Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent in August, according to a report from the Michigan Department of Technology. The shift reflects about 14,000 fewer people holding or seeking jobs. It also marks the fifth consecutive month that the state’s workforce has shrunk.

Wayne Rourke, Michigan Labor Market Information Director, says the drop is not necessarily a sign of improvement.

“While the number of unemployed people are decreasing, the number of employed is not going up. So, these people are just leaving the labor market and not looking for a job.”

Reasons for leaving the workforce include aging out, discouragement, and the cost of childcare keeping people at home.

The Detroit Auto Show has announced its 2026 anthem: My Drive, My City, My Show. The song will be written and performed by Detroit hip hop artist Gmac Cash.

Organizers say the track captures the spirit of the Motor City, where cars and culture are deeply connected.

The 2026 Detroit Auto Show takes place January 14–25 at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit. Learn more at detroitautoshow.com.

September is Detroit’s Month of Design. As part of the festivities, Ecosphere Organics is hosting an event called Waste to Wonder 2025: Art and Design in Action.

The outdoor block party and creative showcase will feature interactive installations made from repurposed food waste materials. Organizers say the event will celebrate community, art, and imagination.

The showcase will be held at Sanctuary Farms on Lakeview Street. Details are available at DetroitMonthofDesign.org.

On Wednesday, September 24, Spotlite will host the Work in Progress Coworking Tour.

The event is led by Amber Lewis, Chief Energy Officer of Visit Detroit, and is geared toward creatives and professionals looking to network or find collaborative spaces. Attendees can take part in advising sessions, LinkedIn and resume reviews, a happy hour, and more.

RSVP information is available on Spotlite Detroit’s Instagram.

The City of Detroit celebrated 88 Detroiters today who received deeds to their homes after successfully completing the Detroit Land Bank Authority’s Occupied Buy Back Program.

The Buy Back program gives Detroit residents who live or have lived in Land Bank owned homes a chance to become the new owner. Requirements included paying property taxes in full, completing financial literacy counseling, and attending homeownership workshops. Since its inception, the program has given deeds to 1,363 residents.

The state House voted to require photos and signatures on cards loaded with money for state food or cash assistance.

Republican sponsors say it would cut back on fraud, though studies have shown fraud is rare and that extra layers of red tape often keeps people who need the benefits from getting them.

Democratic Representative Penelope Tsernoglou says the bill would add extra steps without effectively addressing fraud.

“This bill will cost our state millions of dollars annually with savings to the state being determined as ‘indeterminate, but likely negligible.’”

The bill now goes to the Democratic-controlled Michigan Senate, where its chances of passing are low.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive directive today that could lay the groundwork for the state to broaden access to the COVID-19 vaccine. But it doesn't have a lot of specifics.

Currently, only those over the age of 65 or with underlying medical conditions can get the shot in Michigan without a prescription. That is under recent FDA restrictions.

Whitmer's directive tells state health officials to remove barriers to vaccine access to ensure the shot remains widely available in Michigan. Other states are requiring insurers to cover vaccines recommended by their health departments, or broadly authorizing pharmacies to administer the shots.

Mighty Real/Queer Detroit is putting on a short film showcase called “Queer Diasporic Horizons.” The program is curated by artist and filmmaker Billy Gerard Frank.

The selection of queer short films explores themes of belonging, exile, and migration. The program line-up includes the films Never Stop Shouting by Abdellea Taia, The Distance of Time by Acrlos Omeno Palma, I Was Never Really Here by Abriel Arrahino and Vallerie Gabriel Bihina, and Carnival Queen by Sekyia Dorsett.

The showcase is Saturday, September 20 at 7 PM at the Carr Center on 15 E Kirby Street.

The Detroit Women’s Commission is holding a one-day business workshop for small women-owned businesses.

The event will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to get all of their basic essentials done at one time, from getting their business license certified to registering a business.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, September 20 from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Northwest Activities Center.

In this Detroit Evening Report, WSU's President Espy resigns, plus updates on mayoral debates, Detroit Grand Prix and more.

Detroit anti-violence organizer Eric Ford died Monday. Ford was the founder of Detroit 300.

Police Chief Todd Bettison says Ford was a “massive voice” for Community Violence Intervention. Bettison called him a “superhero to his community” and said he will be truly missed.

Ford’s family says he died of natural causes. He was 58.

