The Detroit Evening Report

State and local leaders announced a new waterway cleanup project in Detroit. The "Reclaim the Rivers" initiative will put close to $90 million toward removing toxic sediment, restoring fish habitat and public works projects along the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers.

The money comes from settlements with polluters. It could attract federal and private funding. Detroit City Councilman Scott Benson says some of the cleanup has already started. He says the extra funding will help make more of the river usable.

"Now that we have our federal and state partners coming in with the resources to be able to help, you can see what the results are and how families are flocking. As we clean up and expose more spaces to recreational uses, it allows more families to come down and enjoy our riverfront."

Both the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers are listed as federal areas of concern for the Great Lakes region.

Wayne County commissioners are unanimously supporting a package of community benefits and tax incentive for a proposed Google data center in Van Buren Township.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans had vetoed the incentives arguing Google proposing the massive date center gave officials too little time to analyze impact on the environment. Equal Opportunity Housing Commissioner Allen Wilson voted for the tax breaks in part, he says, to show "solidarity among his fellow members."

"No disrespect to Chief Executive Evans. I think he does a great job for the county. At the end of the day, we have got to make a determination. We have to stand strong as a commission. If we don't stand strong as a commission, folks (will) keep stepping on you."

For his part, County Executive Evans says he will work with the commission on the data center plan going forward. Van Buren Township officials are scheduled to consider the final site plan for the center in about two weeks.

The Detroit Lions have a nationally broadcast Sunday night game on NBC. They match up against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The 2-1 Lions are trying to build against the 1-2 Panthers. Kickoff of is at 8:20 p.m.

If you have the chance this weekend, check out the UniverSoul Circus at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre.

You’ll be able to see Detroit's own Fresh the Clownsss who brings a blend of Detroit Jit dancing and high-energy clowning. The show starts tonight at 7 p.m.

Additional performances taking place in October can be found here.

The Detroit People’s Food Co-op is seeking more residents to buy into the neighborhood grocery store.

The co-op is running out of money. They launched a campaign looking for 500 new owners and are asking customers to spend $10 when they come in.

The co-op opened in 2024 to fill a gap. The city had almost no Black owned grocery stores. The goal was for Detroiters to own their food system, not just to shop within it.

However, the people who this store was built for may not be able to afford it. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 34% of Detroiters liven in poverty. The co-op says it is bringing in close to $3 million a year. Before it opened, It projected about $80,000 a week— which is more than $4 million.  

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is partnering with school districts to make sure students are in their seats for Count Day. The city has launched a series of radio, newspaper, and social media ads. 

Fall count day is used to measure the in-school attendance of students—that number dictates how much money the school district receives from the state.  

Sheffield says she wants families, parents and students in the city to understand the importance of showing up for Count Day.  

"We oftentimes talk about schools being underfunded or Detroit kids not getting the quality education that they deserve. One way that we can control that is by making sure our kids are in school, that they're accounted for, and that we get the funding that is allocated to us for books, for teachers, for facility improvements."

This year’s Count Day is on Wednesday, Oct. 7.  

Ferris State University will now feature more than 30,000 artifacts from the Jim Crow era in its new museum space.  

David Pilgrim founded the museum. He says the new building expands what can be taught about that period in American history.  

“In our old space, we did have room to show how African Americans pushed back against oppression with activism, with achievements and quite frankly, with just living everyday lives of dignity.”

The new building also includes a reading room, seminar space, and recording studio for visitors who want to share their own Jim Crow stories and how it affects them.  

A new 10-week program is pairing older Black adults from Detroit with Wayne State University students to improve social connection and digital literacy. 

Dr. Rodlescia Sneed, WiSE’s program director and an assistant professor in Wayne State’s Institute of Gerontology and Department of Psychology, says social connections are important for health and well-being. Many need technology to maintain a social connection. 

“It was our goal to increase social connection and reduce loneliness among older adults, while also improving their technology skills, so that we could make improvements that impact their health and well-being.”

Sneed says the program focuses on developing one-on-one connections to reduce barriers for older adults to learn digital literacy. 

The first half of the program is focusing on sharing life stories of Detroiters. The second half of the program is learning digital literacy. 

For more information on the program, you can contact Sneed at [email protected].

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

This week the city announced two initiatives to support new homes, increase neighborhood investment and expand pathways to homeownership as well as housing affordability.

The first initiative involves the city’s Housing and Revitalization Department. They are looking for development proposals for 16 city-owned parcels in the neighborhood of North Corktown. The goal is to create 20 new homes for rent or purchase.

