The Detroit Evening Report

Michigan candidate for governor, John James, says Canadian wildfire smoke needs to be better controlled, as part of a deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge.  James made the comments on a video on Facebook earlier this month.  

“You look at wildfire smoke every summer.  They’re throwing off 500 million vehicles’ worth of carbon emissions into our air each and every year and doing very little to nothing about it.  That’s got to change right now," said James.  "As a part of any deal we do with Gordie Howe Bridge, we have to work in close cooperation with Ottawa to make sure they’re also managing their business, so we can keep our people healthy and we can keep our relationship strong.”   

Last summer, James wrote a letter to Canadian officials asking them for action to keep wildfire smoke from drifting into Michigan.  

President Donald Trump endorsed James on Monday to become Michigan’s next governor.  Other elected officials around the country quickly followed suit.  James will face businessman Perry Johnson, and former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox in the Aug. 4 Republican primary.   

The Detroit Police Department is reporting that it detained 180 juveniles on Monday night for curfew violations before the annual Ford fireworks show over the Detroit River.  A news release says 171 of those detained were city residents.  Nine live elsewhere.  

A special curfew was approved for fireworks night.  It required everyone under 18 to be accompanied by an adult from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.  The police department says 19 adults were arrested for a variety of infractions, including carrying concealed weapons, aggravated assault, and disorderly conduct.  

One 18-year-old was shot by a police officer after a short chase, several hours before the fireworks began.  

Dearborn residents will see a new millage proposal on their November general election ballot.  The city’s Board of Education will ask voters to approve a $1.5 billion bond measure.  If passed, the money will fund the construction of six new schools.  

The district says the bond would also be used to remodel every remaining school building over the next 20 years.  The board approved ballot language for the proposal at Monday’s meeting. 

A west-side Detroit neighborhood is getting a new apartment building.  The city opened the OSI Art Apartments Tuesday afternoon.  The newly constructed four-story complex provides 30 residential units.  About half qualify as “affordable housing”.  

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says the project will make a difference along the Grand River corridor. “It is an honor as mayor to welcome this project to our city.  A project that combines housing, culture, arts – and to breathe this vibrancy back into our community, which is so needed in our city.  So I thank you all so much for investing in Detroit.”  

The development, which also includes 5,000 square feet of retail space, will be the gateway to the West End Gallery District.  The building located on Grand River near Selden is named for Nigerian-American artist Osi Audu. 

Detroit Police shot a teenager who was running away from them after they arrested another teen near Campus Martius downtown.

Chief Todd Bettison says officers approached a group of young men and arrested one who was holding a suspicious-looking backpack. He says they searched the backpack and found a gun in it. An 18-year-old started walking away from the group and officers chased him.

Bettison says the officer who shot the fleeing teen feared for his safety. This happened a few hours before the annual fireworks over the Detroit River. Police said the teen was shot several times and is in serious condition. 

Police also arrested minors who violated the city's 8 p.m. curfew and held them 
until a parent or legal guardian came to get them. (Batcheller/Raiyn) 

- Pat Batcheller contributed to this report

The Supreme Court ruled today against a Michigan family who said their rights were violated when their county sold their house for less than half its open-market value to cover a tax bill of just over $2,000.

Isabella County maintained that auction sale prices are always lower than open real estate transactions. It said requiring foreclosure prices to match the open market would essentially end those sales.  

A project that gathered testimonies from more than 360 survivors of Native American Boarding schools has finished its first phase. The Tulsa-based National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition collected video oral histories from Indigenous survivors across 19 states.

The stories will be preserved in the Library of Congress. The project aimed to document the systemic abuse endured in boarding schools and how survivors found healing. 

It identified eight boarding schools that operated in Michigan. Three are still open.

Jeremy Howard, the warden at Michigan’s only women’s prison has gone on personal leave after three deaths at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility.

The Michigan Department of Corrections told the Detroit Free Press today the leave is “personal and unrelated to current events." The deaths of Khaira Howard, Rebecca Fackler and Ashley Hoath are still under investigation.

A former corrections officer at the facility was sentenced last week for criminal sexual conduct involving an inmate. The warden at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson has been temporarily assigned to lead the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.  

The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced the Illitch Company is one of its first two outside investors. Toronto-based Kilmer Sports Ventures is the other.

Mark and Kimbra Walter founded and funded the league in 2023 with hundreds of millions of their own dollars. Mark Walter is the owner of the LA Lakers, the Dodgers, and the LA Spark.

The PWHL has not yet turned a profit but just two and a half years later has doubled its size to 12 teams – including Detroit’s scheduled to play at LCA in the fall. 

