The Detroit Evening Report is a three-minute daily round-up of the news that city residents need to know. Stories focus on the concerns, problems, passions and needs of Detroiters – specifically residents of color. On the weekends, we take a break from the news and spend some time with community members. Hosted by Sascha Raiyn, Jerome Vaughn, Tia Graham, Nargis Rahman, and Hernz Laguerre, Jr. Detroit Evening Report is a production of WDET, Detroit's NPR Station.
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RSS FeedAbdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Primary for the U.S. senate seat, even though he did not win the majority of votes in Wayne County.
He says that stems from historic tensions between Arab and Black residents. Speaking on the WDET program The Metro, El-Sayed said the mistrust among Black voters is valid. But President Donald Trump poses a bigger threat to the state.
"[Trump threatens] our ability to afford the basic things, and certainly the Arab and Muslim community, and certainly the well-being of the Black community. You think about the assault on the Voting Rights Act, led by the folks that he appointed to the courts. We have to come together beyond differences to recognize that we're all in the same boat now, and we've got a responsibility to come together to build the future that we want."
El-Sayed argues his Republican opponent in the general election, Mike Rogers, will back any policy Trump wants to pass. Rogers says El Sayed’s progressive views are too extreme.
The state veterinarian is reminding pet owners to make sure their furry friends are up to date on vaccinations.
Dr. Nora Wineland says pets are exposed to contagious diseases through wildlife, other animals, ticks, mosquitoes and pathogens in the environment. Wineland says summer activities increase pets’ risk of exposure to contagious diseases.
Anyone interested in being guided through their first hiking and backpacking experience can sign up this week for a DNR training in September.
Beginner Backpacking at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park will teach the basics of backpacking as hikers set up their first camp along the shores of Lake Superior before hiking through the woods and along Mirror Lake to the highest peak in the park.
The training is Sept. 18- 20. Registration closes Friday, Aug. 14.
Planet Ant party
Planet Ant’s Colony Fest and Summer BBQ are happening this Saturday. From 2 p.m. until midnight, the community can celebrate the training and performance space in its Black Box building with food, yard games, Mario Kart and a beer tent. Admission is free.
The Colony Fest Improv Tournament happens at Ant Hall across the street from 8-10 p.m. The event is a comedy showdown with the four troupes who won improv battles in July competing in a head-to-head championship. Tickets are $12.51.
The United Farm Workers Foundation, which advocates for farm workers and immigrants in the U.S., recently released a survey finding most farmworkers are worried about detention and deportation because of the Trump administrations latest immigration crackdown.
Anna Hill Galendez is the managing attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. She leads the team providing legal services to farmworkers throughout Michigan.
“So while we haven't seen large-scale raids at agricultural sites in Michigan during this administration, the constant threat or potential threat of that enforcement has really created a chilling effect and climate of fear for farmworkers in Michigan," says Galendez.
The UFW Foundation surveyed over 2,200 farm workers in 12 states including Michigan. The survey found that beyond deportation, people are afraid of seeking medical help, shopping or using social media. Many have been working in the U.S. for more than 10 years.
The nonprofit ProsperUs Detroit is hosting a Financial Readiness Accelerator program. The free 3-week program is for entrepreneurs who face financial barriers or have limited access to resources. The courses will cover how to build credit, manage debt and prepare for future funding.
The cohort will be held Sept. 9 through Sept. 23 on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The courses will be held at the JHub at 950 Selden Street.
People have until Aug. 16 to apply at prosperusdetroit.org.
Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed says he spoke with former President Barack Obama and hopes Obama will campaign with him and other Michigan Democrats. El-Sayed told NBC's Meet the Press the conversation was warm and inspiring.
Obama did not endorse anyone in the state's primary election. El-Sayed's main Democratic rival, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, campaigned on her ties to the Obama administration, where she worked on reviving the auto industry. El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in November.
-Reporting by Pat Batcheller
Registration is open for a workforce summit which aims to create networking opportunities for refugees and new immigrants.
The Southeast Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Collaborative is hosting the 2026 Opportunity Workforce Summit to introduce refugee and immigrant job seekers to employers, workforce organizations and educational institutions.
The event takes place Sept. 22 from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. at the Schoolcraft College, mVistaTech Center in Livonia, Michigan.
A global movement is bringing a wellness summit to Detroit in October. The Hearth Summit Detroit is focused on communal wellbeing through art and reflection.
Event organizers hope to attract 200 changemakers from Detroit and Wayne County to discuss art, philanthropy and mental health. The organization says they want educators, entrepreneurs, artists and mental health practitioners to work toward a more just and equitable society.
