michigan news

A group of youth from Jack & Jill of America's Detroit Chapter conducted an interview at Ford Field on a warm Saturday afternoon, two days before a Lions-Buccaneers game. They spoke with Blake, an event supervisor who manages a team overseeing seating sections in the stadium's lower bowl area. Blake, who was formerly involved with Jack & Jill as a teen leader in the Midwest region, supervises approximately twelve employees and ensures guests have positive experiences during games and events. The interview provided insights into the diverse employment opportunities available at the stadium and the behind-the-scenes preparation required for major sporting events.

The Michigan Chronicle hosted twenty fifth- and sixth-grade students from Jack & Jill of America's Detroit Chapter for a journalism workshop at their downtown offices. During the hands-on experience, participants received instruction about journalism fundamentals and Black Press history before venturing into the city to gather stories in gender-divided teams. Upon returning, students crafted articles about topics including an upcoming Detroit Lions game and Paradise Valley's historical significance with guidance from editorial staff. The session concluded with students discussing their future career goals while sharing pizza, providing them with practical media experience and professional mentorship.

Former Illinois sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson testified in court about his decision to fatally shoot 36-year-old Sonya Massey in her Springfield home after she called police about a suspected prowler in July. Grayson claimed he chose to use his firearm instead of his stun gun because he doubted the taser would work effectively through Massey's clothing, and he interpreted her religious statement "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" as a threat while she held a pot of boiling water. Prosecutors presented evidence that Grayson's official report omitted key details captured on body camera footage, including profane threats he made before shooting, and expert witnesses testified that he faced no credible threat. Grayson now faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and official misconduct, while his partner testified that Massey never made him feel threatened during the encounter.

Detroit's HOPE program provides income-based property tax reductions ranging from 10% to 100% for financially struggling homeowners who own and live in their primary residences. The application deadline has been moved earlier this year to November 7th, giving city officials more time to follow up with incomplete applications and help residents qualify for relief. Last year, over 10,000 Detroit homeowners benefited from this program, which addresses the city's ongoing crisis of property tax foreclosures that have particularly harmed Black homeowners. The program requires annual reapplication and can also open doors to additional assistance for clearing past-due property taxes.

Sati Smith, CEO of Diversified Members Credit Union in Michigan, will become the first credit union CEO from her state inducted into the African American Credit Union Hall of Fame. The honor from the African American Credit Union Coalition recognizes her leadership in expanding financial access and opportunity. Smith's remarkable career trajectory includes starting as a teller over twenty years ago and rising to become DMCU's first African American CEO in 2023, while earning her GED, bachelor's, and master's degrees along the way. Under her guidance, DMCU serves approximately 30,000 members with $500 million in assets across three Michigan locations, offering financial products and coaching programs focused on building generational wealth. The formal recognition ceremony will take place in March 2026 at the Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Mary Edwards experienced devastating losses when her mother, brother, sister, and husband all died from cancer within a short span of time. After her husband's death in 2004, she herself was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in 2007 following a routine mammogram. Rather than succumbing to fear given her family history, she chose to fight back by visualizing her recovery, setting five-year goals, and adopting a positive mental outlook. She underwent outpatient surgery twice to remove the cancer and is now cancer-free, determined to break the cycle of cancer deaths in her family.

The author argues that addressing America's family breakdown crisis requires raising the minimum wage to create family-sustaining incomes, as poverty wages prevent workers from building stable households and relationships. Currently, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour falls drastically short of what families need to afford basic necessities, with MIT calculations showing even the cheapest areas require over $33 per hour for modest two-parent households. The article highlights how viral social media claims about Trump promising $25 minimum wage—though false—revealed bipartisan working-class support for substantially higher pay. The Living Wage for All coalition proposes a phased implementation of $25-$30 minimum wage with business support measures, which the author contends would strengthen marriages, enable parental presence, improve child outcomes, and save taxpayers billions in social program costs. # Key Takeaways

Bishop William J. Barber II, a Yale theologian and civil rights leader, has announced a comprehensive campaign to challenge North Carolina's newly approved congressional redistricting map that eliminates a Black congressional district. Barber characterizes the Republican-led gerrymandering effort as "surgical racism" designed to secure more GOP House seats and advance President Trump's policy agenda, including healthcare cuts and blocking minimum wage increases. Despite physical challenges requiring the use of canes and a mask, Barber plans to mobilize opposition through legal action, public protests, and voter engagement, comparing the moment to the historic 1965 Selma voting rights march. He argues the redistricting violates constitutional provisions limiting such changes to once per decade and points to polls showing 85% of North Carolinians oppose the new map.