Most older adults do not know how to care for their brain health, according to a new survey by the National Poll on Healthy Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association. The survey of adults 50 and up found that people rated their brain health as excellent, very good, or good, but lacked knowledge about how to maintain it.

The survey found 70% of Michigan’s older adults believe diet, physical activity, and sleep are important factors. However fewer older adults were engaging in the behaviors that determine better brain health or reduce Alzheimer’s, such as getting seven or more hours of sleep, doing mentally stimulating activities, eating healthy, balanced diets or exercising.

The survey also found that they prefer to get information about brain health from a health care provider. Many also believe brain health is more important than physical health.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging online and phone survey was conducted in January 2026, surveying 1,300 Michigan residents and 2,800 non-Michigan adults between 50 and 98 years old. 

Many children face food insecurity over the summer because they no longer have meals provided by school. The summer EBT “Sun Bucks” program from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services works to make sure that no kids will be hungry.  

The department’s Erin Frisch says families with students who participate in school lunch and breakfast programs face extra pressure on their budgets during the summer.  

“SUN Bucks, also known as summer EBT helps bridges that gap by providing eligible children with funding to purchase food during the summer months. We have this program because we understand Michigan children need consistent access to healthy food to grow and learn and thrive.”  

Children ages 6 to 18 are eligible for the SUN Bucks program. Those who already receive SNAP benefits will automatically be enrolled. Families not already on SNAP can apply for the summer program on the MI Bridges website. 

-Reporting by Helena Najar  

The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus is calling for the passage of new “reparative justice,” measures. The bills would create a state office to serve American descendants of enslaved people, launch a reparations commission and collect data.  

Democratic Representative Jason Hoskins says Black people in Michigan continue to live with the legacy of slavery and segregation, including worse health outcomes and pollution in their communities.  

"If we are serious about addressing these challenges, we must first understand the harms that were done, the policies that perpetuated these harms, who’s affected, and what remedies are appropriate," says Hoskins.  

The new commission would recommend reparations, but the package itself would not include any payments for Black Michigan residents. Majority State House Republicans are not likely to pass the bills.  

-Reporting by Colin Jackson  

The State of Michigan has collaborated with the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt program to erase $74 million of medical debt for 72,000 Michigan residents. People will begin getting letters in the mail this week informing them if their debt has been forgiven. Each dollar paid by Undue Medical Debt equals $100 of debt relief.

Unpaid medical debt is often a result of unexpected illnesses. Half of U.S. adults have a hard time paying off medical debt.  

People receiving the relief at four times the poverty line or have medical debt that’s more than 5% of their annual income. This round of debt erasure is supported through a $4.5 million fund from the state’s in partnership with Wayne, Oakland and Kalamazoo Counties.  

Last year, the State of Michigan and Undue Medical Debt provided $144 million in debt relief to over 210,000 Michigan residents. 

Detroit Council Member Mary Waters has launched a write-in campaign for Michigan’s 13th congressional district.

Waters said in a statement that the people of Michigan deserve a representative who understands that public service is about delivering results, not chasing headlines. Her campaign focuses on lowering the cost of living, protecting seniors, and bringing critical federal resources back. 

She originally launched a campaign last month but was disqualified for a lack of signatures.  

Michigan overdose death rate has declined by 47% since 2021 according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. Preliminary data suggests overdose deaths have continued to decline for the fourth year in a row. 

The department attributes the decline to strategic investments largely funded by opioid settlements prioritizing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. The efforts include expanding harm reduction sites from 5 to 115 in 2025, and distributing over 1.8 million free naloxone kits, which resulted in nearly 34,000 reported overdose reversals.  

Enrollment for Summer Discovery, a no cost summer learning program, is closing soon. Put on by United Way of Southeastern Michigan and the Ballmer group, Summer Discovery connects students entering kindergarten through 10th grade with learning and enrichment opportunities. Spots are still available at Detroit Public Schools Community District sites, Detroit Police Athletic league, Brilliant Detroit and more.

The program is open to all students across Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties. To apply visit summerdiscoverymi.org. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging is families to check their children’s toy boxes for Orb Funkee Monkee squeeze toys. The toy has been recalled because they may be filled with sand contaminated by asbestos.

The recall is for toys purchased from Walmart or Ollie’s Bargain Outlet stores between February 2025 and April 2026. Asbestos comes from minerals that create thin fibers when they crystallize and pose a human health risk when they enter the air. 

As of June 18, the state health department had not received any reports of illness or injuries tied to these toys. 

