Michigan news

The LEE Group is hosting its twelfth annual Small Business Workshop on May 13 at The Corner Ballpark in Detroit, featuring the theme "Resilient by Design: Innovating Through Disruption." Mark S. Lee, President and CEO of The LEE Group and Detroit PBS board member, along with Ray Waters from the Detroit Development Fund, discussed the upcoming free event in an interview with ABJ Host Stephen Henderson. The workshop aims to help small business owners navigate contemporary challenges including economic uncertainty and inflation through guidance and resources. The Detroit Development Fund is sponsoring the event and offers both financial and technical support to local businesses seeking to capitalize on opportunities in Detroit's economic landscape.

A new class-action lawsuit filed in Michigan state court alleges that the state has provided inadequate and inequitable funding to Detroit Public Schools Community District while burdening it with debt accumulated during state control. The suit, brought by attorney Gerard Mantese on behalf of DPSCD parents, demands increased state funding and elimination of legacy debt, citing poor building conditions, insufficient resources, and funding disparities compared to wealthier districts that receive more per-pupil funding. While DPSCD currently receives $10,050 per student—the standard base amount—the lawsuit argues this is insufficient given the district's $2.1 billion infrastructure needs and the historical damage caused by state oversight. The case echoes a previous 2016 "right to read" lawsuit that resulted in a $94.4 million settlement, but adds new arguments about systemic funding inequity across Michigan's school districts. # Key Takeaways

Detroit City Council has approved an $8 million contract with two local construction companies to repair more than 5,400 sidewalks throughout the city, addressing most of a backlog exceeding 6,300 sidewalk repair requests accumulated by early 2026. The Department of Public Works will focus on targeted locations where residents have specifically requested repairs rather than conducting wholesale neighborhood replacements, with work expected to finish before the 2026 construction season ends. Residents will receive advance notifications in multiple languages two weeks and again two to three days before construction begins at their properties. This funding represents a significant increase from last year's $3.5 million allocation and reflects a priority in Mayor Mary Sheffield's budget plan.

Detroit city officials estimate it would cost approximately $20 million and take several years to fully transition emergency medical services in-house, a timeline that has sparked heated debate over proposed three-year contracts worth $5 million with private ambulance companies. The City Council has twice delayed voting on these contracts, with several members and the firefighters' union pushing for shorter one-year agreements to expedite the shift toward city-operated services. Currently, private contractors handle about 25 percent of Detroit's EMS call volume and provide four full-time ambulances to supplement the city's 26 rigs, helping reduce response times. While both city administration and the fire department support eventually bringing services in-house, they favor a gradual phase-in approach, citing challenges including a 21-month vehicle procurement timeline, facility limitations, and the need for additional staff training and budget allocations.

Former residents of Detroit's Leland House began retrieving their personal belongings in May after being evacuated months earlier when the building's owner filed for bankruptcy. The Detroit City Council approved two emergency contracts totaling $300,000 to temporarily restore electricity and elevator service to facilitate the retrieval process. While city officials have successfully relocated 19 households to permanent housing, 12 families remain in hotels as case managers help them find new accommodations. The city expects to recoup some costs from the anticipated $3 million bankruptcy sale of the property, though the exact amount remains uncertain. # Key Takeaways

The U.S. Department of Justice requested election records from Wayne County, Michigan, but County Clerk Cathy Garrett responded that the county does not maintain the requested ballots, receipts, and envelopes. Under Michigan's election system, municipal clerks at the city and township level—not the county—are responsible for administering elections and maintaining such records, and state law does not grant the county authority to compel local clerks to surrender these materials. This inquiry is part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration investigating elections in Democratic strongholds across swing states, including similar actions in Georgia and Arizona. Local clerks are now preparing for possible federal requests while defending the integrity of Michigan's election system and criticizing the DOJ's apparent misunderstanding of the state's election administration structure.

