The Detroit Evening Report

The City of Highland Park is expanding its camera surveillance coverage of senior housing complexes. 

Police Chief James McMahon says seniors have complained about an increase in drug activity at the facilities. The city is looking to add more live cameras in five locations. 

McMahon says he anticipates new surveillance will be up and running within 60 days. 

-Reporting by Bre'Anna Tinsley

Highland Park is also looking at how to serve its youngest residents better. Mayor Glenda McDonald announced extended programming for kids in the city this summer in an effort to keep them off the street. The city is partnering with local churches and the rec center to provide sports, mentorship and education programs. 

McDonald recalled a recent incident where a child was killed in Highland Park. She says she wants to keep kids safe. 

"I started out on a mission to try to put together a group of people with like mind, and wanted to save our children, give them something positive to do, make sure that they are engaged, encouraged and respected by the people in this city," says McDonald.

Highland Park's Ernest T Ford Recreational Center will provide sports, open gyms and meals all summer long. Local churches are offering mentorship and structured programming daily. All food and programing are free. 

-Reporting by Bre'Anna Tinsley

Former hat designer and author Linda Hannah invites fashion and history buffs to explore the history of hats at the Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch Friday.

The event is open to all ages and starts at 4 p.m. 

Konjo Me serves Ethiopian food at the Detroit Shipping Company Tuesdays through Sunday. But this month it's also offering a cooking class.

Attendees will learn to make one authentic vegan dish and a meat dish before sitting down to enjoy that meal.

The class is May 28, but registration is required. Find more info and purchase tickets at konjome.com.

Saturday is Free Comic Book Day and several shops in Southeast Michigan have in-store events. Vault of Midnight in Detroit will be offering 5 free comic books to each visitor from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. There are 40 comic books to choose from.

The store will also have sales tents outside with comics starting at $1 board games, manga and graphic novels. Vault of Midnight is located at 2857 East Grand Boulevard in Detroit.

Green Brain Comics in Dearborn will celebrate Free Comic Book Day with 3 free comics for visitors and an opportunity to earn more with non-perishable food donations to Gleaners Food Bank, donations to Friends for the Animals Metro Detroit or by wearing a costume.

Green Brain’s festivities begin at 10 a.m. with a special proclamation from Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and end at 6pm. The shop will host several guest creators throughout the day. 

Green Brain is located at 13936 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn.

The City of Detroit’s District 6 is hosting a meeting Wednesday about its lighting expansion program. This comes after Mayor Mary Sheffield signed an executive order to improve lighting in city neighborhoods.

The city says the Public Lighting Authority will install thousands of lights to improve public safety. The City of Detroit and the PLA are hosting community meetings to get feedback from residents. A community engagement plan and schedule will be developed and presented for approval by the City Council. 

This week’s meeting will be April 29 from 6-8 p.m at the Clemente Recreation Center located at 2631 Bagley Street. 

The city of Dearborn Heights is also hosting workshops about safety in the city. The goal is to gather input from the community about road safety and safety trends. The city also wants to learn more about high-risk areas in order to develop safety improvements. 

Community meetings will take place tonight, April 27 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Richard Young Rec. Center 5400 McKinley St. The next one is Wednesday, April 29 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Canfield Community Center 1801 N. Beech Daly Rd. 

People can take a survey online to share their input. Visit dearbornheightsmi.gov to learn more. 

The City of Warren is hosting its third annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebration.

Ayasha Bahar is the Administrative Coordinator for Warren Mayor Lori Stone. 

She says the third annual event was created to showcase Asian cultures in Warren, which make up about 13% of the city’s population. “[That's] is a significant amount... Warren really stands out as having one of the larger Asian communities in Michigan, and it's, it's been on the rise and growing over time.” 

Bahar says the celebration will feature henna artists and performances from different cultures including Filipino, Thai, Laos, Vietnamese, Bangladeshi, Indian and Chinese. She says its a way for people to learn about different cultures and come together. 

The celebration takes place at the Warren Community Center on Saturday May 2nd from 1-4 p.m. That’s 5460 Arden Ave., Warren, MI 48092. 

The Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition is hosting its 17th annual 5k run. The Hamtramck Health Hike will be led by Hamtramck Fire Marshall Michael Young. It starts off at Zussman Park in front of the Hamtramck City Hall.

The free event will also provide giveaways to the first 400 people who register.  The event takes place between 9:30 a.m. and noon on May 16. 

The Michigan Treasury Department sent the wrong notices to tax filers, which has left a lot of tax payers confused.

