Michigan news

The General Manager of SMART transit argues that public transportation in Southeast Michigan should be viewed as a fundamental right and foundation of the community rather than merely a last-resort option. Through personal stories of individuals whose lives were transformed by transit access—including a business leader, photographer, and former county official—the article demonstrates how reliable transportation provides security, independence, and opportunity during life's unpredictable moments. The piece emphasizes that respecting riders means providing quality infrastructure, professional service, accessible features, and responsive planning that acknowledges people's dignity and daily needs. SMART is working to build community trust by developing a transit system that serves as the connective tissue linking residents to employment, education, healthcare, and each other throughout the region.

The article examines how homes in predominantly Black neighborhoods are systematically undervalued compared to similar properties in white neighborhoods, with an average disparity of $48,000 per home resulting in over $156 billion in cumulative losses nationwide. This devaluation stems from historical redlining policies during the New Deal era that designated Black neighborhoods as "hazardous," creating biased valuation frameworks that persist today through comparable sales methods that embed racial prejudice. The undervaluation perpetuates the racial wealth gap by limiting Black homeowners' ability to refinance, invest in improvements, or build intergenerational wealth, while also causing psychological harm by signaling that Black communities are worth less. The author proposes solutions including reforming appraisal processes through oversight and audits, increasing Black representation among appraisers, implementing community reinvestment policies, and educating homeowners about their rights to challenge unfair appraisals. # Key Takeaways

The Michigan House of Representatives honored David L. Holmes, Wayne State University's groundbreaking athletic director and coach from 1917 to 1958, by presenting a legislative tribute recognizing a newly published biography about his career. Holmes built an exceptionally inclusive athletic program that welcomed Black, Jewish, and Eastern European athletes during an era of widespread discrimination, producing three Olympians, nine All-Americans, and multiple record holders despite limited facilities and resources. His pioneering work included appointing Wayne's first Black team captain in 1929 and mentoring Leroy Dues, who became Michigan's first Black athletic director. The biography, "Coach of Champions," co-authored by Holmes's grandson Keith D. Wunderlich and David L. Holmes Jr., preserves this important legacy of athletic excellence combined with social progress and has received formal recognition for its contribution to Detroit's sports heritage. # Key Takeaways

Although Mary Sheffield won Detroit's mayoral election decisively, Reverend Solomon Kinloch Jr.'s unsuccessful campaign represented a meaningful affirmation of community-centered leadership rather than a defeat. Over his 27 years leading Triumph Church, Kinloch grew the congregation from under 100 members to tens of thousands while establishing extensive community programs including food pantries, technology drives, job training, and housing assistance. His campaign platform focused on addressing neighborhood needs through affordable housing development, grocery stores in food deserts, and workforce training partnerships rooted in his direct community experience. The author argues that Kinloch's candidacy elevated crucial issues and demonstrated that meaningful civic service extends far beyond electoral politics into daily community work. # Key Takeaways

Sisters Siana and SuVon Treece are bringing their CHAMPAINT creative event back to Detroit's Beacon Park on November 21 for a special holiday-themed session. The two-hour guided painting experience, hosted by their business Artistic Expressions Gallery, will take place in a heated tent during the park's annual light display celebration. Participants will enjoy instruction from the artists, complimentary champagne, and a festive atmosphere decorated with holiday lights. Tickets cost $45 and can be purchased through Eventbrite, continuing the gallery's tradition of combining art with community engagement that began in 2008. # Key Takeaways

Word In Black and the Michigan Chronicle have launched a survey initiative to collect experiences from Black women about breast cancer, addressing a critical health disparity. Black women face disproportionately poor outcomes with breast cancer, including younger diagnoses, more aggressive disease forms, and higher mortality rates compared to white women, even with equivalent treatment. The survey aims to capture stories and data that have historically been excluded from healthcare research and policy decisions. By gathering these experiences, the initiative seeks to influence how healthcare systems, media outlets, and policymakers understand and address the specific barriers Black women encounter in breast cancer screening, treatment, and care.