Michigan is experiencing a significant surge in career and technical education (CTE) enrollment as demand for skilled workers increases, with over 114,000 students participating last year and program completions more than doubling over the past decade. School districts throughout the state are responding by expanding their vocational offerings through bond proposals, millage renewals, and state grants, while local employers are providing hands-on demonstrations to expose students to trade careers. However, access to these programs remains inequitable, particularly affecting rural and underserved districts that lack the resources to compete for competitive state grants. With Michigan projecting 45,000 new annual job openings and over 520,000 professional trade positions by 2030, education leaders are working to address workforce shortages while tackling systemic funding disparities that prevent some students from accessing these career pathways. # Key Takeaways

The Detroit Public Schools Community District is hosting its 57th annual Evening of Fine Arts at the Fox Theatre, featuring approximately 760 middle and high school students performing in 27 different acts. The free event will showcase diverse artistic talents including jazz and marching bands, orchestras, choirs, dance performances, and a musical preview, while also displaying original artwork from six students in the theater lobby. Students from seven DPSCD schools will participate, with performances selected through a competitive application process where teachers submit video entries that are judged and scored. The event, supported by corporate sponsors and Detroit's arts office, aims to spotlight student creativity and voices on a prestigious stage. # Key Takeaways

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is responding to recent "teen takeover" incidents by launching comprehensive youth engagement programs rather than implementing curfews like other cities. Her administration has established an Office of Youth Affairs and hired dedicated education leadership to create year-round programming for young people. The centerpiece initiative, "Occupy the Summer," will run from June through August with six-day-per-week activities including extended recreation center hours, midnight basketball leagues, and Friday youth events. Additionally, the city is forming a mayoral Youth Advisory Committee of 40-50 young residents to ensure teens have direct input in city decision-making. These efforts aim to provide safe spaces and opportunities for Detroit's youth while addressing their expressed desires for employment, entertainment, and genuine civic engagement.

Angela Moloney has taken over as president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank in metro Detroit during a particularly difficult period for the organization. The food bank experienced a dramatic decline of over 9 million pounds in food donations last year, with federal government contributions dropping by more than 5 million pounds and no signs of recovery expected. Despite elevated demand that persists since the COVID-19 pandemic and complications from recent SNAP benefit disruptions during a government shutdown, Gleaners has implemented a sustainability plan and purchased additional food to help meet needs. Moloney, who replaced longtime leader Gerry Brisson, brings nonprofit experience and a personal philosophy that adequate nutrition is fundamental to economic security, and she emphasizes the urgent need for community coordination and generosity to address food insecurity affecting over 1.5 million Michigan residents. # Key Takeaways

Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero is advocating for tax reform to diversify the city's revenue sources, particularly through implementing taxes on sports stadiums and entertainment venues or a local sales tax. Studies suggest these measures could generate between $14-71 million annually, reducing Detroit's reliance on property taxes while drawing income from visitors rather than just residents. Santiago-Romero is also working on several district-specific initiatives including enforcing truck traffic restrictions, improving language access services for residents with limited English proficiency, and creating better public spaces for youth. While she acknowledges that tax reform would require constitutional amendments and voter approval, she believes the current political climate favors Detroit and presents an opportunity to pursue these changes.

The Michigan Supreme Court has implemented a new rule, effective May 1, that prohibits civil arrests, including immigration-related detentions, of individuals traveling to, attending, or leaving state and local courthouses for required appearances. The rule applies to parties in legal proceedings, attorneys, witnesses, and jurors, though it does not affect criminal arrests or court-ordered detentions. After reviewing input from over 2,500 individuals and organizations, the court majority determined the measure would improve courthouse safety and accessibility, particularly addressing concerns that fear of immigration enforcement was preventing people from attending court for unrelated legal matters. Michigan joins several other states like New York, Connecticut, and Illinois in adopting such protections, despite opposition from those who argue states shouldn't interfere with federal immigration enforcement and criticism from Justice Brian Zahra who called it an unnecessary political statement. # Key Takeaways