Huron-Clinton Metroparks is asking community members to fill out a survey to provide feedback about some of their parks. That includes the Lake St. Clair, Stoney Creek and Wolcott Mill Metroparks. It’s part of an effort to update their Park Master Plans to guide future projects, investments and facilities improvements. 

The surveys are open until Wednesday, July 15.    

Michigan has restarted its Sun Bucks program.

The goal of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program is to help ensure school-age children continue to receive healthy meals during the months when they are not in school.

The state says families who enroll will receive $120 for each eligible child during the summer. Some families are automatically eligible, while others will need to apply.

Sun Bucks benefits can be used at any retailer that accepts EBT. For more information, visit Michigan.gov and search for "Sun Bucks."

Much of Metro Detroit is under a flood watch this afternoon through late tonight.

The advisory includes Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Storms are expected tonight, bringing the threat of gusty winds and heavy rainfall.

The National Weather Service says 1 to 2 inches of rain are possible within a three-hour period. That could cause flash flooding in rivers and streams and affect residents living in low-lying areas.

Heavy rains increase risk of beach closures

This week's heavy rains are making temporary beach closures more likely in some areas.

Stormy weather can lead to high levels of E. coli bacteria in Michigan lakes, creating unsafe swimming conditions. Tom Barnes, environmental health division director at the Macomb County Health Department, says heavy rainfall can wash contaminants into the water.

"If you have a big rainy event and you have lots of goose feces on the beach, that'll wash it into the water. That will definitely result in a higher E. coli count."

Barnes says swimming in water with high E. coli levels can cause health problems.

Detroit's nightlife scene is about to lose two well-known establishments.

The owners of Spot Lite and UFO Bar announced on Instagram Tuesday that the venues will close later this month.

Spot Lite's last night of operation will be Saturday, June 28. UFO Bar will open its doors for the final time on Monday, June 30.

Detroit will host another historic hockey event tonight.

The Fox Theatre will be the site of the Professional Women's Hockey League draft. The league chose Detroit for the event after strong fan support helped break attendance records in back-to-back seasons.

Jayna Hefford, the league's executive vice president of hockey operations, says the PWHL has helped grow women's hockey by giving athletes a professional stage on which to compete.

"My generation would have loved this. We didn't get a chance to have it, but I'm so happy that they get to have it. And then when we look at the next generation of young girls that are going to watch this and not know a world where there isn't professional women's hockey."

Detroit's PWHL team is one of four expansion teams signing players before league play begins this fall.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known as CBC, has announced it will no longer broadcast "Hockey Night in Canada."

The network has aired the Saturday night NHL games since 1952. The change comes after the public broadcaster could not reach a deal with Rogers Sportsnet, which has held the broadcast rights since 2013.

The move may make it more difficult for some Detroit-area viewers to tune in to Saturday night hockey. Generations of Detroiters have watched NHL games on CBC Windsor 9.

The Detroit City Council has approved an extended curfew for the Detroit fireworks display on Monday, June 22.

Under the measure, minors will not be allowed downtown without parental supervision from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Councilmember Denzel McCampbell voted against the curfew. He said he does not believe curfews are effective because incidents still occurred during last year’s fireworks curfew.

“That’s what I’m bringing forth here is not an aspect of, do you care about public safety, do you want folks to be safe or not. My question before this council is, is this effective to achieve that goal or not? And in my view, it is not, because the data shows us that.”

McCampbell said the extended curfew sends the message that Detroit’s youth are not welcome downtown.

The discussion comes as city officials continue to address concerns about large gatherings of young people at so-called “teen takeover” events, a trend that has spread through social media.

Dearborn Heights police said a group of teens attempted to stage a teen takeover during the city’s Spirit Festival on Saturday. The Detroit News reported that city officials said arrests were made and several people were detained. Officials said multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the response.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Michigan’s race for governor.

Benson has lived in Detroit for more than a decade. Sheffield said that connection to the city was one factor in her decision to endorse the candidate.

“Every time I’ve called Jocelyn Benson, she has been accessible, she has been honest, she has been a hard worker, and she has always shown her commitment and her passion and her love for the city of Detroit.”

Sheffield said she and Benson share a goal of reforming Detroit’s property tax structure, which they believe is limiting opportunities for new housing development.

Benson has been leading Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in recent polling. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his Democratic bid for governor and is now running as an independent candidate.

The opening of AlumniFi Field, Detroit City Football Club’s planned stadium in Corktown, has been pushed back to spring 2028.

The venue was originally expected to open in 2027, but DCFC CEO Sean Mann said that timeline proved too aggressive.