Three Democratic candidates are currently vying for Michigan's attorney general position as current AG Dana Nessel approaches her term limit. The contenders include Washtenaw County prosecutor Eli Savit, who has implemented progressive criminal justice reforms; former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, who previously ran for the position in 2014; and Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald, who has focused on juvenile justice and hate crimes initiatives. Unlike primary elections, nominees for attorney general in Michigan are selected at state party conventions, with Democrats scheduled to choose their candidate on April 19, 2026, ahead of the November general election against Republican opponents.

WGPR-TV 62, the first television station in the United States owned and operated by African Americans, celebrated its 50th anniversary since its historic launch on September 29, 1975. Founded by Dr. William V. Banks in Detroit, the station served as a revolutionary training ground for Black media professionals and pioneered technological advancements like portable video cameras and 24-hour broadcasting. Despite being sold to CBS in 1995, WGPR's legacy continues through the WGPR-TV Historical Society and the William V. Banks Broadcast Museum and Media Center, which was designated as a National Historic Site in 2021. The station's 50th anniversary celebration featured prominent speakers including Detroit Pistons Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas and ESPN executive David Roberts, highlighting WGPR's enduring impact on Black representation in American broadcasting.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has approved her seventh balanced state budget, which focuses on reducing financial burdens for residents while investing in critical infrastructure and services. The budget package includes multiple tax reductions, such as eliminating state taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits, while continuing existing tax credits for working families and retirees. A historic $2 billion annual investment will address the state's deteriorating road infrastructure, while education funding reaches record levels with continued free meal programs for all public school students. Additionally, the budget protects Medicaid coverage for over 2 million residents and maintains investments in public safety personnel following federal healthcare funding cuts. # Key Takeaways

The Michigan Chronicle, Detroit's long-established community newspaper, will raise its single-issue price from $1 to $2 beginning November 5, 2025, marking its first price adjustment in approximately twenty years. The publication cites increasing operational expenses including printing, distribution, and news gathering as reasons for the change, while emphasizing that it remains among the region's most affordable newspapers. Despite the print price increase, all digital content on the Chronicle's website and social media platforms will continue to be available at no cost to ensure broad community access. The newspaper frames this adjustment as a necessary adaptation to current media industry economic challenges while reaffirming its dedication to delivering quality journalism to Detroit residents. # Key Takeaways

Baller Alert, a major digital media platform with 18 million social media followers and over 1.2 billion monthly impressions, has named Detroit native Chloe Gibert as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Gibert, who previously worked on marketing campaigns for brands like Adidas and Claire's, will lead brand partnerships, platform expansion, and content strategy while connecting cultural relevance with business objectives. She was attracted to the role because Baller Alert is a female-founded company that actively shapes cultural conversations rather than simply reporting on them. In her new position, Gibert aims to build on the platform's legacy by ensuring its work enhances culture while maintaining authenticity and community engagement with its Gen Z and millennial audience.

A far-right Christian nationalist named Joshua Haymes recently proclaimed that slavery is not inherently evil and demanded Christians defend the right to own human beings, reflecting a broader movement within white Christian nationalism that includes connections to high-ranking government officials. Simultaneously, the Trump administration has ordered the National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution to remove or revise exhibits that discuss slavery's brutality, including directing the removal of historical photographs showing enslaved people's scars and panels describing George Washington's enslaving of people. This coordinated effort to sanitize American history extends beyond museum censorship, as young Republican groups have been exposed using racist slurs and celebrating violence in private communications. Historians and activists argue this represents a dangerous campaign to erase historical truth about slavery and racism, making it possible to repeat past atrocities by eliminating cultural memory of them.

A $24 million housing development project in Detroit's West Village has sparked concerns among east side residents who voiced their opinions to the City Council. The project, proposed by Arrive Community Development and Ethos Development Partners, would transform an underutilized parking lot at Butzel Family Recreation Center into a four-story building with 48 affordable housing units, retail spaces, and park improvements. Some community members worry the development might displace longtime residents and continue a pattern of gentrification, while developers insist it's an "anti-gentrification" initiative designed to preserve affordability with units targeting households earning 30-80% of the area median income. The project requires several City Council approvals including a land sale and special tax breaks before proceeding.