The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling striking down Louisiana's second Black-majority congressional district, fundamentally altering how the Voting Rights Act can be applied in redistricting cases. The conservative majority determined that creating this district constituted unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, establishing a new interpretation that makes it significantly harder for plaintiffs to challenge discriminatory redistricting under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. While the ruling technically preserves Section 2, which prohibits voting discrimination, it severely limits the consideration of race in drawing district lines, reversing nearly four decades of precedent requiring states to protect minority voting power. The decision emerged from a challenge by white voters who argued that race-based redistricting violated constitutional equal protection guarantees, following Louisiana's court-ordered creation of a second Black-majority district after the 2020 Census. Liberal justices dissented strongly, characterizing the decision as completing the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has proposed that the Detroit Public Schools Community District redirect approximately $700,000 saved from her Ride to Rise program, which provides free bus fare to students, toward expanding after-school enrichment programs. However, district officials determined this funding would only support high-quality programs at three elementary-middle schools, as comprehensive district-wide programming would cost an estimated $20 million. The district identified Ronald Brown Academy, Bow Elementary-Middle, and Marquette Elementary-Middle as priority sites based on chronic absenteeism rates, declining enrollment, and limited existing program availability. This proposal aligns with Sheffield's broader education goals and comes as state legislators consider increasing funding for before and after-school programs to $135 million, though the district board has not yet made a final decision on the allocation. # Key Takeaways

Detroit's east side residents are organizing to address the rapid spread of data center proposals throughout Michigan, particularly in areas already heavily impacted by industrial development. The nonprofit Eastside Community Network held a town hall meeting with over two dozen residents to discuss potential harms and mitigation strategies, including launching a biweekly study group starting in May to develop policy recommendations by summer's end. This grassroots mobilization follows Detroit City Council's call for a two-year moratorium on data center permits until proper regulations and health assessments are established, though Mayor Mary Sheffield hasn't decided on implementing it. Community concerns center on environmental contamination, water usage, air and noise pollution, with particular worry about a proposed site on contaminated brownfield land that previously housed lead foundries and coal yards. # Key Takeaways

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) will begin offering free year-round bus rides to students in the Detroit metropolitan area starting in May. Students from kindergarten through university level can access this service by simply presenting their valid student identification cards. The initiative was developed through collaboration between Detroit and surrounding Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb county leaders to address transportation barriers that prevent students from attending classes and accessing job opportunities. This program complements a similar free-ride initiative that Detroit city buses launched earlier in the month for school students, aiming to reduce financial burdens on families and improve educational access.

A BridgeDetroit series explores how Black churches in Michigan are actively working to combat the state's affordable housing crisis through development and renovation projects. Church of the Messiah, led by Pastor Barry Randolph, has spent nearly five decades creating affordable housing in Detroit's Islandview neighborhood while providing comprehensive community services to residents. Plymouth United Church of Christ, under Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood III, continues the legacy started by his father in 1960, when the church established a nonprofit housing corporation that built 230 affordable housing units for low-to-moderate income families. Both religious leaders discuss not only their housing initiatives but also supplementary programs like food assistance and technology access, while addressing broader issues of rental affordability and the city's role in encouraging development.

The U.S. Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision has made it more difficult to challenge political maps as racially discriminatory under the Voting Rights Act, potentially impacting Michigan's redistricting process. The ruling has created disagreement among members of Michigan's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission about whether current maps may need to be redrawn, with Vice Chair Rebecca Szetela believing a challenge is likely while Chair Anthony Eid maintains the maps used a race-blind approach. Beyond statewide redistricting, experts suggest the decision could affect local election structures, potentially allowing municipalities to shift from ward-based to at-large voting systems that may reduce minority representation. The practical implications remain uncertain, particularly given the timing constraints of upcoming 2026 elections and the evolving interpretation of voting rights law.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District board declined to renew the contract for Barack Obama Leadership Academy, a charter school offering African-centric education to approximately 300 K-5 students since 1997. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti cited multiple concerns including late audit submissions, inadequate website transparency, unsustainable budgets, low teacher certification rates at only 25%, and poor academic performance despite previous warnings. Students and supporters protested outside the board meeting and pleaded their case during public comment, emphasizing the school's community resources and wraparound support services. The charter's current contract expires June 30, and while school officials are seeking alternative authorizers from other organizations, they have faced rejection from most of the eleven entities they've contacted so far.