As of last year, there have been 27 regional summits hosted in 18 countries. The event in Detroit will take place Oct. 8-10 at the Kintsugi Village in Corktown. People can sign up at hearthsummitdetroit.com.
The city of Detroit and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation celebrated the third Green Grocer ribbon cutting in the Motor City. This is part of the effort to have more fresh and healthy food available at retail food locations in the city.
The Counter Detroit is a 400-square-foot grocery store anchoring community marketplace, Shops on Six, in the Bagley neighborhood.
Owner Karlyta Williams says that her store is meant to bring people together and to represent the diversity of the neighborhood. “That is what the Counter stands for. It is for every neighbor. Every piece that goes onto their shelves, every neighbor is thought of. There is something magical that happens when the business that shows up in your neighborhood feed you.”
Mayor Sheffield says that the goal is to have six Green Grocer stores by the end of the year.
As the summer comes to close...are you trying to go on a last-minute summer trip?
Well if you plan on going on one this week, you might need to budget some more for gas. According to AAA gas prices in Michigan have risen to 13 cents from a week ago. Michigan drivers are now paying an average $4.36 per gallon for regular unleaded gas.
Fuel prices have increased in large part due to the continuing war in Iran that has caused the blocking of about 20% of the world’s supply of oil and gas from the Stait of Hormuz. Another reason is that gas prices typically peak during the late spring/early summer when refineries switch to a more expensive summer blend of gasoline.
AAA says while the market conditions remain unpredictable, drivers may continue to see the prices go up and down.
MLB
The Tigers laid a beat down against the Seattle Mariners yesterday with the score of 11-0. They now face the San Francisco Giants this weekend as they continue to claw and climb from the bottom of the American League Central division.
First pitch for today’s game is at 10:15 p.m. EST.
Soccer
Detroit City FC faces off against FC Tulsa tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. at the Tulsa Drillers Baseball Team Stadium in Tulsa Oklahoma.
Football
And with the Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs agree to 3-year, $67.5 million extension. The three-time Pro Bowler is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The record deal surpasses the extension Bijan Robinson signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week—which is a reminder that anything can happen in football.
The state health department says the number of new cyclosporiasis infections is slowing down, and fewer people are showing up at the hospital with diarrhea-related emergencies.
The agency is lifting its recommendation to avoid bagged salad mixes, one of the possible sources of the outbreak. It says people may also resume their usual food handling practices, but should still avoid recalled lettuce.
Michigan has had more than 12,000 confirmed and suspected cases of cyclosporiasis since late June. So far, 279 people reported going to the hospital. Two people with significant health problems died after getting the disease.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has lifted the precaution to avoid bagged mixed salad mixes. Officials say new cyclosporiasis case reports and emergency department visits are on the decline. Data show most exposures occurred in late June and early July.
Officials are saying the majority of contaminated lettuce is likely no longer available for consumption. The department will continue updating outbreak data every Thursday. Officials continue to recommend avoiding the recalled lettuce.
The City of Dearborn’s 45th Homecoming Festival starts tomorrow Aug.7. The festival opens at noon at Ford Field Park with an official ribbon cutting will take place under the park’s covered bridge at 12:30 p.m.
The event will feature live music, carnival rides, an arts district, a vendor village and more. Musical headliners include country singer Martina McBride on Saturday and Grammy award winning artist Chance the Rapper on Sunday. Both performances will be followed up by a fireworks show at 10 p.m.
Festival hours are noon to 10:30 p.m. daily. After 4 p.m., children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Admission is free. The festival runs this weekend only.
More Michigan families may qualify for Woman, Infant, Children (WIC) benefits. The state health department has increased the income threshold for the program, which provides women, infants, and children with supplemental food, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services. A family of four can now qualify with an annual income of up to $61,050.
WIC helps about 187,000Michigan residents every month.
The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hosting a public hearing on August 20 at 4 p.m. to discuss and receive feedback on potential service changes taking effect on Sept. 7. The public hearing will be virtual.
The public can submit feedback through email to ddotcomments@detroitmi.gov until Friday, Sept. 4.
The Asian American based non-profit Rising Voices is announcing their 2026 artist and creative cohort exhibition. Titled “Revolution, Resistance, and Joy”, the exhibition showcases the work of Michigan Asian American artists.
The show starts August 7 with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. at the Swords into Plowshares Gallery located on 33 East Adams Street in Detroit. The exhibition runs through Aug. 22.
Michigan voters went to the polls Tuesday to select candidates who will meet in the general election in November.
Congressman John James won the Republican primary for governor. He had a tough competitor in businessman Perry Johnson. Johnson ran a steady flight of television commercials, at times portraying James as a "DEI candidate." During the course of the Republican primary, James made few appearances in the city of Detroit.
