On Hand

Maykol Bogoya-Duarte is a Detroit high school student, who was just 3.5 credits away from earning his diploma when he was pulled over by Rockwood police for alleged tailgating. Bogoya-Duarte, who was already under an active deportation order and planning to fly back to Colombia with his mother, was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement during the May 20 traffic stop. He had hoped to finish his high school diploma by the end of this year, but now faces imminent deportation. We talked to Bogoya-Duarte's attorney and a reporter about the student's case, and what it can tell us about the bigger picture for undocumented students in Michigan. 

GUESTS: 

Hannah Dellinger, Chalkbeat Detroit reporter 

Ruby Robinson, senior managing attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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How Lansing native Terk Brunk, aka Sabu, changed wrestling and became a global sports hero for Arab Americans 

 

GUESTS:

Shaffee Abraham, former radio host and ring manger for Sabu 

Khalil AlHajal, Deputy Opinion Editor at the Detroit Free Press

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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The Senate may soon vote on a federal budget packed with President Trump’s priorities. The bill passed the house last month with major changes to Medicaid. Michigan’s Republican representatives argue these aren’t “cuts” – they say that they’re “protecting” Medicaid by removing “waste, fraud and abuse.” These changes, whatever you call them, could result in millions losing Medicaid coverage by 2027, according to estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Nearly two million Michiganders, including many people with disabilities, are enrolled in eMdicaid. State officials may be left with the choice to let many people lose coverage or make cuts elsewhere to cover losses in federal funding.

GUESTS:

Amanda Rhines, director for Disability Network Lakeshore and member of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council

Terry DeYoung, board president of Disability Network Lakeshore and former disability concerns coordinator for the Reformed Church in America

 

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Alex B. Hill is the principal of DETROITography, an organization that provides data resources for city residents.

"You know, I have Detroit maps in the back of my head. I've made so many of them. And the Great Lakes, I've lived here forever, but I hadn't ever really made a map of the region," Hill said.

As a cartographer and information designer, Hill focuses on Michigan locations, offering new perspectives for understanding these areas.

His new book, "Great Lakes in 50 Maps," explores our freshwater features and the surrounding land, highlighting how this relationship impacts how people live.

"As I was thinking about this book, I realized how much the Great Lakes are a part of all of us," Hill said. "We're 90 percent water. We are the Great Lakes; we just walk around!"

The book includes maps featuring indigenous names for the lakes, treaties, and land rights associated with the Great Lakes, historical Underground Railroad stops, and shipwrecks in the inland seas, among other topics.

Hill is also the author of "Detroit in 50 Maps."

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The regents of University of Florida had already offered Ono the gig, and he had accepted. But the larger governing body - the Board of Governors - rejected that plan as pressure mounted from Republican lawmakers and influential voices decried Ono as too liberal.

At the meeting on June 3, 2025, the members of the Board of Governors peppered Ono with questions about his record of support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. DEI programs have become a target of the Republican Party under President Donald Trump. Ono halted DEI programs at U-M after Trump took office this year.

Ono told the board members this week that he stood by his decision to walk away from DEI.

"My evolution over the past 18 months or more... has really focused on my personal experience seeing DEI programs - that were started with all good intensions - what impact they've had on campuses," said Ono.

Board members also pushed on Ono's handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests, and questioned whether he came out with enough forceful support of Israel in the days after the Oct. 7th attack in 2023. Conversely, many pro-Palestinian supporters on campus and in Ann Arbor railed against Ono while president at U-M for being too supportive of Israel and for continuing university investment in Israeli businesses.

The Florida Board of Governors rejected Ono's appointment by a 10-6 vote. It's unclear what Ono will do now.

His departure from U-M came after three difficult years, in which the university was challenged on multiple fronts.

The reason and manner of Florida’s apparent rejection are also historic, and say a lot about this moment.

Today, we’ve invited back Jamal Watson, editor of the online journal, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education to explain what happened and what's next for Ono.

Watson is also a Professor of Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Trinity Washington University.

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The mistrial in the criminal case against former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya, has left the Lyoya family vowing to continue seeking justice through civil court. Some legal experts argue that police training and the difficulty of convicting officers played a key role in the hung jury decision.

GUEST:

Ekow Yankah, Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and holds the title of Thomas M. Cooley Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. He's also a professor of philosophy at the university.

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Abra Berens, cookbook author and culinary director at Granor Farm in Three Oaks, offered a risotto recipe that works as the perfect catchall for your farmers market finds this spring. 

After you hear her tips, find the full recipe below:

Spring Risotto

This risotto can absorb any random spring vegetables like asparagus or ramps even baby carrots or radish. I just slice them thinly or into a small dice and then add in place of the peas. The broth is a great way to use up old parmesan rinds, but isn’t strictly necessary. 

• 1 onion, sliced thinly
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 1 ½ cup risotto rice
• 8 cups water, parmesan broth, or stock, brought to a boil
• 2 cups shelled peas, fresh or frozen
• 1 lemon, zest and juice

 

1. In a large frying pan, heat a glug of olive oil over medium heat
2. Add the onion and garlic with a hefty pinch of salt and sweat until soft but not browned
3. Add the wine and reduce until dry
4. Add the rice and toast for a couple of minutes
5. Add a ladle full of hot liquid to the rice and stir continuously until the liquid is absorbed
6. Continue with an additional ladle of liquid and stir until that is absorbed
7. Continue adding ladle after ladle of liquid allowing to absorb fully between additions
8. When the rice is 90% cooked, add the peas and an additional ladle of liquid
9. Finish with the lemon zest and juice along 
10. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired
11. To serve finish with a hefty glug of olive oil and any herbs or pea shoot over the top

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The City of Dearborn is buying or parcels of land along an industrial stretch on the south end of town. The idea is to turn this strip into a green park buffer between industry and residential, in order to tamp down pollution of all sorts. 

GUEST:

Ali Abazeed, public health director, City of Dearborn

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Detroit artist Akea Brionne uses a digital loom to create painterly tapestries rooted in the Black experience. Her fresh approach to an age old craft recently earned Brionne accolades, and a $50,000 prize, from the Knight Foundation. We sat down with the Louisiana-born artist to talk about how she blends history and technology–and the stories she’s telling in her work.

GUEST:

Akea Brionne, Detroit-based artist

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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For decades, many Michigan farmers have relied on the herbicide Roundup for weed control. But the federal government has two conflicting policies that may affect whether they can continue to use this highly effective - and dangerous - product. At issue is Roundup’s active ingredient – glyphosate.

Environmental Reporter Keith Schneider is senior editor and chief correspondent at Circle of Blue. He recently wrote about the long history of research on this product’s carcinogenic properties, all the while its maker says the product can be used safely as directed.

Today, we’ll be talking with Keith about Michigan’s most popular farm herbicide, it's health risks, and how it’s regulated.

Background reading: 

Conflict Over a Blockbuster Farm Chemical

RFK Jr. tells farmers, GOPT not to worry about his report targeting pesticides

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