Kenneth Briggs, now Chief of Pretrial and Justice Services for Oakland County, Michigan, reunited with retired Judge Fred Mester on Veterans Day to celebrate a mentorship spanning nearly four decades. Their relationship began in 1988 when 13-year-old homeless Briggs bravely testified in a sexual assault case overseen by Mester, despite threats and violence aimed at silencing him. Mester recognized the young witness's courage and became a lifelong mentor and father figure, helping guide Briggs through trauma and into a career serving justice. Despite their different political views and racial backgrounds, the two have maintained a close bond that demonstrates how mentorship, forgiveness, and moral conviction can transform lives and bridge social divides. # Key Takeaways

Veteran White House correspondent April Ryan is hosting a panel discussion featuring prominent journalists to examine current events and topics from their recent books. Ryan, who has covered urban issues from the White House since the Clinton administration and serves as Washington Bureau Chief for TheGrio, will be joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project and Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University. The third panelist is Don Lemon, former CNN anchor with three decades of broadcasting experience who now hosts The Don Lemon Show and recently authored books on race and religion. This event continues an ongoing series of conversations centered on the panelists' published works and contemporary issues.

Former President Barack Obama surprised 79 Korean and Vietnam War veterans traveling on an Honor Flight from Wisconsin by boarding their plane shortly after it arrived at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport ahead of Veterans Day. Obama personally thanked each veteran, shook their hands as they departed the aircraft, and gave them Presidential Challenge Coins as tokens of appreciation for their military service. The Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization that has operated for two decades, arranged the free trip to enable these veterans and their families to visit war memorials in the nation's capital. One veteran described feeling overwhelmed with emotion at the unexpected greeting and the public recognition of their service.

Detroit Councilmember Scott Benson received the Advocate Award from the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in recognition of his leadership efforts to establish sustainable funding for the institution. The award acknowledges his strategic work in advancing legislation that would create a millage to financially support both The Wright Museum and the Detroit Historical Museum, neither of which currently receives millage funding. Although the Michigan Legislature passed enabling legislation last year, it failed to reach the governor for final approval, and Benson is continuing efforts to get the measure signed and placed before voters. He emphasizes that The Wright Museum serves as Detroit's cultural compass and argues that such a vital institution deserves stable, long-term funding rather than struggling for financial survival. # Key Takeaways

Eastern Michigan University is significantly expanding its Loan Repayment Assistance Program beyond education majors to include 16 additional academic fields such as Communication, Economics, and Social Work. The program, which helps graduates earning under $50,000 annually repay federal and private student loans at no cost, grew from 39 participating students in fall 2024 to 121 in fall 2025. The original version, called EMU Educators Promise, was created to combat Michigan's severe teacher shortage, with nearly 500 school districts reporting vacancies during the 2022-2023 school year. Students across various programs have expressed that the financial safety net provides crucial peace of mind, allowing them to pursue careers in public service and education without overwhelming debt concerns.

U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed held a town hall event with Representative Rashida Tlaib to promote his healthcare reform platform, receiving endorsements from both Tlaib and Reverend Horace Sheffield. El-Sayed is running in Michigan's Democratic primary against Mallory McMorrow and Haley Stevens, positioning himself as a progressive candidate advocating for a single-payer healthcare system he calls "Medicare for All." The campaign focuses on addressing medical debt as a crisis, with supporters sharing stories of bankruptcy from medical bills and criticizing the Affordable Care Act as insufficient. El-Sayed promotes government-funded universal healthcare as a solution that would reduce administrative costs and allow the government to negotiate prices on behalf of all Americans.

President Donald Trump issued pardons to former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, ex-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and numerous other associates who faced accusations related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The clemency extended to lawyers who filed unsuccessful legal challenges and individuals identified as false electors who allegedly attempted to interfere with certifying Joe Biden's victory. These pardons hold primarily symbolic value since they apply exclusively to federal offenses, while all the recipients faced charges only at the state level. The White House characterized the pardons as promoting national reconciliation and ending what they termed politically motivated prosecutions, though critics view the 2020 election challenges as attempts to undermine democratic processes. # Key Takeaways

The Motor City Cruise suffered a 137-118 defeat against the Sioux Falls Skyforce in their second game of the G League season at Wayne State Fieldhouse, resulting in a series split after winning the previous night. The Skyforce dominated through exceptional three-point shooting, making 16 shots from beyond the arc with guard Trevor Keels contributing 10 of those while scoring 32 points overall. Although the Cruise received strong contributions from Jaden Akins (27 points), Isaac Jones (21 points, 12 rebounds), and others, they couldn't contain Sioux Falls' transition game and paint scoring. The Skyforce's explosive 40-point third quarter essentially sealed the victory, leaving Motor City with a 1-1 record to start their season. # Key Takeaways

Sports journalist Darryl Jacobs argues that gambling culture has fundamentally corrupted athletics at all levels, from professional leagues to youth sports. Recent lifetime bans of college players for game-fixing and NBA players' involvement in betting scandals demonstrate how gambling has compromised competitive integrity across the sports world. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable, with many placing their first bets at age sixteen after seeing athletes and influencers normalize gambling behavior through social media and apps. While leagues and organizations profit heavily from gambling partnerships, the responsibility and consequences fall disproportionately on athletes, creating a hypocritical system that undermines the character-building values sports traditionally represent.

The Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons' G League affiliate, dominated the Sioux Falls Skyforce 137-114 in their home opener at Wayne State Fieldhouse on Friday night. After falling behind early, the Cruise exploded with a 13-0 run and controlled the game throughout, shooting 54 percent from the field and an impressive 47 percent from three-point range. Seven players reached double figures, led by Brice Williams' 27 points including a franchise-record six three-pointers made in a home opener, while Tolu Smith added a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds. The balanced offensive attack featured 27 assists on 50 made baskets, exemplifying the team's unselfish playing style and their "Motor City Mentality" season mantra. # Key Takeaways

This opinion piece presents a critical perspective on current presidential leadership, arguing that fundamental American democratic principles are being eroded. The author catalogs numerous alleged actions including immigration enforcement without due process, personal financial enrichment through office, attacks on press freedom, and dismantling of diversity initiatives. The piece contends that traditional checks and balances from Congress and the Supreme Court have weakened, while federal services and international commitments are being reduced. The author concludes by calling on readers to resist what they characterize as the destruction of American democratic values and institutions. # Key Takeaways

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking private contractors to establish a 24/7 social media monitoring program that would scan major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others to generate immigration enforcement leads. While ICE already conducts some social media surveillance, this new initiative represents a significant expansion in both scale and structure, creating a public-private surveillance system where contractors would rapidly compile dossiers by combining social media data with commercial databases and government records. The information collected would feed into Palantir's case management system alongside biometric data, license plate scans, and other personal information, effectively creating comprehensive digital profiles. Critics worry this system will lead to mission creep, chilling effects on free speech, and the surveillance of entire communities rather than just targeted individuals, with minimal oversight of the private contractors making subjective judgments about what constitutes threatening behavior. # Key Takeaways

The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a comprehensive plan to restructure American government along conservative ideological lines, has reached approximately 48% implementation according to the Center for Progressive Reform's analysis. The initiative has resulted in significant policy reversals across multiple federal agencies, including the Justice Department's revival of the death penalty and the China Initiative, the Education Department's rollback of Title IX protections, and HHS's restrictions on abortion access and gender identity data collection. The article characterizes these changes as attacks on civil rights, public welfare programs, and democratic institutions, with particular impact on marginalized communities including Black Americans, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, and low-income families. The author frames Project 2025 as an authoritarian transformation of government orchestrated by figures like Russell Vought and Stephen Miller, representing what they view as white nationalist and Christian nationalist objectives. # Key Takeaways

Detroit's bus drivers will receive a $6 per hour wage increase under a newly ratified contract between the city and Transit Union Local 26, approved by 98% of voting members. The agreement raises starting wages from $19.56 to $25.38 and maximum pay from $26.18 to $32.18, bringing Detroit Department of Transportation compensation closer to neighboring transit systems that have historically paid more. City officials believe the substantial raise will help retain experienced drivers and attract new operators, addressing chronic staffing shortages that have plagued the transit system with service delays and missed routes. The contract includes performance bonuses for attendance and safety, annual cost-of-living adjustments, and will be funded partly through new state transportation revenue and savings from reduced driver turnover. # Key Takeaways

The fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines opened their basketball season with a dominant 121-78 victory over Oakland University at Crisler Center, demonstrating they may be a force to reckon with this year. Despite missing key player Yaxel Lendeborg due to injury and having two guards out, Michigan set a program record with 69 first-half points while shooting an impressive 71 percent from the field. Seven players reached double-digit scoring, led by Morez Johnson Jr.'s 24 points, as the team matched another program record with 19 three-pointers made. The convincing win marked an emphatic start to Head Coach Dusty May's second season, following last year's Big Ten Tournament Championship that was celebrated with a banner-raising ceremony before tipoff. # Key Takeaways

Denzel McCampbell, a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist and former charter commissioner, decisively won Detroit's District 7 City Council seat with 59% of the vote, defeating incumbent state Representative Karen Whitsett by nearly 3,000 votes. McCampbell's campaign attracted over $160,000 in donations from progressive supporters nationwide and benefited from extensive grassroots organizing by the Metro Detroit Democratic Socialists of America, who canvassed more than 18,000 doors on his behalf. His platform centers on shifting political power away from corporations toward residents through mechanisms like participatory budgeting, which would allow community members to directly decide how district funds are spent. Currently serving as managing director of Progress Michigan and having previously worked for Representative Rashida Tlaib, McCampbell plans to prioritize property tax relief and resident engagement when he takes office in January.