Correction for recent Detroit Evening Report

Lastly… we reported earlier this month on the Carr Center’s exhibit "In the Life: Black Queerness – Looking Back, Moving Forward" presented by Mighty Real Queer Detroit. The exhibit spans a variety of media and features work from more than a dozen artists.

It is open through October 11th at the Carr Center location at 15 E Kirby Street. Our previous report directed listeners to the wrong Carr Center location. We apologize for the error. 

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Ford Motor Company announced Monday that its moving its headquarters for the first time in 70 years. The new headquarters will be located west of Greenfield Village in Dearborn.  

The new Henry Ford II World Center is a 2.1 million square foot state-of-the-art building. It will serve as a global center to promote innovation, collaboration, and transformation. Among the changes are six Design Studios and a Design Showroom, which can hold 10 vehicle turntables with 64-ft micro LED screens for product review. 

The building is a Net-Zero Energy Building, using a central energy plant for hot water and steam and DTE MI Green Power Program to have a net-zero carbon goal. There are also energy-efficient systems, including water saving measures and waste reduction strategies in place.  

The headquarters has been built on a historic site—the 1953 Product Development Center, where the Mustang, F-Series and Ford GT were created. The former headquarters known as the "Glass House" will be torn down over the next 18 months, with plans to repurpose it for community use. 

A public grand opening of the new building is scheduled for November with some employees shifting to the new location. 

The project is slated to be completed in 2027. 

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at [email protected].

The Kresge Foundation announced that it will relocate its headquarters from Troy to the Marygrove campus in northwest Detroit. Along with the move, the foundation says it will invest an additional 180 million dollars in the Liv-Six community over the next five years.

Kresge CEO Rip Rapson says the organization will build a new headquarters on the campus while also strengthening nearby neighborhoods.

“We will, working alongside neighborhood residents and community partners, invest in housing stabilization, home ownership, commercial corridor revitalization, small business support, public spaces enhancements and financial assistance in the Fitzgerald, Bagley, University District and Martin Park neighborhoods,” Rapson said.

The foundation had considered a return to the city for many years, but a renovation of its Troy offices in 2014 delayed those plans. The new headquarters at Marygrove is expected to be completed by 2028.

Apple will open its downtown Detroit store on September 19 on Woodward just south of John R. The announcement comes the same week the company unveiled its newest devices. Apple also revealed plans for a manufacturing academy in Detroit to complement its developer academy partnership with Michigan State University.

Rapper and entrepreneur Jeezy is bringing something special to Detroit. His Friday night concert at the Fox Theatre will feature a live orchestra and will also be livestreamed on his official YouTube channel.

Detroit is one of 23 stops on Jeezy’s tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, first released in 2005.

The Detroit Tigers face the Miami Marlins this weekend at Loan Depot Park. First pitch for tonight’s game is at 7:10 p.m.

The Detroit Lions take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, September 14. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.

Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show is coming to Detroit this Sunday, September 14, for an episode that will air September 15 on NBC. The show will be filmed at the Detroit Opera House and will feature special guests Keegan-Michael Key, Detroit Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham, and Grammy-winning rapper and actor Common, who recorded his first album in Detroit.

This is the Tonight Show’s first visit to the city and is being presented in partnership with Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit nbc.com.

The Detroit Department of Public Works announced a new effort to keep the city clean with a recycling pilot program at bus stops.

The department also unveiled two electric garbage trucks that will be used to collect recycling.   

The pilot program will place 800 new recycling cans at the bus stops.  

Public Works Deputy Director Sam Krassenstein says bottles and cans are the number one thing people throw away when waiting for the bus.  “And that's what we're trying to capitalize on by diverting that to keep that out of the landfill and keep that out of the streets.”  

Krassenstein says the pilot aims to increase recycling rates from 45% to nearly 100%.   

The $500,000 investment was funded by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, DTE, and City Council.   

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Former Detroit mayoral candidate Saunteel Jenkins is endorsing Mary Sheffield for the job. 

She expressed her support for Sheffield this morning during an event at Cody High School on the city’s west side, saying they have shared priorities. 

“It’s about kids all over the city of Detroit who deserve to live in a city free of gun violence.  It’s about all the kids who deserve to grow and reach their full potential.”

Jenkins has an understanding of City Council president Sheffield’s qualifications to become mayor.  Jenkins served as the president of Detroit City Council before stepping down in 2014. 