Between March 30 and April 17, some Michiganders found a “Notice of Adjustment” letter from the state’s Department of Treasury. The notice told filers that refunds had been cut or that they owed money. But these notices didn’t line up with bank deposits and payment records because of a system error.

The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants says it’s working with the Treasury department and the state to stop the incorrect notices and to send out corrected notices clearing this whole deal up.

If you did receive a notice, the department said to check bank records and log in to the Michigan Treasury eServices to confirm that prepayments and refunds are posted correctly.

The Treasury’s office acknowledges the mistake on their end and says taxpayers don’t need to take any further action at this time.

Michigan’s recycling rate has climbed to 26%, topping the previous years’ record for the fifth year in a row. State officials say that their goal of 30% by 2029 is well within reach.

On Earth Day, state officials say that the improved rate has nearly doubled since they first started tracking it in 2019. Michigan is still behind the
national average, which is 32%.

Opponents of the state’s bottle return law argue that the rate could go higher if Michigan invested in universal curbside recycling instead. Some state officials point to the Michigan landfill fee as a possible reason the state recycles less than the country as a whole.

NBA

The Pistons travel to Orlando to continue their tied series with the Magic. Both teams took a win in the first two games with the Piston’s win on Wednesday breaking an 11 game home court playoff losing streak that dates back to 2008.

The Pistons and Magic face off Saturday April 24. Tipoff is at 1 p.m.

NFL

Last night was the NFL Draft and the Detroit Lions picked up Offensive Tackle Blake Miller from Clemson University with the 17th pick.

As we head into the rest of the draft, NFL experts suspect the Lions will focus on fortifying their defense. The Lions have 8 picks left between Friday and Saturday.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers head down to face the Cincinnati Reds this weekend. The Tigers are currently second in the American League Central.

First pitch for tonight’s game is at 6:40 p.m. at the Great American Ballpark.

Friends, family, and mentees of the late great Detroit gospel music scholar Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard remember her in a series of celebrations this weekend.

Pollard, a pivotal figure in gospel, was on the airwaves for three decades as host and producer of Rhythm and Praise program on Mix 92.3 Detroit. She shared the latest in classic and contemporary gospel music.

The esteemed gospel music pioneer also taught and introduction to the genre at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. The cause of death is unknown at the moment.

Homegoing celebration is scheduled to take place at noon on Saturday, April 25, following a musical tribute at 11 a.m., at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.

The Detroit Public Library has hired a company to evaluate the condition of its buildings.

It marks the first comprehensive review of all 21 branches in decades, aimed at identifying structural needs and long-term sustainability.

Officials estimate repairs and upgrades could cost up to $30 million. The library is seeking philanthropic and corporate partnerships to help fund the work.

The assessment is expected to take six to eight months.

The Detroit Police Department is considering using drones this summer to help curb drag racing and drifting.

Assistant Chief Franklin Hayes said the department plans to bring the proposal to Detroit City Council. He noted that other departments, including Dearborn, are already using drones in policing.

Hayes said the department is aware of privacy concerns and pointed to existing policies governing technology such as facial recognition, developed in partnership with the ACLU.

Umoja Debate League founder Jerjuan Howard is opening a new independent bookstore this weekend.

The Howard Family Bookstore is designed to expand access to books and literacy for youth and families. Coffee and tea will also be available for purchase.

The grand opening is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 25 at 13803 Puritan Ave. The event coincides with National Independent Bookstore Day.

Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters is running again in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.

Waters had not publicly announced her campaign before filing paperwork to get on the ballot, a move that surprised some observers. She said those who asked her directly were aware of her plans.

“People who cared enough to ask me if I was going to do it again, I told them yes,” Waters said. “So you have some that were surprised, others who were not surprised because they knew. And then you had another group that did not care.”

Waters was re-elected to City Council last year. She faces a competitive Democratic primary against incumbent U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar and state Rep. Donavan McKinney.

Waters lost to Thanedar by 20 points in the 2024 Democratic primary.

Candidates planning to run in Michigan’s August primary election had until Tuesday at 4 p.m. to file their paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office.  That includes a few new candidates who filed at the last minute.  

Detroit City Councilmember Mary Waters filed to run in the Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District.  She faces incumbent Shri Thanedar, state Representative Donovan McKinney and realtor John Goci.  

The State Board of Canvassers still has to approve the candidates’ petition signatures before they can appear on the August primary ballot. 