During his victory speech Tuesday night, James laid out his plans if he’s elected Senator. “We’re going to cut taxes. We’re going to lower your energy bills. We’re going to protect Medicaid for those who need it, while stopping fraud and abuse from those who would steal from it.”
James will face Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in the November general election. Benson easily beat Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the Democratic primary.
During a speech to supporters in Detroit Tuesday night, she said she’ll work for Michigan voters if she’s elected governor in November. “Who do you want Michigan’s leaders to work for? The people or the powerful? Well, you all know who I work for. I will work for all of you and every Michigander in this state. Not the highest bidder. Not corporate interests. Not Donald Trump. You.”
Benson is a Detroit resident.
In the most watched contest of the night, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed defeated Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.
In a speech to supporters in Detroit Wednesday morning, El-Sayed took aim at Republican Mike Rogers – who El-Sayed will face in the general election: “And so, Mike, and I know you're listening, Mike. We are coming for you.”
With more than 60-million dollars in outside spending, the race is the most expensive U.S. Senate primary in history. El-Sayed beat Stevens by less than a percentage point.
-Reporting by Russ McNamara
Detroiters watched two Democratic primaries for Congress yesterday. Representative Rashida Tlaib easily defeated former state representative Shanelle Jackson and Inkster Mayor Byron Nolan in the 12th Congressional District.
State Representative Donavan McKinney defeated incumbent Congressman Shri Thanedar in Michigan’s 13th District primary. Results show Mckinney won just over half the vote.
McKinney says its time for a new style of politics, because it’s impossible for representatives to serve two masters. “You can’t serve the working people and the corporations at the same time. You have to pick one, and so I think the people are calling for petter and I thing they’re calling our legislators and our Congress to do things for them and not on behalf of the few, but on behalf of the many.”
McKinney also supported ending federal aid to Israel. He says Congress should focus more on domestic needs. Thanedar was seeking his third term in the U.S. House.
-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley
Incumbent Wayne County Executive Warren Evans easily won his primary race to win the right to run for another term as the Democratic candidate in November.
Proposal S, which provides additional revenue for the Detroit Public Schools Community District passed overwhelmingly, as did the Wayne County Public Transportation Millage. That measure will keep communities from being able to opt OUT of the SMART bus system.
The Secretary of State has rejected a Republican Party request for a list of people who volunteer to be poll workers that would include personal identifying information.
The state says the GOP wanted home addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and medical or disability status—and that that information is exempt from disclosure as a "clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy."
Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says sharing unredacted information could be used to target prospective poll workers based on party affiliation. She says sharing information that could be used to dox, threaten or harass would discourage citizens from volunteering to be election workers.
The Republican Party can appeal the state's refusal. The state has also declined to share identifying information in voter rolls with the Trump administration. That position was upheld in court.
On Wednesday, people will finally be able to walk and bike between Detroit and Windsor using the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
The Detroit Greenways Coalition has created the Detroit/Windsor International Bike and Trail map. The map highlights biking and walking routes between the two cities.
Coalition Executive Director Todd Scott says the view crossing the bridge is beautiful. "I know they already have high expectations, bicyclists and walkers, but I think it's going to exceed those. It's a smooth, beautiful, clear modern piece of infrastructure that I think is going to blow people away."
The bridge is toll-free for anyone who is walking or biking across the span; however, visitors still must go through customs.
The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled against Enbridge's oil and gas pipeline tunnel project that would run through the Straits of Mackinac. The "Michigan Public Service Commission" okayed the project to build the tunnel around the Line 5 pipeline after considering its possible environmental impact to the surrounding area. But the state’s highest court found Michigan environmental law requires a broader look at the impact continued operation of the entire pipeline would have.
The issue now returns to the Public Service Commission for a new review. Enbridge is a financial supporter of WDET but has no input on its editorial decisions.
More than a decade after the Flint water crisis began, city crews have inspected the last pipe connecting a home or business to the city water system for lead. The city has inspected more than 31,000 service lines since 2016 and replaced those made of lead or galvanized steel.
Mayor Sheldon Neely estimates the inspections, replacements, and other improvements cost more than a billion dollars.
Last but not least, it is Primary Election Day in Michigan. We will soon know who will move forward to compete for governor and congressional seats in November.
Wayne County voters also considered whether to expand SMART bus service, Highland Park narrowed its field of mayoral candidates and Detroit schools asked to tax businesses.
Check in with WDET and the Detroit Evening Report tomorrow for election updates.
