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 FeedDetroiters are getting ready for the annual Thanksgiving Day parade. The event brings floats, singing acts, and clowns down Woodward Avenue – culminating in the arrival of Santa around noon.
The parade kicks off just before 9 a.m. For those of you who don’t want to deal with the crowds or the traffic or the cold, you can watch it in your pajamas on WDIV-TV.
The parade is leading to some road closures downtown. Woodward will be closed, starting today, from Grand Boulevard all the way down to Jefferson as workers prepare the route for tomorrow’s event.
If you’re headed downtown, parking meters will be free tomorrow and Friday. Just make sure you’re not parking somewhere illegally. And the People Mover is up and running again to get you around downtown.
Additional headlines for Wednesday, November 26, 2025
The Detroit Department of Transportation will be adding 53 new buses to its fleet thanks to a $50 million federal grant. That’s in addition to the 76 busses DDOT purchased in the last two years.
Mayor Mike Duggan says the new purchase will replace more than 40% of Detroit's bus fleet. Many of the new buses will operate out of the $160 million rebuilt Coolidge Terminal on Detroit's west side.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says there are now more than a thousand registered doulas in Michigan. That includes 700 doulas who take Medicaid.
Doulas are trained non-medical professionals who provide birth assistance, including emotional and physical support, and help families navigate the birthing experience.
Dawn Shanafelt is the Director of the Division of Maternal & Infant Health for MDHHS. She says the state has surpassed its goal of registering 500 doulas through the Doula Registry by 2028, doubling that number as of last week.
“What’s next for the program is to continue to support our existing doulas that are part of the registry. So the one thousand plus doulas. And then we are really focusing on enrollment and recruitment of doulas in areas where the number of doulas that are available for families is lower, and then also for special populations.”
Shanafelt says that includes populations that speak a language other than English, Indigenous populations, and teenage parents.
She says having doula-assisted births reduces birth complications and medical interventions, shortens the duration of labor, and increases breastfeeding support. Babies also tend to have healthier birth weights.
MDHHS has added a mobile food distribution site in Hamtramck, partnering with Forgotten Harvest.
The On-the-Go popup pantry will provide food pick-up for people who schedule appointments. There are options for fresh produce and grains and culturally appropriate foods such as halal or kosher options.
MDHHS says they will select and offer similar mobile food pantry options in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties every month. The next one in Hamtramck will be held tomorrow Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the MDHHS office located at 12140 Jos Campau St. in Hamtramck.
People can make an appointment by emailing MDHHS-FH-WC-Hamtramck@michigan.gov. Dial 211 or visit mi211.org online for free referrals to food pantries.
A Hamtramck-based artist residency program is receiving a $175,000 award.
Entry Points is a program which offers housing and studio space for returning citizens who were formerly incarcerated juveniles. The nonprofit is receiving the 2025 J.M.K Innovation Award. The award is given by the J.M. Kaplan Fund to 10 awardees for their work in tackling social justice, environmental conservation, and heritage preservation.
Entry Point was created by artist-activist Jonathan Rajewski and writer and former juvenile lifer Kyle Daniel-Bey through Hamtramk Free School, an alternative educational organization that facilitates creative writing and art workshops in Michigan prisons, working with juveniles who were sentenced to life without parole.
Entry Points helps returning citizens reintegrate into public life, including presenting their work publicly.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is awarding $2.9 million to several groups to reduce pollution in waterways.
The Nonpoint Source Program grants will fund eight projects aimed at eliminating runoff at nonpoint sources which come from farms, urban areas and construction sites.
This occurs when there is rain, snowmelt, or when the wind carries pollutants into waterways. The grants will help repair waterways to reduce sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.
If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org.
The City of Pontiac unveiled its Down Payment Assistance Program this week, an initiative aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers and encouraging wealth and investment in Pontiac neighborhoods. City leaders are inviting renters to apply for this first-of-its-kind program.
To qualify:
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 313-255-9500.
The City of Detroit broke ground this month on four new buildings that will bring 211 units of affordable and permanent supportive housing to long-vacant land next to the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center.
The units will have rents based on 30 to 80 percent of the area median household income.
Three of the buildings will include 53 units that received 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the State of Michigan. They will offer a mix of one- and two-bedroom units starting at less than $500 a month.
The fourth building will be a 52-unit permanent supportive housing development, with each unit supported by project-based vouchers that keep residents paying no more than 30 percent of their income for rent.
Completion of all projects is scheduled for 2027.
More information: https://detroitmi.gov/news/work-begins-80m-development-bringing-211-new-units-affordable-permanent-supportive-housing-brush
NFL
The Detroit Lions face the New York Giants on Sunday as they try to bounce back from a tough loss to the Eagles. The Lions are currently third in the NFC North. The game will be held at Ford Field, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
NBA
The Pistons have won 11 games in a row. They’ll look to keep the streak alive as they face the Bucs at the Fiserv Forum. Tipoff is Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
NHL
The Red Wings sit at the top of the Atlantic Division as they prepare to face the Columbus Blue Jackets tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.
The holiday season brings the return of The Rink at Campus Martius Park, which opens to the public starting tomorrow. From November 22 through March 1, visitors can experience what USA Today named the No. 1 Best Ice Skating Rink in the country in its 2024 ranking.
For hours and additional details, visit: https://downtowndetroit.org/experience-downtown/things-to-do/the-rink/
DER will be off for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, but local businesses will be out in force for the holiday shopping weekend. Online tourism site Visit Detroit has compiled a list of local shops to explore, including sneaker boutiques, floral shops, art galleries, and more.