The second initiative revolves around the city launching the 2026 Small Buildings Program
with a notice of Funding Availability. This effort would expand the opportunities for
developers to rehabilitate and build housing across the city with $2.5 million supporting the rehab.

City leaders say these programs will continue citywide efforts to increase housing throughout Detroit. There is also a desire for mixed income, high-quality housing and low income housing.

To learn more about these two efforts, visit https://detroitmi.gov.

The Arab American Women's Business Council (AAWBC) is hosting a pitch competition on Nov. 19, 2026 from 5:30-8 p.m. Organizers say this competition is to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among local business owners. Participants are competing for seed funding.

The event is also meant to be a moment to share fresh ideas and network. For more information, please see the event's information page.

The Detroit Red Wings season opener is going down Oct. 2 against the New York Rangers. Puck drop is 6:30p.m. this Friday at Little Caesars Arena.

Detroit's PWHL organization announced that Hockey Hall of Famer Danielle Goyette and Stanley Cup champion Jimmy Howard have joined the team in the roles of assistant coach and goaltending coach, respectively. Their home opener happens Dec. 12 against the New York Sirens.

The Get Down is back for a two-day music festival from Oct. 3-4 in Ann Arbor and Detroit.

The festival will be led by master drummer and composer Ali Jackson and will bring international guest musicians and world class artistry to showcase their talent.

Tickets for the musical event can be found here.

DDOT bus riders will soon have more places to sit as they wait for a ride.

Mayor Mary Sheffield says the city will work to install more than 200 new benches at bus stops over the next year. Workers will also install or upgrade more than 200 bus shelters to improve customer service.

Applications close soon for the Detroit Legacy Business Grant.

Small businesses that have operated in the city for 30 years or more can apply for grants ranging from $5 to $50,000. Money can be toward projects including signage, inventory, building repairs, renovations and professional services.

Applications close Oct. 5. For more information, email [email protected]. 

Highland Park leaders celebrated the revival of Ives Field today. The city used almost $1 million in state and county funds to install new playground equipment, a pickleball court, a covered picnic shelter, and improvements to the baseball field and walking path.

Mayor Glenda McDonald and others cut the ribbon at the park on Pitkin Street this afternoon. 

The Chandler Park Conservancy is looking for a few good hands to help with its Halloween Night festivities.

The annual Trunk or Treat Halloween Party will be held at the Chandler Park Fieldhouse and include games, candy, food and Halloween activities.

Volunteers, candy donations and people willing to pass out candy from their own decorated vehicles are needed. Donations are being accepted at the Fieldhouse at 12300 Chandler Park and at the Samaritan Center at 555 Conner Street until Oct. 28. 

Those interested in volunteering can email [email protected] or fill out this form.

Konjo Me is offering another round of Ethiopian cooking classes. Participants will learn to cook an authentic vegetarian dish, an authentic meat dish and will learn about Ethiopian spices and cooking techniques.

The class is Thursday, Oct. 15 at Konjo Me’s Detroit Shipping Company location at 474 Peterboro. Registration for the event can be found here.

Five organizations are receiving $1.5 million in awards from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for community violence intervention efforts.

MDHHS acting director Ashley Epkey says the money goes toward reducing firearm violence and adverse outcomes in communities. 

MDHHS says community violence includes homicides and nonfatal shootings, which cause substantial harm and trauma to communities, especially in “racially segregated and historically disinvested neighborhoods.” Community violence is a public health problem, which can lead to people developing chronic diseases and avoiding resources such as recreational spaces and access to healthy food outlets. 

The funding hopes to strengthen community violence intervention services for groups with a high likelihood of firearm violence. Proposals were accepted based on measurable efforts that integrate public health and safety. Each organization was awarded $300,000 for a 2 year project that spans Sep. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2028.  

Two organizations in Detroit were awarded funds. The first is Detroit Life is Valuable Everyday, or DLIVE. DLIVE will use a hospital-based violence intervention program model to help with post-injury recovery, retaliation, mortality risk and victim services.

The second one is Detroit Peoples Community. Detroit Peoples Community will implement five evidence-based community violence intervention strategies to serve people in the Detroit ZIP codes 48219 and 48235. 

Local government leaders across Michigan say they support state regulations for data centers. The University of Michigan’s Center for Local, State and Urban Policy interviewed village, township and county officials. Center director Stephanie Leiser says almost 60% of those who responded think setting rules should be a high priority for lawmakers. 55% expect strong opposition to data centers.  

