The Metro

A group of local attorneys is offering pro bono representation for protesters facing criminal charges for their involvement in pro-Palestine protests at the University of Michigan last spring. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed the charges against 11 demonstrators. The move has angered some of her supporters. 

Last month, she was met with boos at the Michigan Democratic Party Convention in Detroit as people chanted, “Drop the charges.” 

Nessel’s office has not responded to WDET’s invitation to discuss the matter. 

In a press release outlining the case and charges, Nessel’s office said, “several demonstrators defied orders from law enforcement to vacate the camp, and physically obstructed the police and pushed against their bodies.”

Critics say the charges are an attack on free speech and reflect a double standard, given the number of protests at the University of Michigan that have not led to the prosecution of protesters. 

Amir Makled, one of the attorneys representing the University of Michigan protesters pro bono, says they were targeted for their messages centered on divestment. The protesters want the University of Michigan to withdraw funding it provides to companies linked with Israel. The divestment movement is aimed at ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine. 

Makled sat down with The Metro’s co-host Robyn Vincent to discuss the latest developments in the protesters’ cases and the broader attacks on free speech in the U.S., including the arrest and detainment of Mahmoud Khalil. The Columbia graduate student is a permanent legal resident, yet he was arrested and detained without due process. The Trump administration claims he has ties to Hamas but has failed to provide evidence of this. 

Makled joined the show days after Israel broke its ceasefire with Hamas, launching deadly air strikes that killed hundreds of people and injured hundreds more.  

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

For a while now there has been tons of money in sports. Professional athletes have been cashing in for decades, but in recent years, student athletes and sports fans have been officially brought into the fold. The NCAA’s name, image and likeness policies have given student athletes the opportunity to be paid. Student athletes with some of the top deals are making around $4-6  million.

Sports betting has raised the stakes on games for fans who are looking to turn a quick profit, and it’s growing. Michigan’s revenue from internet sports betting increased 23% last year. But gambling experts are concerned that sports betting could lead people to develop a gambling addiction.

Today on The Metro, we explore the sports betting boom along with its potential consequences. Plus, we discuss whether paying student athletes is good for sports.

Guests:

More stories from The Metro on March 19, 2025: 

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In February, two young children experiencing homelessness died of carbon monoxide poisoning after spending the night in their mother's van outside Hollywood Casino, amid below freezing temperatures. 

That news saddened and angered many in Detroit. As a result, the city doubled funding for homeless shelters and increased outreach to people on the street who are experiencing homelessness. 

But Detroit housing analyst Alex Alsup says that report doesn’t get to the root of the homelessness problem. Instead, Alsup suggests the city should lobby state lawmakers to continue the Pay As You Stay law, which will be phased out in July. That program, in addition to the, Homeowners Property Tax Exemption and the Detroit Tax Relief Fund, have prevented thousands of potential foreclosures — and many possible cases of homelessness — over the past decade. 

The Metro Producer Sam Corey sat down with Alsup to discuss his recent analysis that he explored in his Substack, “The Chargeback,” and why he believes these laws are preventing homelessness and need to be kept around.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Bridgett M. Davis is an author and daughter of Detroit. 

She’s written about her mom’s business running the numbers in “The World According to Fannie Davis.” Her new book tells the story of her sister and shines light on women’s health. 

“Love, Rita: An American Story of Sisterhood, Joy, Loss, and Legacy” explores the dynamics between generations of Black women moving through the complexities of living and dying in America. 

Davis’ mother was diagnosed with cancer and her sister with Lupus, ushering in the uncomfortable truths of the U.S. health care system and the systemic racism that exists within. 

Davis joined The Metro to talk more about “Love, Rita” and share stories of her mother Fannie, sister Rita and Detroit.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

In metro Detroit, a quarter of low-income households pay more than 19% of their earnings to keep the lights on. Metro Detroiters from vulnerable communities, including Black, Hispanic and Native American residents, tend to shoulder the highest energy burdens. People living in low-income multifamily buildings, as well as older adults and renters, are also hit harder by energy costs. 

A significant energy burden means powering appliances and heating and cooling your home could be out of reach. Energy insecurity touches every facet of life. It can make it hard to hold down a job, hard to get to school, and hard to stay healthy.

DTE Energy recently filed another request for its plan to raise rates. That request is set to be filed with Michigan regulators in April and will take multiple months of review. If it is approved, residents would not see a rate hike until next year. This rate hike request comes just months after Michigan regulators approved another DTE rate increase. In January, the utility was OKed to raise rates by $217 million.

Rate hikes by DTE are among several pressure points worrying advocates. 

Shutoffs for nonpayment are a big part of DTE operations. According to a recent report by the Center for Biological Diversity, DTE shut off electricity 150,000 times for residents who couldn’t pay their bills between January and September. 

“DTE customers already have some of the highest residential rates in the country — the average bill is 17% more than that of the Great Lakes region and 11% more than the U.S. average,” the report reads. 