The Detroit City Council has voted 7-2 to ban smokeless tobacco and alternative nicotine products like Zyn in city stadiums, with violations potentially resulting in a $100 fine after an initial warning. Council Member Fred Durhal III led the proposal, partnering with the organization Knock Tobacco Out of The Park, arguing that the ban helps prevent children from being influenced by unhealthy habits associated with sports. The ban applies to everyone in stadiums, including athletes and employees, though it excludes vaping products which are already prohibited under existing venue policies. Some council members opposed the measure, arguing it overreaches into adults' freedom to use legal substances and may be ineffective since similar bans already exist.

The Detroit City Council voted 7-2 to criminalize the use of chewing tobacco and nicotine pouches, making them misdemeanor offenses with $100 fines, while giving offenders an opportunity to stop before being penalized. The ordinance faced opposition from two council members who questioned enforcement feasibility and governmental overreach in regulating adult behavior. This effort is part of the national "Knock Tobacco Out of the Park" campaign, which reportedly has support from the Detroit Tigers. Detroit joins 18 other cities that have implemented full smokeless-tobacco bans in sports arenas, with proponents arguing the measure helps protect youth from tobacco marketing and exposure.

Recent data from the Michigan League for Public Policy reveals nearly three-quarters of Michigan high school students are unprepared for college based on standardized test benchmarks, despite increased education spending. Michigan students are performing below the national average and learning less than children in other Midwest states, with particularly poor results in fourth-grade math. While high school graduation rates have improved, college readiness continues to decline, prompting Governor Gretchen Whitmer to acknowledge the state's unacceptable situation of higher-than-average per-pupil investment yielding bottom-tier educational outcomes. Michigan has implemented financial aid programs including Michigan Reconnect and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship to address these challenges, while also expanding enrollment in the Great Start Readiness Program.

Detroit voters can now participate in the November 4 General Election through multiple voting options, including mail-in ballots and early in-person voting which begins October 25 and runs through November 2. The Department of Elections is hosting a block party to promote early voting, continuing an initiative they began during the August primary. Over 30,000 absentee ballots have already been returned according to election officials, and residents can request absentee ballots until specific deadlines before Election Day. This expanded access to voting stems from a 2022 ballot initiative that requires local clerks to provide at least nine days of early voting for statewide elections.

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is opening its new Reimagine African American Art galleries on Saturday, featuring four rooms that showcase fifty works chronicling Black artistry from 1840 to 1986. Positioned adjacent to the museum's famous Rivera Court, the galleries trace artistic movements from Reconstruction through the Black Arts era, with Robert S. Duncanson's 1853 "Uncle Tom and Little Eva" painting serving as the spiritual entryway. The DIA, which began collecting African American art in 1943 and established the Center for African American Art in 2000, aims to raise a $16 million endowment to support these galleries, with $4 million already secured. This installation represents a milestone in recognizing Black artists' contributions to American visual culture and provides Detroit's majority African American community with cultural representation within the museum.

During the WXYZ mayoral debate in Detroit, candidates Mary Sheffield and Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr. presented child-focused financial proposals to combat poverty. Sheffield proposed implementing the existing Rx Kids program, which provides $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for babies, while Kinloch unveiled his "Kinloch Promise," a trust fund granting Detroit newborns $1,000 annually until age 18. The Rx Kids program, already operating successfully in several Michigan communities with $270 million in state funding, has shown positive health outcomes in Flint, including improved birth weights and reduced NICU admissions. While both candidates presented compelling visions for investing in Detroit's youngest residents, neither fully addressed implementation details such as funding sources, eligibility requirements, or administrative oversight.

Michigan officials have announced plans for a $40 million multimodal transit hub at Michigan Central Station that would reconnect Detroit to Windsor, Toronto, and Chicago by rail by 2029. The Michigan Department of Transportation, the City of Detroit, and Michigan Central have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop this hub, which would restore rail service to the historic station for the first time since 1988. The project will leverage existing tracks and tunnels to bridge the nine-mile gap between Detroit and Windsor, with projections suggesting it could serve more than 66,000 passengers annually. The hub will also relocate regional bus lines from the aging Howard Street Station, centralizing transit access in Detroit's west downtown area while complementing the existing Amtrak station in New Center.