Speaking on those survey percentage points regarding data centers, Leiser notes, “It’s coming through loud and clear that they (local government officials) really think the state needs to step up and help with things like decommissioning plans, health and environmental impacts, water use and discharge.” 

Leiser says the survey shows more opposition in rural communities, where 53% of local politicians say data centers' costs outweigh their benefits. 

Gun safety a necessary step in suicide prevention      

Suicide deaths are the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-34 years old as of 2024. That’s according to a new report by the Michigan Suicide Prevention Council.  

Lindsay DeCamp is the State Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She says increased access to firearms contributes to suicide. “Research shows that states with higher rates of household gun ownership have significantly higher rates of suicide. Storing firearms securely and limiting access for those that are in heightened risk can help reduce suicide.”  

DeCamp says societal, community and individual-level factors such as unemployment, feelings of despair and social isolation remove protective factors against suicide.  

The council recommended two priorities: sustaining state funding for suicide prevention infrastructure and aligning policy and licensure to educate professionals across sectors in risk assessment and prevention. 

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or harm, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988 for confidential emotional support 24/7. 

Spirit of Detroit given to immigrant business leader 

Mohammed Abdul Muhit received a Spirit of Detroit award from the Detroit City Council last week, recognizing his service, leadership, and commitment to Detroit’s small business community. Muhit is the District 3 Business Liaison and the associate director at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation.  

Muhit, who immigrated to the Detroit area in 2016, says he’s grateful for the opportunity to give back. “It’s really a wholesome experience from day one that I started living here. From day one, I have had the opportunity and privilege to work in the city administration with a lot of great people every day.”  

Muhit previously worked at Global Detroit as a community organizer and engagement specialist focusing on the Banglatown neighborhood before joining the DEGC. 

Skilled Trades Task Force meets for apprenticeship info 

The City of Detroit is hosting a Skilled Trades Task Force Meeting. At this meeting, people can find out about tuition-free apprenticeship programs.  

The meeting will take place at the Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center on Sept. 23rd from 4-6 p.m. That’s located at 11687 American Street, Detroit, MI 48204. 

Since Detroit has launched ShotStoppers three years ago, the city has seen a 45% decrease in homicides and nonfatal shootings, according to a University of Michigan analysis.  

ShotStoppers is a community violence intervention program that empowers the community to stop violence in their neighborhoods separate from law enforcement responses. 

The program funds selected community-based organizations known as community violence intervention teams to create intervention plans to address violence in their respective zones. 

Each team gets about $175,000 per quarter to support their efforts. The focus is on areas in Detroit that have historically experienced high levels of gun violence.

Teams can get an additional $175,000 in performance-based bonuses if they successfully reduce gun violence at a higher rate than the city.  

In the rest of the city homicide victimizations have dropped by 12% and nonfatal shooting victimizations have dropped by 26% in within the last year according to the city.  

The City of Detroit joined nonprofit development company GenesisHOPE and real estate firm Cinnaire Solutions to celebrate the grand opening of new apartments called Preston Townhomes. This is a $14 million affordable housing development bringing 31 new, high-quality homes to Detroit families.

Jeanine Hatcher is the Executive Director of GenesisHOPE who spearheaded the project. Josh Bails, Development Director of Housing and Revitalization Department shared that Hatcher was adamant about getting as many affordable units as possible.  

“When we do a large apartment building that's affordable housing, almost all the units end up being studios and one bedrooms, and we claw and we fight for as many two-bedroom units as we can get in a project, and it usually ends up being just a handful. Janine [Hatcher] and her team came into this with a mission and a vision of 'if we're going to have affordable housing, we want to have affordable housing for families.' And that is something that is incredibly difficult to do, but they would not compromise... And to see that many 100% units sized for families in a project is almost unheard of."

The building is built on the former site of Detroit Eastern High School and transform a once vacant building to necessary housing for the city.  

NFL  

The Lions are trying to bounce back from last week’s tough loss to the Buffalo Bills. They face off the New York Jets on Sunday at Ford Field. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

MLB 
The Tigers face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend as they try to climb out the American League Central. They are currently second to last in their division. 

Soccer
Detroit City FC face off against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Keyworth Stadium. Game starts at 7 p.m. 

Coffee Week

For all of our Caffeine junkies, today marks the start of Dearborn’s third annual Coffee Week. Going down from Friday, Sept. 25 to Friday, Oct. 2, these seven days celebrate way more than coffee—art, culture, and community as well.

According to organizers, coffee shops will host activations and there will be fun activities scattered throughout the week.