Michigan is reporting the first two fatalities among people suffering from the disease cyclosporiasis. Officials say medical records indicate the people had significant underlying health conditions. Officials add the disease, which can cause cramps and explosive diarrhea, is generally non-life-threatening. Deaths from it are uncommon in the U.S.
The state reports more than 11,000 cases since June, although it’s not clear how many of those people may have already recovered from the disease.
-Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter
Documentary photographer and visual storyteller Syed Yaqeen is visiting Michigan this week as part of the American Muslim Experience— a documentary project to preserve the stories of American Muslims through visual storytelling and conversations.
He says he began the project to document stories of everyday Muslims to counter negative stereotypes and showcase what it means to be Muslim in America.
“Like the complicated lives of everyday people who again happen to be Muslim. So for them to be able to see themselves as young kids, students going to school, getting jobs, first job, learning how to drive-you know-all these little simple things that people tend not to think of when they are, I guess, put in a specific group.”
Yaqeen says his focus is on documenting the present-day lives of American Muslims to preserve that for the future.
He is taking pictures in Hamtramck, Detroit and Dearborn.
People can contact him on Instagram at americanmuslimexperience to schedule a session.
The city of Detroit has failed to translate information in emergencies as required through an ordinance created last year to translate public service announcements, says the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
Bridge Detroit reports that includes hazardous smoke and extreme heat warnings. City officials say they will make improvements to provide Detroiters whose first language is not English access to resources or information.
Meanwhile Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has tasked the Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity (CRIO), Office of Immigrant Affairs, and Media Services departments to improve language access in the city.
BridgeDetroit found much emergency-based information was only posted in English on the city’s website or Facebook.
The city hopes to provide translated information in Spanish, Bengali, Arabic, and French. Meanwhile, residents can use Detroit’s alert system and choose a language of their choice to access the city’s website.
Detroit has spent more than $362,000 on language access services in the past year.
The American Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations.
Sydney Henry is with the Michigan region of the American Red Cross. She says blood donations typically drop in the summer, but this summer is worse than usual.
That’s likely because of the extreme heat events and wildfire smoke that choked some states, especially Michigan.
Henry says the Red Cross has less than a day’s supply of type O positive blood. That blood can be given to most people in an emergency.
-Reporting by Tracy Samilton
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) celebrated the completion of a $40 million stormwater development on Detroit’s westside Thursday.
The Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project is the department’s largest green stormwater infrastructure plan.
DWSD Deputy Director Sam Smalley says the new system will push more than 100 million gallons of water to the Rouge River.
“This this feature provides filtering and settling, so there are actually water quality standards for the stormwater that we discharge, so it's cleaner water faster. So we either slow the water down or better yet get it out of the system altogether.”
The sewer network will move stormwater through to two new detention basins in Rouge Park for filtering and slow down water before discharging it into the Rouge River.
Smalley says the new infrastructure will make the 1,200 homes nearby more resilient to weather related basement flooding.
Detroit health care and education leader Iris Taylor has died. She was 74.
A lifelong city resident, Taylor worked in health care for 45 years, serving as CEO of Detroit Receiving Hospital. She also helped shape the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as the health department's head of nursing.
Taylor was also a member and former president of the Detroit school board. Mayor Mary Sheffield calls Taylor one of the city's most dedicated and impactful servant leaders.
Residents in Detroit’s Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood are complaining about drivers parking in bike lanes on Grand River.
Bike lanes were installed on Grand River between Woodward and McNichols in 2019.
The road falls under the Michigan Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction. However, the state says the city is responsible for maintaining bike lanes.
Detroit Police say they are planning to deploy officers in the neighborhood next week to ticket anyone parked illegally.
The Michigan Department of State reports a turnout rate of 11.3% of all active registered voters who have already cast their ballot a week ahead of the primary election.
More than 800,000 residents have voted with a mail in or absentee ballot and over 30,000 cast their ballot at an early voting site. Compared to the same time in 2022, the number of mail ballot requests have increased 58.8%.
Early voting will continue through Sunday. Mail in ballots must be received by clerks no later than 8 p.m. on election night, Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The City of Detroit has announced a three year, $9.2 million investment to help unhoused families move out of emergency shelter and into stabilized housing. The Homeless to Housed initiative will provide families with 6- 12 months of rental assistance, help them find a home, and provide additional support along the way.
The program touts that it will assist up to 140 households each year with this program, which is approximately 500 Detroiters each year.
In a press conference for the program, the city’s first ever Chief Executive of Health, Human Services and Poverty Solutions Dr. Luke Shaefer says this program is about more than providing shelter. "Its about creating pathways to stability. The mayor has challenged us to build a system where homelessness is rare, brief, and non recurring.”
