rural hospitals and school services. The proposed cuts would potentially eliminate coverage for over 500,000 Michigan residents and reduce funding by hundreds of billions of dollars nationwide. Governor Whitmer highlights her career-long commitment to healthcare access, including her work on Healthy Michigan and recent executive directive to study the impacts of potential Medicaid cuts.

The Detroit Pistons are launching their 2025 "Pistons Academy" Youth Basketball Camp season with 16 camps across Michigan, beginning June 9 at Detroit Country Day High School. The program, supported by the Children's Foundation and Priority Health, offers specialized camps including the new "Mini Cruisers" camp for grades 1-3 at Wayne State Fieldhouse and a returning all-girls camp in partnership with Jr. WNBA. Participants will receive professional instruction, Pistons-branded merchandise, tickets to a future Pistons game, and some will even train at the Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center where the professional team practices. The camps span numerous locations throughout Michigan with prices ranging from $195 to $399, featuring early-bird registration through June 2.

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.

The Honorable Ulysses Whittaker Boykin, a pioneering African American judge who passed away on May 10, 2025, at age 79, left behind a profound legacy in Michigan's legal community. Born in Detroit in 1945, Judge Boykin's distinguished career included co-founding the Harvard Black Law Students Association, becoming the first African American attorney at Dickinson Wright, serving two decades on the Wayne County Circuit Court after his 1999 appointment, and dedicating himself to mentorship and community service. Throughout his career, he held numerous leadership positions in legal associations while receiving recognition including the 2016 Champion of Justice Award, all while maintaining an unwavering commitment to opening doors for others and strengthening institutions through his involvement with various boards, commissions, and his church community.

Opportunity Resource Fund, a community-based financial institution that has invested over $300 million to support underserved Michiganders, marks its 40th anniversary with a significant leadership transition. Christine Coady Narayanan, who built and led the organization for more than 35 years with a focus on economic justice and financial inclusion, is stepping down as CEO. Byna Elliott, a Detroit native with over 25 years of experience in the financial industry, will take over effective June 23, 2025, continuing OppFund's mission of providing capital to those excluded from traditional lending systems. This transition occurs at a critical time for Michigan, which faces widening racial wealth gaps and housing affordability challenges, positioning OppFund to deepen its impact under Elliott's leadership while maintaining its commitment to using finance as a tool for community empowerment.

InsideOut Literary Arts, celebrating 30 years of inspiring Detroit youth through creative expression, has partnered with City Walls Detroit to unveil a vibrant new mural on Detroit's Avenue of Fashion. The artwork, created by Detroit artist Oshun Williams with assistance from Ijania Cortez and Joe Cazeno III, is located near Livernois and 7 Mile Road on Yoshi Hibachi Grille Livernois. Founded in 1995 by Terry Blackhawk, InsideOut has served over 70,000 Detroit youth through various programs including their Writer-in-Residence Program and Citywide Poets, becoming a national model for literary arts education. The mural symbolizes InsideOut's achievements and is part of a yearlong anniversary campaign that includes poetry showcases, community workshops, and a digital archive of youth work.

Detroit's City Council was unable to proceed with its regular formal session on Tuesday when only four of nine members attended, resulting in a lack of quorum. Council President Mary Sheffield, along with Council Members Fred Durhal III, Mary Waters, and Angela Whitfield-Calloway were present, but five members were absent for various reasons including travel to professional conferences and illness. The meeting ended in less than an hour after in-person public comments, with Council operations director David Whitaker noting this was a rare occurrence that will delay council business until the next formal session. Technical issues also prevented online participants from joining public comments.

None of the 35 construction projects tracked by the city of Detroit met the local hiring requirement established by Mayor Mike Duggan's executive order, which mandates that at least 51% of the workforce on certain publicly funded projects be Detroit residents. In 2024, only 32% of construction hours were worked by Detroiters, dropping to just 14% when excluding members of local trade unions participating in Detroit's Skilled Trade Employment Program. Developers who fail to meet the requirement must pay fines, which totaled nearly $1.9 million in 2024 and support workforce training programs. Detroit faces significant challenges in developing a skilled workforce, as many residents lack the educational qualifications and transportation needed for apprenticeship programs.

President Trump held a rally in Michigan to claim his first 100 days were historically successful, highlighting efforts on immigration, jobs, and inflation. BBC Verify fact-checked several statements from his speech, finding mixed accuracy: while his claims about record-low border crossings and job creation were supported by data, his statements about gasoline prices and egg costs were false or misleading. The article also questioned the transparency of savings claimed by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), noting that only about half of the itemized savings had documented evidence, and some appeared to be overstated according to federal contract experts.

President Trump is preparing to ease the impact of his tariffs on US automakers by reducing import duties on foreign parts used in domestically manufactured vehicles while maintaining tariffs on fully imported cars. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called this a "major victory" for the administration's trade policy that rewards domestic manufacturing. The announcement comes as Trump plans to hold a rally in Michigan, home to Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis (the Detroit Three), where executives from these companies have expressed gratitude for the decision. Despite this targeted relief, Trump's broader tariff policies continue to cause market turmoil and business uncertainty.

The Motown Museum has unveiled the Esther Gordy Edwards Centre for Excellence, a 38,000-square-foot facility honoring the museum's founder and expanding its cultural mission. More than 150 guests, including Motown alumni and community leaders, attended the opening event which coincides with the museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. The new center features a first floor dedicated to Hitsville NEXT youth development programs where young creatives can collaborate and develop their talents, while the second floor houses offices for museum staff and archival research spaces. Led by Robin Terry, Edwards' granddaughter and the museum's Chairwoman and CEO, this expansion represents a significant milestone in the museum's ongoing evolution, with a larger campus expansion planned for 2026.

More than 150 pastors and clergy leaders from across Michigan, including Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Flint, endorsed Independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan at a gathering in Detroit on Monday. The endorsement highlights Duggan's cross-partisan appeal, with faith leaders citing his leadership in Detroit's revitalization, crime reduction programs like ShotStoppers, and investments in affordable housing as evidence of his capabilities. Clergy members emphasized Duggan's collaborative approach and practical solutions as qualities that could help transcend Michigan's partisan divide. Duggan's campaign has gained additional momentum through endorsements from major labor unions representing over 11,000 workers, positioning his Independent candidacy as a potentially transformative force in Michigan 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.

The Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan is offering ten $2,500 Reparations Scholarships for the second year, now expanded to include both graduating high school seniors and nontraditional students in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. Applicants must be descendants of enslaved African Americans (defined as individuals with three generations born in the US), begin studies at an accredited institution in fall 2025, and submit a 500-word essay about how the racial wealth gap has affected their family by May 9, 2025. The scholarships are funded primarily by reparations payments from faith-based institutions acknowledging their historical complicity in slavery, with Prince Solace, president of the Justice League, emphasizing that these scholarships represent economic justice rather than charity. The Justice League, formed in 2021, aims to address the racial wealth gap through various initiatives including education, home ownership, and entrepreneurship support.