Downtown Detroit’s Leland House apartment building is up for auction.  The Detroit News reports that bidding for the building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will start next week.  

The Leland House was built in 1927 and served as a luxury hotel for many years, before being turned into an apartment complex.  Tenants were forced out of the building late last year, after the owner declared bankruptcy, and the city declared the building uninhabitable. 

Michigan regulators are holding a public hearing tonight to discuss metro Detroit’s air quality status.  Planet Detroit is reporting that state regulators want to declare that southeast Michigan is meeting federal ozone standards.  If approved, the action could weaken clean air standards in the area.  

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy will hold the virtual meeting at 6 p.m. tonight.  You can call call 855-758-1310 to attend and use code 847 4896 8640  or you can join the meeting on Zoom.  

The Detroit Pistons will try to rebound from a loss in their first game of the NBA playoffs.  The Orlando Magic beat them Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.  The Pistons brought the best regular season record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference to the playoffs, but that didn’t stop the Magic from taking the first game.  

Cade Cunningham had 39 points in the loss.  Game 2 in the nationally-televised best-of-seven series takes place at Little Caesars Arena tonight at 7 p.m. 

The Detroit Lions are making their final preparations for this week’s NFL Draft.  The team has the 17th pick in the first round of the draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh.  

Football analysts suggest the Lions could use that pick to get an offensive lineman, edge rusher or cornerback.  The first round of the NFL draft starts at 8 p.m. Thursday.  The event will be televised live on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. 

The U.S. Justice Department wants Wayne County to hand over ballots from the 2024 election. Justice officials claim the county surrounding Detroit has a "history of fraud convictions and other allegations." 

Michigan officials say the few examples of fraud cited by the Justice Department out of millions of votes cast were not connected to the 2024 election. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson—who is running for governor as a Democrat—says she believes President Trump is trying to manufacture fear among voters. 

Michigan's Republican-controlled state senate also found no evidence of widespread or systemic fraud in the 2020 election.

-Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter

Detroit-area representatives are among those co-sponsoring water access and affordability bills in the U.S. House. If passed, he bills would create an Environmental Protection Agency program that provides access to clean water for low-income households. 

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell is one of the sponsors of the legislation. She says clean, accessible, affordable drinking water is a basic human right. The bills would also prohibit water shutoffs and give equal protection for renters and homeowners. 

These bills are similar to ones Dingell and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib got passed in 2021, though funding was allowed to run out in the Republican-controlled House. 

-Reporting by Russ McNamara

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud says the city and its private sector partners are investing $180 million in a wide variety of developments, including new housing. Hammoud says the city has already reviewed and approved some concept plans and is speeding up the permitting process.

Raíces Detroit is looking for volunteers for its Cinco de Mayo Fiesta and Parade. Volunteers will serve in a variety of roles, including event set-up and breakdown, assistance with parade staging, vendor support and more. The Fiesta will be Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3. The parade will be held on Sunday.

To volunteer, contact Raíces Detroit at 313-404-0850. 

The Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit invites the community to explore Islam as a part of its Interfaith Odysseys program in May. Attendees will visit the Islamic Center of America – the largest mosque in the United States. The event includes a tour of the mosque, an introduction to Islam and a warm meal.

Guests will also view the "Art, Faith and Sacred Space" exhibit of work by Lebanese-born artist Haroutioun Isack Bastajian. Interfaith Odysseys are designed for all members of the family.

The Joyce Foundation is offering artists across the Great Lakes a chance at a hundred thousand dollars in unrestricted funds for community-focused projects.

Artists in Michigan can nominate themselves through May 4. The Joyce Awards artists in the visual, performing, film, literary and media arts exploring issues of racial equity and engaging communities through collaboration. 

For more information and to apply, visit www.joycefdn.org/grants.  

Three finalists have been chosen in the search for Dearborn Public Schools superintendent. The finalists were chosen during a special meeting over the weekend. Thomas Ahart, Mike Esseily and Moussa Hamka will move forward to the next round of interviews with district officials and stakeholders this week. 

A meet and greet will be held on April 22 from 7:20-8:45 p.m. for community members to meet the candidates at the Administrative Building. Finalists will be interviewed by the Board of Education on April 23. A final decision will be made on May 4 during a special meeting. 

The superintendent search was initiated when former Superintendent Glenn Maleyko stepped down to become the state superintendent.  

People can follow updates at the district's YouTube page @DearbornPublicSchoolsVideo or at dearbornschools.org.