Detroit mayoral candidates Rev. Solomon Kinloch and Mary Sheffield debated public safety approaches ahead of the November 4 municipal election, with federal law enforcement assistance emerging as a key point of contention. While both opposed military deployment in Detroit, Kinloch expressed openness to federal collaboration on law enforcement, whereas Sheffield firmly rejected militarizing neighborhoods and advocated for addressing root causes of crime. The debate occurred amid claims about Detroit's crime statistics, with Kinloch questioning their legitimacy while city officials maintain crime rates are declining. Current Mayor Mike Duggan, who is not seeking reelection, has credited partnerships between Detroit Police and federal agencies along with community violence intervention groups for the city's reduced crime rates.

The televised debate between Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield and Triumph Church Rev. Solomon Kinloch revealed intense personal criticisms as both candidates vie for Detroit's mayoral position. Sheffield criticized Kinloch's absence from community forums, questioned his Detroit residency, and cited his lack of political experience. Kinloch countered that Sheffield represents privileged leadership that has failed to meaningfully improve residents' lives despite her years on the council. The contentious exchange covered public safety concerns, neighborhood investment versus downtown development, and both candidates defended their community contributions while accusing each other of misrepresenting their records.

Three Democrats—Barb Byrum (47), Adam Hollier (40), and Aghogho Edevbie (37)—are competing to be their party's nominee for Michigan Secretary of State in the 2026 election, as current Secretary Jocelyn Benson is term-limited and running for governor. Byrum, the Ingham County Clerk since 2013 and former state representative, positions herself as a fighter against voting restrictions, while Hollier, a former state senator, emphasizes his military background and legislative experience. Edevbie, a deputy clerk who helped develop voting reforms that became Proposal 2, distinguishes himself by pledging not to accept corporate PAC donations, though his competitors have higher name recognition. The Democratic nominee will be selected by delegates at the state party's nominating convention rather than through a primary election.

The ongoing government shutdown has forced federal workers like Michael Galletly to strategize for survival through unpaid leave, with many expecting to miss their first paychecks this week. As workers curtail spending, the economic impact is beginning to spread beyond government operations, with analysts projecting a hit of approximately 0.2 percentage points to quarterly growth per week, equivalent to about $15 billion. This shutdown poses unusual risks as it coincides with a slowing economy and includes unprecedented threats from the Trump administration to deny backpay and permanently fire some workers. While the administration has taken steps to mitigate some effects by ensuring military pay continues, economists warn that a prolonged shutdown could significantly increase unemployment rates and reduce consumer spending by up to $30 billion if it extends for a month.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education has appointed Bessie Harris, a veteran educator with extensive experience as a teacher and administrator, to fill the vacant seat left by Sherry Gay-Dagnogo's resignation. The appointment occurred on October 14, 2025, with Harris being immediately sworn in after being selected from a pool of 14 applicants from the July 2025 selection process. Harris, a Detroit native with decades of experience in education, will serve until the November 2026 election while contributing to the district's Blueprint 2027 strategic plan. The Board emphasized that Harris's appointment maintains leadership continuity during a period of significant transition, with the addition of multiple new members to the seven-person Board this year.

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 Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that Detroit's contracts for ShotSpotter police surveillance technology violated the city's Community Input Over Government Surveillance (CIOGS) ordinance, which requires public disclosure of surveillance technology details before hearings. The court found the city held multiple public meetings before publishing the required oversight report, though they stopped short of nullifying the $7 million contracts, leaving that decision to a lower court. The case centers on ensuring proper public information and transparency when surveillance technologies are considered, with attorney John Philo emphasizing that informed public debate about such technologies is essential to democratic governance. Despite the legal challenge, Detroit police officials continue to defend ShotSpotter's effectiveness, claiming it has helped make 131 arrests and recover 244 firearms.

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a trailblazing former U.S. congresswoman and lifelong educator, died on October 7, 2024, at age 80, leaving behind a legacy of public service spanning over 32 years. Beginning her career as a Detroit Public Schools teacher before serving nine consecutive terms in the Michigan House of Representatives starting in 1978, Kilpatrick later became only the second Black woman elected to Congress from Michigan in 1996. During her congressional tenure, she secured a powerful position on the House Appropriations Committee, where she obtained over $1 billion in federal funding for Michigan projects including job training, university research, public transportation, and hospital improvements. As chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2007 to 2009, she advocated for urban communities while maintaining deep connections to Detroit, where her influence is still visible in infrastructure projects like the Rosa Parks Transit Center, the Q-Line, and the People Mover.