In a statement sent to The Metro, DTE spokesperson Ryan Lowry said the utility cannot yet comment on the rate hike request until it is filed in April with the Michigan Public Service Commission. He pointed out ways the utility supports low-income families.

“DTE and its agency partners offer a variety of assistance options to help those in need, and last year alone, we connected customers to nearly $144 million in energy assistance,” he said. 

Lowry said DTE was “proud to see Governor Whitmer sign four pieces of legislation into law to double the funding available for low-income Michiganders under the Michigan Energy Assistance Program, as well as expanded the criteria for the program so that anyone at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level would be eligible.”

Advocates, though, say increasing energy costs, shutoffs and DTE’s reliance on fossil fuels are a big problem.

Khary Frazier with Soulardarity, a nonprofit working to make energy accessible and affordable to all, joined The Metro on Wednesday to discuss how high energy costs affect metro Detroiters.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Fashion in Detroit is more than just a trend, it's a statement.

Many Detroiters use their attire to reflect their identity, their hustle and their roots. Iconic pieces such as gator boots, fur coats, and "buffs" signal to others where you're from and the grit that defines you. Whether you’re from the east side or west side, your outfit tells the world who you are. 

For decades, Detroiters have taken pride in what they wear. The city’s fashion reflects a blend of ruggedness and celebrity influence. Legends like Aretha Franklin were known for wearing Dittrich mink fur coats, while rappers made Pelle Pelle jackets a staple of Detroit’s hip-hop scene. Today, young people and blue-collar workers continue to sport Carhartt gear and local sportswear. Gen Z, in particular, has embraced supporting Black-owned brands, further contributing to the city’s ever-evolving fashion identity.

Today on The Metro, we discuss how fashion in Detroit is not just about individual style, but also about the shared experience of living in a city with such rich cultural and historical roots. 

Guests:

More stories from The Metro on March 18, 2025: 

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From the way we dress, down to the food we eat, hip-hop has had an undeniable impact on the way we interact in our world today. 

But not everyone has had a seat at the table despite their significant contributions to the genre and culture. Women have often been overlooked, objectified, over-sexualized or simply excluded from the conversation altogether. 

Michael Ford’s upcoming Hip Hop Architecture Lecture Series will dig into the impact of women on hip-hop culture and design with esteemed panelists jessica Care Moore, Detroit's poet laureate; Mama Shu of Avalon Village; hip-hop artist Mama Sōl; interdisciplinary artist Tiff Massey; and Hip Hop Architecture Fellow Asia Williams. The panel will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture and Community Development. 

Ford is known as the Hip Hop architect and has designed Hip Hop Museums in The Bronx and Memphis. He and Care moore joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss the event.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders to dismantle transgender rights. 

These moves are not surprising. Trump used ugly rhetoric on the campaign trail to target this small minority of people.

Transgender young people and adults account for less than 2% of the U.S. population. But advocates warn that attacking trans rights opens the door to rolling back other Americans' rights. 

A transgender person is someone whose sex assigned at birth is different from who they know they are on the inside, the Human Rights Campaign explains. That could include someone who’s medically transitioned, so their physical appearance aligns with their understanding of their gender. It also includes people who have not transitioned or who do not solely identify as male or female. 

Still, sowing confusion about transgender people and dehumanizing them has been central to Trump's political strategy.

Staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan Jay Kaplan joined The Metro to discuss why Trump is targeting this small minority of Americans, why attacks on transgender rights are relevant to everyone, and what the landscape in Michigan is like for LGBTQ people. Kaplan leads the LGBTQ Project at the Michigan ACLU. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Ever since Michigan voters approved the sale of recreational cannabis seven years ago, residents have been clambering to get it. 

Michigan just recently surpassed $10 billion in sales since recreational marijuana was legalized, and businesses have capitalized on the demand. The number of pot retailers grew from six back in November 2019 to over 850 today, according to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency. 

But the price of cannabis has gone down, making it difficult for businesses to turn a profit. 

Adrienne Roberts covers Michigan’s cannabis industry, as well as jobs and unemployment for the Detroit Free Press. She joined The Metro on Tuesday to talk about Michigan's cannabis industry and what it means for the state’s economy. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Each week on The Metro, we check in with the Detroit Documenters to hear about the important local meetings they're following, and what other ways they're supporting the community.

Last summer, Michigan’s Supreme Court ruled that Wayne County property owners who lost their homes to tax foreclosure between 2015 and 2020 are now owed the profits made from the sale of their homes. 

To reclaim that money, residents must file a claim with Wayne County by March 31.

The Documenters have been helping people with this process by phone banking to inform Detroiters how much money they’re possibly owed and how to apply. 

To hear more, The Metro Producer Jack Filbrandt sat down with Detroit Documenter Shiva Shahmir and Detroit Documenter Coordinator Lynelle Herndon, who led the phone banking project.

If you need help finding out what Wayne County may owe you, text REPAY to 67485. An Outlier Media reporter will help answer your questions. Information is also available on the Wayne County Treasurer’s website. People interested in helping with Detroit Documenter’s phone banking can sign up here.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.