The nonprofit group LGBT Detroit is opening a new health and wellness center on the city’s west side. 

LGBT Detroit Health offers services including fitness and nutrition classes, mental health screenings and chronic care management. 

The group’s Chris Sutton says the new facility provides a safe space for the LGBT community to receive care. “You don't have to worry about not feeling seen. You can really just come into a space where you can be focused on your health in a full and holistic way. That's kind of one of our biggest goals with this space.”

LGBT Detroit Health is also partnering with Oakland County Health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and others to provide testing clinics and vaccinations.  

The facility is funded through state grants and membership fees. 

Wayne County judge Cusick dismisses Detroit Tenants Union lawsuit

A Wayne County judge has sided with Detroit’s 36th District court and dismissed a case with the Detroit Tenants Union. The group sued the district court claiming that its judges allow landlords to illegally collect rent or evict tenants when their properties lacked city-issued certificates of compliance.

The lawsuit was centered around the issue that only 14% of rental properties have a certificate of compliance. The Tenant’s Union says the district judges should bear the burden of proof on whether these properties were up to code. The District Court said that’s not their job and Wayne County Judge Paul J. Cusick agreed.

The dismissal comes after Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield announced a plan to bring thousands of rental properties up to code within a year.

The Detroit Tenants Union plans to appeal Judge Cusick’s decision. 

A new facility is opening in Dearborn that aims to help people with substance abuse and mental health challenges. The $25 million recovery center is being built by the Arab American-focused group Arab American Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). The building will open in phases starting in 2027.

Funding to build the center came from a combination of state, federal and county grants and private donors. The center will offer outpatient behavioral health treatment, urgent care, withdrawal management, beds for residential treatment and more. The center will also have an on-site food pantry. 

Dearborn’s third Annual Coffee Week kicks off tomorrow. The celebration highlights local coffee culture, art, and community in the city. The kickoff will take place at PEACE Park West on 22271 W Village Dr.

The event will feature local coffee shop tastings, mug painting, caricatures, henna tattoos, music and more.

Events will follow the rest of the week through Oct. 2, with a drip coffee party, an appearance from Jalasat (a pop-up performance series from the Arab American National Museum) and coffee pop-ups throughout the week.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate at an event in Detroit.

"His will be a voice. Abdul's. That is a voice representing the people of this state, and it will be a national voice," she said.

When she ran for president two years ago, Harris struggled to win over Arab and Muslim voters in Michigan because of the Biden administration's support for Israel. Many voted for President Trump, while some backed minor party candidates.

At a news conference with Harris, El-Sayed addressed those voters. "I think if a lot of us could have had that back, had 2024 back, we would have thought about things in different ways. And I hope that moving forward, we don't reinforce the mistakes of the past that break us apart and start thinking about where do we go in the future."

El-Sayed supported the Uncommitted Movement in the Democratic presidential primary in 2024. He later endorsed Harris.

Jewish and Democratic Party leaders urged Abdul El-Sayed to address their concerns about his criticism of Israel.

Cantor Regina Hyatt says this political season's rhetoric is leaving her feeling alienated and politically homeless. And she says many in Michigan's Jewish community feel the same. Many of them said that they would just sit out the election, or at least that line on the election.

El-Sayed has defended his criticism of the Israeli government's actions in Gaza and of U.S. arms sales to Israel. He has also said he loves the Jewish community and cares about their safety.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is Jewish, has also raised concerns about El-sayed's stance but is endorsing him. Michigan voters will decide this fall whether to call a constitutional convention in Lansing next year.

The question has appeared on the ballot every 16 years since 1978. Each time, voters have rejected it. If voters say yes this time, another election would take place in the spring to choose delegates who would meet in Lansing next fall.

The Constitutional Convention question will appear as Proposal 1 on this year's ballot.

Reparation Generation's September virtual house meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 29. Lottie Lee Abdullah from Reparations for Slavery will guide a discussion around housing and the racial wealth gap.

Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, is getting a name change. 

Fifth Third Bancorp acquired Comerica Bank last September and rebranded all of its branch locations.  Along with it, the bank obtained the naming rights to Comerica Park. Its new name will be Fifth Third Park.

The bank's Michigan Regional President Steve Davis says when Fifth Third bought Comerica, one of the top questions he was routinely asked was “what will happen to the Tiger's home stadium?”

"For me, that's incredibly humbling, knowing how much this park and the Tigers mean to Detroit and to the community, it's pretty overwhelming for me. So, this matters because the pride that the community and Detroit has in the Tigers is the same pride that we have in this ballpark. And so, for us, this is more than just a name."  