Seven Michigan community colleges are expanding mental health services to help students complete their degrees, supported by $30 million in philanthropic funding from organizations including the Ballmer Group and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. The initiative addresses a critical gap, as 13% of Michigan's community colleges currently offer no mental health services, while many others operate with limited capacity and staff who juggle multiple roles. Community college students face unique challenges as commuters who often work, care for families, and return to education as non-traditional students, contributing to completion rates of just 43.9% compared to 70.9% at four-year institutions. Colleges like Henry Ford and Washtenaw Community are implementing solutions such as 24/7 virtual counseling, peer support programs, increased full-time counselors, and campus-wide awareness campaigns to provide holistic support for students struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.

DTE Energy has filed a request for a $474.3 million electric rate increase that would raise residential rates by 9.7%, claiming the funds are needed to improve grid reliability and transition to cleaner energy sources. The utility has offered to pause rate hike requests for at least two years if a large Oracle data center in Saline Township becomes operational by 2027 and secures regulatory approvals, arguing that major customers like data centers help distribute costs more broadly. However, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and consumer advocacy groups are strongly opposing both the rate hike and the data center agreements, questioning whether ratepayers will actually benefit or end up subsidizing data center costs and infrastructure. Critics note that DTE customers already pay the highest energy costs in the Midwest while experiencing poor service reliability, and they argue the proposed 9.7% increase far exceeds the 4.1% increase approved just months earlier. The controversy centers on whether data centers will genuinely reduce costs for regular customers or instead require expensive infrastructure that ratepayers will ultimately fund.

The Department of Justice has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly threatening President Donald Trump through an Instagram post showing seashells arranged as "86 47," with "47" potentially referring to Trump and "86" being slang for removal or ejection. Legal experts, including former prosecutors and even some Trump supporters, have expressed significant skepticism about the case's viability, citing constitutional free speech protections and the difficulty of proving Comey intended to make a true threat rather than a political statement. Comey deleted the original post and explained he didn't realize the numbers could be associated with violence, stating he opposes violence of any kind. This marks the second time DOJ has brought charges against Comey, with the previous indictment having been dismissed by a judge, leading many observers to predict a similar outcome for this case.

A new storytelling initiative called "Faith in Detroit" has launched its first episode, featuring a partnership between Christ Church Cranbrook and Detroit PBS. The project showcases conversations about faith journeys of Detroit-area religious and community leaders. The inaugural installment features Rev. Dr. William Danaher interviewing Rev. Dr. Mayowa Lisa Reynolds, who serves dual roles as a minister at Fellowship Chapel and principal of Detroit School of Arts. Reynolds discusses how she reconciled her early Baptist church involvement with her artistic passions in dance and choreography throughout her life. # Key Takeaways

Michigan school superintendents are making modest budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year, primarily seeking funding increases that keep pace with inflation and an end to diverting School Aid Fund money to higher education. While state leaders have celebrated recent record funding increases, superintendents note these amounts have not matched inflation rates, meaning schools' actual purchasing power has declined even as energy, insurance, transportation, and supply costs have risen. The Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate have released competing budget proposals that differ significantly on key issues, particularly regarding weighted funding for vulnerable students and controversial policy provisions. Both chambers propose increasing the minimum per-pupil grant and continuing universal free meal programs, but the House budget includes contentious provisions that would penalize districts for DEI programs, transgender student participation policies, and certain curriculum content. # Key Takeaways

In January, Detroit resident Jamie White rescued his neighbor Lucille Williams and her roommate from a burning house in the middle of the night after hearing Williams' cries for help. White entered the smoke-filled home twice without protective equipment to pull both women to safety before firefighters arrived on scene. Williams and her roommate were treated for smoke inhalation at a hospital, while the house was declared a total loss with the fire's cause still undetermined. White was recently recognized for his heroic actions with both a Spirit of Detroit award from the Detroit City Council and a Civilian Commendation from the Detroit Fire Department. The rescue has strengthened the bond between White's family and Williams, who now considers them family and calls White her guardian angel. # Key Takeaways