Despite the delay, Mann said work is continuing at the site.

“We’ve already taken down the old Southwest Detroit Hospital, and it just came to a point of making sure that we have a timeline where we can confidently deliver a stadium.”

Mann said a groundbreaking ceremony for AlumniFi Field will take place next month.

Detroit City FC will continue playing its home matches at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck until the new stadium is completed.

Wayne State University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence will hold its Juneteenth Celebration on June 17.

This year’s theme highlights the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The event will feature the premiere of the yearlong Campus Genealogy Project documentary.

Food vendors and community organizations will also be on site.
The celebration runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Industry Innovation Center, 461 Burroughs St. in Detroit.

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

The Jews of Color Initiative is hosting a national listening tour across the U.S., with a stop in Detroit next week. The organization aims to increase awareness of regional experiences and foster conversations about racial equity within the Jewish community.

CEO Ilana Kaufman says the tour is an effort to center the voices and experiences of Jews of Color while also hearing from community members and understanding local needs.

"Detroit is one of those smaller communities for us where we know that the community has a sense of connection, an ability to transcend or at least set aside conflict in service of not only interracial and cross-racial relationships, but also relationships across faiths."

The Detroit session will take place from 6-8 p.m. June 25. More information is available through the Jews of Color Initiative.

More information: https://thejoci.org/event/joci-national-listening-tour-detroit/

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is promoting resources during Gun Violence Awareness Month, including its Injury and Violence Dashboard, which provides data on violence trends across the state.

According to MDHHS, gun violence injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States among people ages 1 to 44. They are also the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel says the dashboards help communities, leaders and policymakers identify where additional work is needed to improve public safety.

The state also offers free gun locks at more than 100 locations across Michigan through Project ChildSafe, a program supported by the Michigan State Police.

More information is available at Michigan.gov.

The City of Detroit is hosting a Skilled Trades Task Force meeting this week to connect residents with employment opportunities and tuition-free apprenticeship programs.

The meeting will take place from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Adam Butzel Complex in Detroit. Residents can also participate via Zoom.

More information: https://detroitmi.gov/events/skilled-trades-task-force-meeting-june-17-2026

The City of Detroit is hosting a meeting for retirees to share information and gather feedback from residents.

The City of Detroit Retirees Task Force hybrid meeting will take place from 1-3 p.m. June 18 at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center and on Zoom. The meeting is hosted by Councilmember-at-Large Mary Waters and Councilmember Denzel McCampbell.
https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/82953432101

State and federal agencies have announced $10 million in funding to support restoration efforts in the Detroit River.

The funding comes from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through Michigan's Make It in Michigan Competitive Fund. It is also part of the Great Lakes Legacy Act, a bipartisan cost-share program focused on addressing contamination in the Great Lakes.

EGLE Director Phil Roos says the Detroit River is an important natural resource and restoring it remains a priority.

The Detroit River was designated an Area of Concern in 1987 because of industrial pollution, untreated wastewater and stormwater runoff. EGLE and the EPA have been working to address contamination in the river since 2012.

Southgate’s Pride celebration is back on thanks to The Library Network, a library cooperative based in Novi. The celebration was canceled after Southgate city officials decided not to pay for a vendor at the event, stating the city should not be used to pay for social or political advocacy activities.  So, the Library Network offered to pay the vendor instead. 

The event is scheduled for 2-3 p.m. on Saturday at Southgate’ s Veterans Memorial Library, located at 14680 Dix Toledo Road.

Southgate’s event comes about a week after Madison Heights City Council reversed its decision to cancel its Drag Queen Storytime event during its Pride Week celebrations.  

Cooling Centers are opening across Detroit to give residents a break from the heat.  

High temperatures are known to pose health risks. Chief Public Health Officer and Director Ali Abazeed says these centers are an effective solution to keep at-risk residents healthy. 

"Folks in Detroit, especially our vulnerable populations.... if they don't have access to some of the critical infrastructure that we know is helpful in keeping and preventing extreme heat related health outcomes, then we want folks to know that these cooling centers are available. They're open and we want our residents to take advantage of them." 

Detroit's cooling centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. on weekends. They are open to anyone. 

Detroit’s Healthy Home Resource Day – HOPE event is coming earlier this year.

On Saturday, qualified residents can apply for Homeowners Property Exemption program to receive up to 100% property tax exemption. The exemption is given based on the homeowner’s income. 

Those who make an appointment can get a free ride to and from any HOPE event. The next event is Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Samaritan Center on 5555 Connor Ave. 