The Michigan Chronicle's Pancakes & Politics speakers' series, which has served as a prominent platform for civic discussions among government, business, and community leaders for twenty years, is partnering with the Detroit Auto Dealers Association for an unprecedented collaboration. The series will kick off its 21st season with a live forum at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show on January 15, 2026, at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit. This collaboration aims to merge important conversations about the evolving automotive industry with broader policy and community dialogues on a global stage. The partnership represents both organizations' recognition that the auto show transcends vehicle displays to encompass discussions about innovation, community impact, and future direction for the city and industry. # Key Takeaways

Michigan has allocated $270 million to expand its Rx Kids unconditional cash assistance program, which will launch in Ypsilanti on December 1, 2025. The program provides pregnant residents $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for their baby's first six months, with no strings attached or eligibility requirements beyond residency and confirmed pregnancy. Originally piloted in Flint in 2024 by Michigan State University's Pediatric Public Health Initiative, the program has already supported over 3,800 families with approximately $16 million in direct payments. Early results from Flint demonstrate reduced parental stress, healthier pregnancies, and improved outcomes for newborns, prompting state leaders and philanthropic organizations to fund its expansion across Michigan. # Key Takeaways

The ongoing government shutdown has resulted in Head Start programs losing federal funding as of November 1st, affecting approximately 140 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico. This iconic early childhood education program, which serves predominantly low-income families and counts Black children as nearly one-third of its enrollment, provides crucial services including meals, health screenings, and developmental support that research shows leads to better academic outcomes and higher future earnings. With roughly 10% of Head Start facilities forced to close immediately and others exhausting temporary funding, over 700,000 vulnerable infants and preschoolers face disrupted care and education. The shutdown particularly threatens Black children's educational development, as studies demonstrate Head Start's benefits are especially pronounced for Black and Hispanic students who rely on the program's comprehensive family support services.

The historic Dearborn Inn, originally established by Henry Ford in 1931, has undergone a culinary transformation under Executive Chef Elliott Patti as part of its relaunch within Marriott's Autograph Collection. The hotel now features Clara's Table, a farm-to-table restaurant named after Clara Ford that emphasizes seasonal Michigan ingredients and regional storytelling through its rotating menu. Additionally, the Four Vagabonds cocktail lounge pays homage to Henry Ford's famous road-tripping companions through craft cocktails made with house-infused spirits and on-site herbs. Behind the culinary experience, the team prioritizes sustainability and partnerships with local Black and Indigenous farmers, creating a dining program that connects the hotel's rich history with contemporary values and innovative cuisine. # Key Takeaways

The historic Dearborn Inn in Michigan, originally opened by Henry Ford in 1931, has completed a major renovation that includes five reimagined Colonial Homes on its 23-acre estate. Each guesthouse honors influential American historical and literary figures—Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Barbara Fritchie, Patrick Henry, and Oliver Wolcott—through thoughtfully designed interiors that reflect their legacies while providing modern amenities. The homes, originally built in 1937, have been transformed through a collaboration between Ford Land and design firms into immersive historical experiences that blend period-appropriate aesthetics with contemporary comfort. Guests staying in these homes can access the inn's updated facilities, including a farm-to-table restaurant and cocktail bar, making the property a unique destination where visitors can literally live inside American history. # Key Takeaways

Detroit City Distillery hosted a Halloween-themed bourbon blending event at its 100 Proof Event Space in Eastern Market, where participants dressed in lab coats and created their own custom bourbon bottles. The two-hour interactive experience, led by an entertaining host named Michael, taught guests how to taste and identify different bourbon flavor profiles before guiding them through the actual blending process using professional distilling methods. Attendees received hands-on education about bourbon craftsmanship while enjoying a social atmosphere that combined learning with entertainment. The reviewer awarded the experience a perfect five-star rating and noted it appeals to both whiskey experts and beginners, recommending early booking due to high demand. # Key Takeaways