The park's new name goes into effect starting next year. 

The Detroit Black Film Festival starts Thursday. This is the seventh year the event will showcase Black films at venues in the city. Films will be screened at the Detroit Historical Museum, the Love Building and the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History.  

It runs from the Sept. 24-27, ending with an awards ceremony Sunday hosted by Diarra Kilpatrick from the TV show “Diarra from Detroit."

The Taste of Black Spirits highlights sips and connection 

The Belle Isle Casino is the venue for the 2026 Taste of Black Spirits Friday night. The daylong event includes the ‘Amplify’ Liquid Forum for education, networking and business development and ends with the ‘Grand Tasting Exhibition.’  

The Taste of Black Spirits is a companion event to the Black Film Festival.

Detroit Month of Design touts thrifted fashion  

The Detroit Month of Design is still in full swing with daily events to celebrate design in the city. An event I have my eye on is the Slow Fashion Slow Roll at the coworking space Chroma on Thursday.

The event invites the community to wear handmade, thrifted, vintage and upcycled fashion. Participants are also encouraged to join in a community bike ride, a pre-party and an after-party. Plus, there's the chance to visit a marketplace populated with Detroit slow fashion designers.  

The first party is on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. at Chroma, located at 2937 E Grand Blvd.  

For more information about everything on the Detroit Month of Design schedule, go to detroitmonthofdesign.org.  

Monday is World Alzheimer’s Day. More than 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease according to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Eli Lilly and Company and Planet Harvest are giving out more than 1,300 brain-healthy produce boxes to food insecure and underserved seniors in Metro Detroit. 

Jennifer Oleksiw is the head of neuroscience and the chief commercial innovation officer at Lilly, a pharmaceutical company in Indiana. She says it is difficult for underserved communities to achieve healthy diets. 

“We are constantly looking at what healthy habits people need to develop in order to live their best health potential. Diet is such an important part, and we know, especially in underserved communities, that can be difficult.”  

The 12-15 lb. food boxes include apples, a cabbage, cucumbers and collard greens. Also, a lemon, oranges, corn and zucchinis to support healthy aging and cognitive awareness. 

Seniors can pick up a box at the Rochester Christian University, Oakland Church, Next Steps for Seniors Foundation and the Webster Community Center. 

There’s also door-to-door distributions at several senior living homes. 

Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers outlined his plan to lower health care costs in Metro Detroit. Much of it revolves around transparency. 

Rogers, a Republican, says prices will come down if people could price shop for their medical care. 

“We go to open books to make sure that the hospitals and insurance folks know and understand what the costs are, so that when a patient shows up, they understand what their costs are.” 

Rogers also wants to expand the Trump Rx program to lower the cost of some prescriptions. 

Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed favors Medicare for All, which would cover Americans without private insurance. 

The nonprofit All Saints Literacy Center in Detroit is seeking volunteer English instructors.

Grace Irwin is the center’s executive director. She says there’s a waiting list of adult learners. “Adult literacy is a lot more than just learning to read or read a book. It affects employment, healthcare access, higher education, parenting, and an individual's independence and their ability to navigate everyday life.” 

Irwin says the center opened 11 years ago to serve a large population of Spanish-speaking immigrants and new Americans.

Volunteer instructors and learners are paired once a week for a two-hour commitment, which can entail learning reading, writing and math. While services are free, volunteers and learners are asked to commit for at least six months but can stay as long as they need.

The center is located off of Vernor Highway in Southwest Detroit. Visit allsaintsliteracy.org to volunteer or sign up. 

Inhaling recreational laughing gas is no laughing matter. Michigan’s health department is warning residents about serious health risks of using recreational nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, whippets, galaxy gas or N.O.S. Nitrous oxide is usually used in medical settings at the dentist or doctor’s office.  

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says health risks from improper use can lead to anxiety, depression and mood changes. It can also lead to memory problems, anemia, paranoia or loss of consciousness. 

Products that have nitrous oxide can be found in grocery stores, smoke shops and vape stores. 

The Michigan Poison and Drug Information Center says there’s been an increase in health emergencies from 2019 to 2023, with 144 poison center cases, 132 emergency room visits and nearly 200 emergency medical response services related to nitrous oxide. 

In 2024, 34% of cases required hospital admission and about 7% required intensive care. People experienced numbness, tingling of limbs, trouble walking or passing out.

People who are experiencing symptoms should call 911. Visit michigan.gov/sud for resources.