The Night of Innovation event co-hosted by the City of Dearborn’s Economic Development Department and the American Arab Chamber of Commerce is a shark tank style pitch competition for prizes. The top prize wins $25,000. That takes place on May 12 from 5-8 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

The following day, the Bet on Dearborn Expo returns for a third year. The expo brings entrepreneurs, business resources, community services and networking together. The event takes place on May 13 from 4-8 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.  

Visit betondearborn.com for more information and to register for free. 

The nonprofit Dream of Detroit is hosting a community organizing training. The training will teach leaders principles of community organizing based on faith, storytelling and collective power. 

The training takes place May 2 from 1-6 p.m. and Sunday May 3. RSVP at dreamofdetroit.org. 

A recent study shows that some immigrant families in Michigan remain in constant fear because of the Trump administration's ICE raids. 

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) found the crackdown has disrupted the lives of immigrants regardless of legal status. Researchers say children and parents are missing doctors' appointments and other routine activities over concerns that ICE could arrest them.

Elizabeth Gonzalez is an organizer with the Congress of Communities in Southwest Detroit. She says ICE agents showing up at schools and childcare centers affects kids needing educational opportunities. "We depend on our Head Start centers and our Head Start programs. Unfortunately, enrollment has dropped due to parents and children being scared of ice surrounding centers and schools." 

But Gonzalez has a message for the community: "Estamos unidos para proteger a nuestros niños. We are united to protect our children." 

CLASP recommends that lawmakers restore prohibitions against ICE agents operating at schools, houses of worship and hospitals. 

- Reporting by Russ McNamara

Senior Producer at Detroit PBS Bill Kubota was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame this weekend for his contributions to journalism in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. 

Kubota is known for his work for Detroit Public Television’s weekly public affairs program One Detroit. Detroit PBS says Kubota dedicated his life’s work to working in Detroit since the 1980s as a trailblazer in video journalism. He’s also worked as a producer with several national news outlets.

Kubota’s work encompasses overlooked stories, from civil rights to environmental justice and the formerly incarcerated. Kubota is the treasurer for the Michigan chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. 

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at [email protected]. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Rep. Haley Stevens continued her call for articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a house committee meeting on Friday.

During a contentious set of questions, Stevens says that the secretary abused his office and gutted America's health.

She said she did it for Michigan. "I had a moment to push for accountability for Michiganders whose healthcare and safety is on the line with conspiracy theories running rampant. I wanted to push today for the transparency and accountability Michiganders deserve. That's who I take my cues from."

After Stevens' questioning, U.S. Rep. Bob Onder of Missouri accused Stevens—who is currently running for U.S. senate—of using the moment to get a viral clip. With a Republican led house, it is unlikely that the articles of impeachment will go further or get a vote.

A state Senate committee took up a bill to stop utility rates from going up more than once every three years.

Right now, energy companies can ask the Michigan Public Service Commission for higher rates every 12 months—a source of public frustration when approvals of rate increase requests are soon followed by requests for even higher rates.

Commission char Dan Scripps says a three year system could help address that. He adds that tying increases to performance would also improve the system. "The details are important and I think there are a number of places where multi-year rate plans provide for continued investment. If you add in performance-based mechanisms, you can, I think, realize some shared savings."

The commission doesn't have to approve the full amount, but if it does act within 10 months, the increase becomes automatic.

NBA

The playoffs start this weekend and No. 1 seed Pistons will play Sunday, April 19 against whoever wins the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic game tonight at 7:30 p.m.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers have a three game affair against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The first pitch for tonight's game is at 7:15 p.m. The Tigers are currently third in the American League Central.

Soccer

Detroit City FC face off against the Pittsburg Riverhounds SC on April 18 at Highmark Stadium. Game starts at 7 p.m.

This weekend, check out The Speakeasy at the Guardian Building. On Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. the Detroit Historical Society will host a fundraiser to support their efforts to share the rich history of the Motor City.

Tickets will cover live music by the Rhythm Society Orchestra, Charleston and East Coast Swing lessons, open bar, Detroit Distillery tastings, complimentary valet and more. Go to detroithistorical.org for more information.

A 48-year-old Hamtramck man has been arraigned and charged with kidnapping and assaulting a 16-year-old Hamtramck student on Monday. CBS News reports Donald James Joseph Arthur Fields is being held without bond at the Wayne County Jail. 

The student was kidnapped at gunpoint from a bus stop and forced into a white van. Other students were able to track her location through her social media and alert police. The teen also managed to call the police herself.  