Sheffield faces Pastor Solomon Kinloch in the November 4th general election. 

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The Detroit Regional Chamber is urging voters not to sign a petition that would tax the wealthy to help pay for schools. The chamber argues some small businesses file their taxes using individual income tax.

But Jess Newman from the Invest in MI Kids initiative says the language of the petition and the individual income limits affects only about 12,000 to 18,000 high income individuals in the whole state.

“We’re talking about a very targeted tax to folks that make a ton of money. They do not as an effective rate pay their fair share. We’re also looking at folks that just got a huge tax break on the income taxes from the federal government.”

The Invest in MI Kids ballot initiative would add a 4% tax hike on individual income over $500,000 to fund public education.

Both petition organizers and the chamber urge voters to read the language of the petition.

Wayne County is honoring longtime journalist and founder and publisher of Arab American News, Osama Siblani by naming a stretch of Dearborn’s commercial corridor after him. 

Siblani established the publication back in the 1980’s, and 40 years later it has become the longest running bilingual Arab weekly publication in the nation.

According to officials, Warren Avenue is believed to be the first street in Dearborn to have a sign in honor of an Arab American advocate.

Ford is recalling almost 1.5 million vehicles in U.S. because of a rear view camera issue. The recall involves vehicles from model years 2015 to 2019.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the image on the center of the display screen has been reported to go black or get a distorted image which may result in a potential crash.

The administration said they are aware of 18 accidents and no injuries related to the rear camera issue. The agency said that vehicle owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their cars to their respective dealers to solve the issue. There will be no charge for the service.

To combat homelessness in the state, Michigan plans to create mini housing pods.

The city of Lansing approved the purchase and storage of 50 modular housing units called ModPods. City officials in Lansing are considering various locations to plant the pods.

If successful, the approach would make Lansing the first city in Michigan to utilize the 8-by-8 housing units which have been used in other states across the country.

If there’s something in your neighborhood you think we should know about, drop us a line at [email protected].

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is joining the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to raise awareness for 988 day.

September 8 is dedicated to a national raising awareness for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It’s a 24/7 toll free hotline which connects people with local call centers to confidentially receive compassionate care and resources while people are going through emotional distress, including anxiety, depression or suicidal tendencies.

The hotline is open for people who may in distress with a call answer time of 13 seconds. People have made 261,000 calls to 9-8-8 from Michigan since the state opened its hotline in 2022.

Last year the 2024 State of Mental Health in America report found almost 23% of Michigan adults have a mental health illness.  People can also call in for a loved one.

The crisis center has services available in English and Spanish, with an additional language line providing services in 250 languages.  

An expungement clinic is coming to Detroit next week.

People can participate in Project Clean Slate, a program which works with people to provide free in person assistance to clear criminal records, removing barriers for housing, employment and educational opportunities. The program aims to help people who have completed their sentences and have stayed out of legal trouble.  

Since its inception in Detroit in 2016, the program has expunged 15,000 convictions. The City of Detroit reports a 99.4 % success rate for the expungement of individuals who applied, with about 100 people denied.  

This expungement clinic will be held at the Mathis Community Center, located at 19300 Greenfield Road, Detroit, MI on September 20th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Judge Greg Mathis and attorney Jade Mathis are hosting the clinic.

The outdoor event is limited to Detroit residents. Photo ID is required.   

ProsperUs Detroit is hosting a Family Block Party this week. The event will feature free meals from five food trucks, activities and networking opportunities with entrepreneurs, partners and neighbors.

The nonprofit works with entrepreneurs for economic development in the Detroit area.

The block party takes place on Wednesday at the Eastern Market Shed 5, between 5-8 p.m. ProsperUs Detroit expects about 400 people to attend.

The Cities of Dearborn and Detroit are also hosting the fourth annual community block party next weekend.

The party takes place on Tireman and Miller Streets for neighbors from both cities. The event features bounce houses, vendor resource tables, and food trucks. There will also be activities and games.

The block party will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13, between 12-3 p.m. 

Konjo Me is hosting an event for Ethiopian New Year this weekend. The celebration will feature special guest Bryce Detroit joining Chef Helina Melaku... who will be hosting a ceremonial coffee service. The event will also feature dance and music.

The celebration will be held at Vesper Detroit on Saturday September 13 from 2-7 p.m.  Attendees are encouraged to RSVP.

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at [email protected].