Two Detroit Museum institutions want voters in Wayne and Oakland counties to support a joint operating millage on the November ballot. 

The Detroit Historical Society and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History are proposing a 10-year 0.2 mills they say would generate nearly $29 million in revenue in its first year. 

The President and CEO of the Wright Museum is Neil Barclay. He says without the millage there will be significant cuts to programming and services. 

“I think mostly about our young people who would not be able to come to the museum as much as we even can do now. That those our hours could be reduced. ...We would have to look at in terms of bringing our budgets into line with the resources that we have available.” 

Barclay says at a time when African American history is under attack, it’s imperative that a museum stories of the Black community receives sustainable funding. 

Last month the board of commissioners for both Oakland and Wayne counties created the Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority to put the proposal on the ballot. 

Additional headlines from Friday, Aug. 21, 2026

Bookstore asks neighbors to stop using poisonous pest control

Owners of the historic bookshop John K King Used and Rare Books is asking neighboring retailers not to use chemical poisons to eradicate pests after squirrels were found dead outside the bookstore.

Owners are encouraging the use of enclosed bait stations and snap traps. The bookstores are asking people to report any animals that are acting strange in the area to them.  The bookstore is keeping a record of occurrences.  

Run Walk Picnic

The non-profit organization Zaman International is hosting their annual Run Walk Picnic next month. They are also celebrating their 30 years.  

The event includes a 5k run and walk along the Rouge River Gateway Trail, a three-quarter mile kids run for ages 5 to 12 and an 100 meter kids run for ages 2 to 4. Other activities include pony rides, a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, and more family-friendly games.

Zaman was created in 1996 to provide holistic support to women and children experiencing poverty in Southeast Michigan.

The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ford Field Park in Dearborn.

Cafe Prince closing

Café Prince in Corktown is closing. The last day the café will be open is  next Sunday, Aug. 30. The café will have a DJ performing a live set, as well as a market selling glassware, plants and fixtures that day.

The current owner Phillip Kafta alluded in an Instagram post the cafe will be turned over to new operator but did not reveal the new owner’s name. The new establishment will open on Sept. 4.

The closing party for the café will be on Aug. 30 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Café Prince is located on 4884 Grand River Avenue.