Shaefer also describes how they were able to fund this program. “This didn’t happen by accident...it happened because dedicated public servants were willing to rethink how we use available resources, they strategically aligned federal emergency solutions and grant funding to launch the Homeless to Housing initiative leaning into the mayor’s charge to us.”
Priority for this program will be given to families with minor children. This program is also expected to free up space in existing shelter homes to provide assistance to other Detroiters facing homelessness.
The city of Detroit is hosting a micro and small business summit on July 31 at the Wayne County Community College District Northwest Campus.
The summit is part of the Office of Contracting and Procurement, and it's part of an effort to build Detroit based micro and small business industries.
The free event will provide attendees an opportunity to interact with funders, banks, and partner organizations including Goldman Sachs, First Merchant bank, the Detroit Development Fund, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and the Small Business Association.
For more information and to register go to detroitmi.gov.
Detroit City FC faces Miami FC on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Pitbull Stadium in Westchester Florida. Also, the club soccer team’s development of their new home stadium broke ground earlier this month.
The AlumniFi Field will hold 15,000 seats, an increase from Keyworth stadium that only holds 7,000 seats. It will also be the city’s first soccer-specific stadium, and the state's only privately owned major sports stadium. The project also includes a 421-space parking garage and a 104-unit residential building with 76 affordable housing units.
Completion of the stadium was slated for spring of 2027 but its now slated for 2028 USL Champion season.
MLB
And the Tigers efforts to climb up the American League Central division stalled a bit with a high scoring loss to the Baltimore Orioles yesterday 10-9.
They now face the Athletics in a 3 game weekend affair at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California. First pitch for tomorrow’s game is at 9:40 p.m. EST.
And on Saturday August 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History is hosting Talk it Out Walk it Out. This free admission event is an annual community conversation and awareness walk to highlight health disparities impacting Black women.
The event serves as a start to Black Women’s Health Month in Detroit. The event is being held at the museum.
The number of Michigan residents suffering from cyclosporiasis continues to rise. State officials say more than 10,000 cases have been reported in Michigan as of Tuesday. The parasite can cause gastric distress, including watery diarrhea.
Most of the Michigan cases are in Wayne, Washtenaw and Oakland counties. Investigators have traced the problem to iceburg lettuce sold by Taylor Farms and distributed to many Taco Bell restaurants. That lettuce has been recalled. The parasite is usually spread through food or water contaminated by feces. The outbreak has spread to several other states.
WIC benefits can be used online at Meijers
The state of Michigan says residents who use the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, otherwise known as WIC, can now use their benefits online at Meijer’s.
Beneficiaries could already use those benefits when they shop inside the store. The state Department of Health and Human Services says the program will be available at all 122 Meijer stores in Michigan. Officials say they plan to expand the program to other retailers in the future.
Michigan’s WIC program serves more than 187,000 women, infants and children each month.
Ford posts 2Q loss
Ford Motor Company says it lost money from its electric vehicle business in the second quarter of this year. But the Dearborn automaker is still predicting a more profitable year overall than experts previously expected.
Ford officials say the automaker took a net loss of $1.3 billion in the second quarter, partially as the result of ending a joint electric vehicle battery partnership with a South Korean company and stopping other EV related efforts.
But the automaker says customers, including those building data centers, remain interested in using Ford’s electric batteries to store energy. Ford earned more than $48 billion in revenue in the second quarter, beating Wall Street analysts’ average expectations. Officials say there’s still strong demand for Ford trucks and SUVs, despite high fuel prices.
-Quinn Klinefelter
Rocket Mortgage Classic begins tomorrow
The Rocket Mortgage Classic has returned to Detroit. The PGA Tour event will be played at the Detroit Golf Club Thursday through Sunday. 147 golfers will take part in the tournament.
This will be the final Rocket Mortgage Classic. The PGA tour announced earlier this year that it has had trouble attracting top golfers to the Detroit event and will discontinue the classic after this year.
The tournament will be nationally-televised Saturday and Sunday on CBS.
Lions training camp underway
The Detroit Lions have begun their training camp. Players are gathered at the team’s Allen Park facility to begin preparing for the 2026 season.
The Lions missed the playoffs last year with a record of 9 wins and 8 losses but hope to make it back to the post-season this year. The team has a new offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, who previously worked for the Arizona Cardinals.
Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are not expected to take part in training camp activities. They’re still recovering from injuries that ended their seasons last year.
The Lions first pre-season game takes place August 13 against the Bengals in Cincinnati. Detroit’s first regular season game is September 13 in Ford Field against the New Orleans Saints.