The kidnapper took the student to a local gas station, where the student mouthed “help” to the attendant who intervened and walked the kidnapper outside. Police arrested Fields within 30 minutes of the kidnapping. 

Hamtramck Police Chief Hussein Farhat says this was an isolated incident. A probable cause conference is slated for Fields on April 30. 

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed testimony against the state’s largest energy provider.

Nessel urged the Michigan Public Service Commission to cut 61% of a $240 million request from Consumers Energy for another rate hike. This comes after the commission already approved a $157 million rate hike for Consumers Energy in December.

Nessel says Consumers Energy allegedly inflated their costs and customers ultimately take a hit. If approved, customers would save $146 million in future costs.  

Consumers Energy provides electricity and natural gas to about 2 million people in Michigan.  

Coalition for Property Tax Justice says overassesments continue in Detroit

The Coalition for Property Tax Justice continues to fight with the City of Detroit over its property assessments. Overassessments by the city have led to thousands of foreclosures. 

Coalition founder Professor Bernadette Atuahene says a recent study shows overassessments of lower-priced homes are still happening. 

"A report released this year shows that 50% of the homes worth 70,000 and under are still being assessed in violation of the Michigan State Constitution, which quite clearly says no property should be assessed at more than 50% of its market value." 

City Assessor Alvin Hornh tells WDET his office has adjusted its Economic Condition Factors to get a better idea of what is happening in a particular neighborhood. 

A recent report by the International Association of Assessing Officers showed the city complied with state law. 

- Reporting Russ McNamara   

The University of Michigan Regents announced U of M president-elect Kent Syverud has brain cancer and will not be able to serve as the school's next president. 

Syverud issued a written statement saying in part that he is "ready to meet this challenge." 

Syverud was selected as U of M's next president in January. He was scheduled to start next month. Board Chairman Mark Bernstein says the university will begin a new presidential search soon. He says Domenico Grasso will continue to serve as the university's interim president as the school searches for a new leader. 

- MPRN   

A flood watch is in effect for much of southeastern Michigan until midnight.

Kyle Klein is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's White Lake office. He says the risk of flooding comes after several days of above-average rainfall, leaving the ground heavily saturated. 

"Most of the area in the past 10 days has seen between 1.5 - 4.5 in of rain. And then we've picked up anywhere from an inch to basically 2.5 inches in places."  

Klein says while storms aren't expected to be as heavy as the round that passed through the region Tuesday night, they may still bring additional inches of rainfall. That could result in water backing up onto roads and into basements. 

- Reporting by Alex McLenon

Many Metro Detroiters were awakened by severe thunderstorms overnight, with heavy rain, lightning and thunder moving through the region in the early morning hours. Tornado warnings were issued for Washtenaw, Wayne and Monroe counties.

Damage was reported to buildings, trees and power lines in Lincoln Park and Ann Arbor. The National Weather Service is expected to survey the area to determine whether a tornado touched down.

The storms made for a difficult morning commute. Flooding on I-75 just north of downtown Detroit forced a freeway closure, with some traffic backups lasting up to two hours.
Downed power lines also led to traffic signal outages across Metro Detroit. DTE Energy reported roughly 20,000 homes and businesses without power by mid-morning.

The University of Michigan’s president-elect will not take the job after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

Kent Syverud said he received the diagnosis after not feeling well last week and is now undergoing treatment in Michigan. Syverud, currently chancellor at Syracuse University, was hired in January and was set to become Michigan’s president on May 11.

Instead, he will join the university as a professor at the law school and serve as an adviser to the Board of Regents. Interim President Domenico Grasso will remain in the role while the board searches for a new leader. (AP)

DTE Energy will host its first open house and community resource fair in Highland Park on Thursday.

The utility says the event will help residents better understand their energy bills and connect them with resources, including the United Way of Southeast Michigan, for assistance.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at New Grace Missionary Baptist Church on Ford Street.

Michigan is changing how it communicates air quality issues to residents.

According to Planet Detroit, the state is streamlining its system after smoke from Canadian wildfires affected air quality in Metro Detroit last year and in 2023.

The state will now issue an air quality alert when fine particulate matter or ozone levels reach the “orange” range on the federal Air Quality Index, indicating air that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Previously, alerts were issued at the “red” level, when air quality was considered unhealthy.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommends using an air purifier, running air conditioning and installing a MERV-13 air filter to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.

April 15 is Tax Day, meaning the deadline to file income taxes is just hours away for those who have not yet submitted their returns.

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