Detroit City Council voted 4-3 to delay approval of approximately $5 million in three-year contracts with three private ambulance companies, sending them back to committee for further review amid opposition from the firefighters' union and some council members. The Detroit Fire Fighters Association, representing 1,200 members, argues the city should handle all emergency medical calls in-house rather than relying on supplemental private services that currently handle 25% of call volume and about 50,000 medical calls annually. Fire department officials warn that rejecting the contracts, which expire May 1st, could significantly increase emergency response times since the city would need to hire approximately 120 additional firefighters and purchase 18 more ambulances to maintain current service levels. Union representatives counter that the city has relied on these temporary contracts for too long without developing a plan to build internal capacity, while fire department leadership acknowledges the goal of bringing services in-house but says a multi-year transition plan is necessary. The debate centers on whether to approve three-year contracts, opt for a shorter one-year extension like last year, or reject outside services entirely despite lacking the infrastructure and staffing to replace them immediately.

Detroit Public Schools Community District is failing to complete many special education evaluations within the legally required 30-day timeframe, with 72 evaluations completed late and 728 still pending out of 1,680 referrals received through March. District officials attribute the delays partly to circumstances beyond their control, including difficulty contacting parents and students frequently changing schools, though Superintendent Nikolai Vitti emphasized the need for a "no-excuse culture" and acknowledged that the legal standard is 100% on-time completion. The district faces challenges from staff shortages and a funding gap of over $34 million between special education costs and available funding, though it has made improvements by hiring more specialists and reducing staff vacancies from over 100 in 2018 to just four. Board members have requested more detailed data on pending cases, particularly regarding how long students have been waiting for evaluations and individualized education programs.

Wayne State University's mortuary science program held its second annual interfaith memorial service to honor 120 people who died in Wayne County without family members to claim their bodies, giving students practical experience while ensuring dignified treatment for the deceased. The number of unclaimed bodies has surged dramatically across Michigan in recent years, with regions like WMed Medical Examiners' Office seeing increases from 10 unclaimed individuals in 2018 to 237 in 2025, largely attributed to rising funeral costs and an aging population. Various Michigan counties have established different protocols for handling unclaimed remains, including memorial services, cremation with ash storage in cemetery vaults, and special veteran burial programs. The state faces a demographic challenge where deaths have exceeded births for four consecutive years, making end-of-life care increasingly important, while multiple organizations work to ensure no person is buried without dignity regardless of their circumstances.

Michigan has launched a $1.5 million pilot program that extends no-cost pre-kindergarten to home-based childcare providers for the first time, serving 75-80 children aged 3-4. The federally-funded initiative runs through spring and summer with potential continuation into the next school year, providing funding for coaching, curriculum, materials and assessments. Home-based providers like Lori Leggert, who runs The Sky's the Limit Family Childcare in Fowlerville, can now offer families the same free pre-K available in traditional schools and centers while maintaining the intimate, flexible environment of home care. Early childhood advocates view this as an opportunity to tap into Michigan's 3,344 family childcare sites and give families more educational choices, with parents reporting savings of approximately $2,600 per child. # Key Takeaways

The Detroit Police Department has drastically reduced its use of facial recognition technology, conducting only nine searches in the most recent year compared to over 100 in 2020, representing a 91% decrease from 2023. This reduction follows a 2024 legal settlement stemming from wrongful arrests, which implemented stricter policies requiring independent evidence before arrests can be made based on facial recognition matches. The technology has been particularly criticized for its poor accuracy in identifying Black and Brown individuals, and all nine searches conducted last year involved Black male suspects with only one producing an investigative lead. Detroit police stopped funding facial recognition software directly in 2022 after spending over $2 million since 2017, though the department can still access the technology through Michigan State Police. Civil liberties advocates argue the technology should be abandoned entirely given its unreliability, while some police officials and community leaders suggest traditional community policing methods can be more effective.