The Detroit Land Bank is hosting the first-ever Developers Conference focused on infill development opportunities.

Infill development is the process of building on vacant lots in established neighborhoods. The Detroit Land Bank currently owns 56,000 parcels of vacant land and is working to return them to productive use. 

Attendees will learn about development opportunities, financing resources, permitting processes and more. The event is June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield launches a new summer recreation program for kids today. It's part of her response to recent teen takeovers downtown, and it's supposed to give them something creative to do.

More than 1,500 young people have registered for the Occupy The Summer activities, which include late night basketball games and longer hours at nine recreation centers. The city will give away 700 bicycles this afternoon. 

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority abruptly canceled festivities planned for the Gordie Howe Bridge ribbon cutting tomorrow.

Windsor Detroit Bridge officials said that the US and Canada have agreed to push back the opening of the span in order to take, “the necessary time to resolve outstanding issues”. The statement did not say what those issues are.

President Trump has planned to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge saying that he wants the bridge crossing to be a better deal for the US. Bridge officials haven’t clarified whether the construction of the span is complete.  

Local nonprofit Healing Choices is hosting a charity event on Sunday June 14 to support domestic violence survivors. It’s the Healing Choices Charity Car Show at Metro Beach featuring classic cars, hotrods, muscle cars and more.

The Detroit Police Department will be at the event to showcase some of their vehicles. And The organization will also provide resources to survivors.  

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 per ticket and can be purchased at the park entrance.  

FIFA 
Detroit City FC AND the El Paso Locomotive FC tied yesterday 1-1. Before the game the rain was non stop at the Keyworth Stadium but they were still able to have their match. Their next game is Saturday June 13 at 7 p.m. 

Also the Fifa World Cup starts today with co-host Mexico playing the opener in Mexico City against South Africa.

The United States plays their first game against Paraguay tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST at the Los Angeles stadium in Inglewood. 

MLB 
The Tigers lost against the Minnesota Twins yesterday 6-4. We’ll have the results of today’s tie breaker game of this three game series on tomorrow’s DER. 
 
NBA  
Last night, NBA history was made. The New Knicks had the largest finals comeback in history after erasing a 29 point deficit yesterday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Final score was 107-106.  

And last but not least, to celebrate America’s 250th year the Henry Ford Museum is showcasing 250 acres of special programming, new exhibitions, exciting events and more to highlight the history of American innovation. 
 
Some of the exhibits will be: 

Detroiters should get ready for a few days of hot weather.  The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and several other counties until 8 p.m. tonight.  

High temperatures today are expected to rise into the lower 90s, with heat index values hitting 101 degrees.  The heat index is a measure of how hot it feels.  Temperatures in the area are expected to rise into the lower 90s again Thursday. 

In response, the city of Detroit has opened several cooling centers.  All of the city’s recreation centers will remain open for their normal hours, providing air conditioning to residents.  Some community centers are open until 7 p.m. during the week.  Others are open until 8 p.m.  Detroit Public Library branches will also be open during their normal hours so residents can cool down as needed. 

Detroiters are advised to drink lots of fluids, limit strenuous outdoor activity, and stay in air-conditioned areas when possible.  It’s also a good idea to check on neighbors, friends and relatives, especially those who are senior citizens.   

Stellantis is recalling more than one million Jeeps due to a possible fire risk. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 2021 through 2025 model year Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler vehicles might have an electrical connection problem in the hydraulic power steering system.  The issue could cause some materials to overheat and start a fire.  

NHTSA is warning owners to not park the vehicles inside a building or near a structure due to the fire danger.  The agency says it’s aware of 51 fires and one injury connected to the issue.  

The automaker says it will inspect the vehicles and repair or replace the wiring harness and power steering pump if necessary. 

Detroit’s three casinos are reporting lower revenues for the month of May.  The three gaming houses brought in just over $114 million last month.  That’s down 4% from April.  

MGM retained the greatest share of the market at 46%, followed by Motor City at 32%, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown with 22% of the market.  The three casinos paid $13.5 million in taxes and development agreement fees to the city of Detroit last month.  They paid another $9.1 million dollars in taxes to the state of Michigan. 

This summer’s Rocket Mortgage Classic will be the last one.  Event organizers say the annual tournament held at the Detroit Golf Club will not take place in 2027.  

The event has failed to draw top golfers recently.  That problem was made worse by inconsistent scheduling for the tournament over the past several years.  The departure of the Rocket Mortgage Classic means Michigan will no longer have a stop on the PGA tour.  

The final tournament begins on July 30 at the Detroit Golf Club.