To see the full list, visit: https://visitdetroit.com
Detroit held a grand opening for the Violet T. Lewis Village senior apartment complex on Wednesday. It sits on the site of Michigan’s first and only historically Black college, founded by a Black woman named Violet T Lewis. Those gathered discussed her legacy.
Hamtramck’s race for mayor is over—for now. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers has certified the results of this month’s contest.
Adam Alharbi has won the election for mayor by just six votes. The outcome of the contest was controversial, with more than three dozen ballots thrown out after they were found in the office of City Clerk Rana Faraj.
Losing candidate Muhith Mahmood tells WDET that he will ask for a recount. He says the 37 ballots should not have been ignored. “Canvassers denied a legitimate 37 votes. That is concerning, because this is not the 37 people who made a mistake. Since the race is so close to each other, they could find a way to count this ballot.”
Incumbent Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib did not seek re-election. He was nominated by President Trump to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait.
The March of Dimes says Detroit has the most premature births among the 100 U.S. cities with the highest birth rates. The study found 1 in 6 babies in Detroit are born before the 37th week of gestation.
The organization points to high rates of chronic illness as one of the reasons for that high rate, as well as disparities in healthcare for Black people.
This summer, the National Institutes of Health canceled a study of premature births in Detroit as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Michigan chapter, reports an increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sightings in Metro Detroit.
CAIR-MI officials say community members have seen ICE vehicles in Wayne County. ICE also announced an increase in enforcement in the area.
CAIR-MI advises community members to be vigilant and aware of their rights, including asking to see a warrant and remaining silent except to request an attorney. The civil rights organization says people should have emergency contacts memorized and plans in place for their family members in case of an emergency.
A Muslim civil rights organization is advising Dearborn residents to ignore what it calls an “Islamophobic publicity stunt” by a Republican gubernatorial candidate. Anthony Hudson says he plans to march through Dearborn Tuesday “to protect Americans from Sharia law.” At an October debate for Republicans running for Governor, the Genesee County man said he would deploy the National Guard to Dearborn if elected.
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations says it has responded to a number of threats against Michigan Muslims and mosques lately. This week, an Illinois man who allegedly made threats against a Dearborn Heights mosque was arrested. A Virginia man faces terrorism charges for allegations he threatened to kill Muslims at a Michigan mosque and law enforcement officials identified a Texas man they say made threatening calls to the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights.
The national CAIR office says it distributed a formal memo to every member of Congress last month, warning of the “anti-Sharia hoax” as a part of anti-Islamic propaganda.
DTE is asking to raise residential gas rates by almost 8 percent. Planet Detroit reports the request comes a year after the utility raised prices more than 2 percent and as federal money to help utility customers is in doubt. The Michigan Public Service Commission has 10 months to decide on the rate hike.
https://planetdetroit.org/2025/11/dte-gas-rate-hike-proposal/
Michigan launches MIVeteran app
The state has launched a tool aimed at supporting veterans and service members transitioning back to civilian life. MIVeteran is an app designed to help veterans navigate benefits and resources available to them. Resources and information on the app include: DD-214 requests, state benefits, employment, education, housing, and healthcare resources, and a guide to benefits for transitioning service members. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency says it created the app as a part of its work to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families. The MIVeteran app is free and can be downloaded from the Apple and Google app stores.
The state is wrapping up its series of community conversations around gaps in services for older adults next week. None of the remaining events are in Southeast Michigan, but a survey will be live until December 15th. The Bureau of Aging Community Living and Supports is collecting input for a new state plan on aging. The survey can be completed online or downloaded and mailed in.
Download and mail the survey about older adults in Michigan
More than 20 vendors will offer their wares at the Threads of Time: Vintage Market Saturday. The free event is set against the backdrop of the Fisher Building’s timeless beauty. Visitors can shop for apparel, accessories and housewares. Food and drink will also be for sale. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is hosted by the Peacock Room.
Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield announced the 18 policy committees that make up her transition team Thursday.
The transition team will determine the priorities for the first 100 days of the new administration.
Sheffield says the decision to place the team’s headquarters at the Marygrove Conservancy was deliberate. “We wanted to ensure that this process remained rooted in my values of neighborhoods and community. And I am proud to say that this is the first time a transition has been set up in one of Detroit's neighborhoods. First time ever.”
Sheffield says everyone appointed to the committees were chosen for their expertise, track records, and connections to everyday Detroiters.
The committees will focus on various issues such as affordable housing, public transit, economic opportunities, and youth support and development.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District School Board is endorsing the Invest in MI Kids ballot proposal.
The proposal would add a 5% surcharge on income over $1 million. Advocates say the charge would raise over $1 billion in funding for schools.
The Invest in MI Kids coalition says the new funds would be constitutionally protected and explicitly directed toward reducing classroom sizes, retaining and recruiting educators, and career and technical education.
The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, or MiLEAP, is partnering with the Small Business Association of Michigan to provide affordable health and retirement benefits to child care providers. The program is called Nurture Benefits and enrollment opens on November 15.
Child Care providers will have access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and retirement benefits, and wellness and behavioral health resources. Childcare providers who work 30 hours or more a week are eligible to apply.
For more information, visit nurturebenefits.com.
Author Marion Orr will be discussing his new book at Source Booksellers. The book is titled “House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America’s Most Consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs Jr.”
Diggs was elected to represent Michigan’s 13th congressional district in 1954.
The event will be held on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.