"The Metro" covers local and regional news and current affairs, arts and cultural events and topics, with a commitment to airing perspectives and uncovering stories underreported by mainstream media in Detroit.
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RSS FeedPhysical exercise is essential to a healthy routine. And it becomes even more important as we grow older and our bodies naturally slow down. According to the CDC, adults over the age of 65 should engage in moderately intense aerobic exercises like a brisk walk or more vigorous exercises like running or jogging.
While this sounds simple, finding the motivation to exercise can be challenging. Our next guest provides these kinds of opportunities for seniors who need the extra help socializing and staying active.
Bridging Communities is a grassroots non-profit that connects people to resources and programs that promote senior independence, housing stability and healthy communities. It strives to help seniors age in place by providing access to resources that address their basic needs.
This Sunday the organization hosts its 15th annual golf outing for senior citizens, which encourages seniors to get more active using the sport.
Today on The Metro we talk with Katrice Perry, the Executive Director of Bridging Communities. She joined us to discuss the golfing event and the other services her organization has to offer to the elderly community.
While the Detroit Documenters are providing easier access to information on local government, they’re not the only ones.
Dan Arking is a lawyer for the City of Detroit, but during the pandemic, he created the website Soap Box Detroit. It’s a one-stop shop for so much information about Detroit’s local government.
In our segments with the Documenters, we frequently unpack the actions of local commissions, committees, and task forces. But in what ways do they all differ?
Arking sat down with Producer Jack Filbrandt and Detroit Documenter Coordinator Noah Kincade to help us cut through the bureaucracy.
Pawchella is an upcoming festival back for its second year on June 7 and 8. The festival helps MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center raise funds to care for thousands of animals at their facility each year. They strive to bring second chances to our furry friends. Every ticket sold helps provide a safe home and essential care for a furry friend in need.
Joining us on The Metro is Nova Zorock, the events and communications manager for Metro Detroit Animals to talk about the event.
The Detroit Institute of Arts is a world-renowned museum. But, but how many pieces in its collection are made by a Detroiter? Tiff Massey's "Baby Bling" will soon be acquired by the DIA. Salvador Salort-Pons, the museum's Director, told the Metro that the DIA is acquiring “Baby Bling” from Massey and adding it to the museum’s permanent collection.
"We are acquiring "Baby Bling," and I'm very excited about this, and this will be on view in, I hope [...] our contemporary wing, and I hope it will be part of the reinstallation," says Salvador Salor-Pons
Lots of people traveled and spent their weekends at the DIA over the past year. Tiff Massey’s "7 Mile + Livernois" wasn’t just an exhibit, it was an event for the culture. The exhibit represented Black Detroit in some of its rawest forms.
In 2015, the DIA responded to some critics who thought the DIA and other art institutions could do better to serve Detroit and Metro Detroit. In response, it created a Talent and Diversity subcommittee and later in 2020, created its inclusion, diversity and access or IDEA strategy.
Recent exhibitions like Massey's "7 Mile + Livernois" suggest the strategy to make the DIA a more inclusive and representative space is working.
Museum Director Salvador Salort-Pons and exhibition curator Katie Pfol joined The Metro to discuss how the exhibition’s success marks a turning point for the Museum.
Salvador shared that the museum's year-long showcase of the tiff Massey exhibit was just the tip of the iceberg.
The Detroit Institute of Arts plans to reinstall its contemporary African American galleries to a more prominent location in the museum in October. The new location will be adjacent to the renowned Diego Rivera court.
The U.S. Department of Justice and the White House are looking at pardoning the two men convicted in the 2020 plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that the men convicted in the kidnapping plot were victims of “a railroad job.”
Whitmer shared her reaction to the news with WDET’s Russ McNamara at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Thursday, saying she’s not happy that the justice department — and the president — are even considering pardons.
He joined The Metro to talk more about their conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
The Skillman Foundation is one of Detroit’s most influential philanthropic organizations, using millions of dollars to shape education policy and priorities in the city.
As Detroit’s public schools struggle with chronic underfunding, low literacy rates, and crumbling infrastructure, Skillman’s decisions hold real weight for educators, parents and children.
Angelique Power, president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation, joined The Metro during the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference to talk about how the foundation is leveraging its wealth and influence to truly change the trajectory for Detroit kids.
Power said while people across Michigan want something better for Detroit youth, the education systems in the city are "complicated."
"History matters in terms of the things that have happened to Detroit," she said. "Whether it is things that policy has done, things that philanthropy sometimes have done, often it happened to Detroiters, or for Detroiters, but not with Detroiters."
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Michigan schools have struggled since the pandemic, with students lagging behind in reading and math skills compared to other states across the country.
These skills predict how successful they will be once they enroll in college. Not every student wants to go to a traditional college. But for the ones who do, how do we prepare them? What does it really take to prepare students for college — and beyond — in a state where so many are falling behind?
Bryan Beverly, director of the Office of K-12 Outreach at Michigan State University, joined The Metro live during the Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss the challenges and opportunities for reshaping education for the next generation.
Beverly spoke about the many ways his office works to engage K-12 students and prepare them for professional learning opportunities around the state.
"[You have to] create an environment where [students] feel comfortable sharing what interests them, and then how can you provide supports around their interests," Beverly said. He continued: "...It's more about creating a culture where students feel safe more than specific strategies to pull things out of them; you want to make sure that the students feel safe and invited to the conversation."
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Michigan U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is preparing to retire after a decades-long career in politics and public service.
Peters has championed Michigan’s Great Lakes, leading efforts that brought nearly a billion dollars in restoration funds to the state. He's passed legislation to protect the mental health of veterans. And he’s fought for critical infrastructure — securing funding for the Soo Locks, a lifeline for Michigan industries.
As he steps away from Washington, Peters joined The Metro during the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference to help us to reflect on this work and what the next person elected to his seat must do as Democrats face historically low approval ratings.
Peters says he's ready to pass the torch to the next generations of lawmakers.
"I just think it's the right thing to do," he said. "I do believe that we've gotta have new energy all the time, refresh itself, Congress has to represent the energy and the future of our country, and that means a broad cross section of people who are serving — including folks who are younger."
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
There’s a constant tension in our politics and in young people’s lives. It sits between the skilled trades and a four-year college degree.
College is largely seen as the natural next step for a young teen graduating high school. But in the last few years, college has gotten more expensive, college graduates struggle to get entry positions, all while an aging workforce among the skilled trades offers more opportunity.
So now, many are wondering: What kinds of jobs should we prioritize for younger people? And what kinds of investments should we be making in training tradesworkers?
Ryan Bennett, president of multiple trades organizations — including the West Michigan Building Trades and the Michigan Pipe Trades — joined The Metro live during the Mackinac Policy Conference on Thursday to talk about skilled trades opportunities in the state.
"I was from that generation where you were taught that if you wanted to be successful in life you had to go to a four-year institution," he said. "You had to get a degree, you had to get one of those jobs that were going to be more white-collar in order to be deemed successful by all of the teachers and all of the counselors that prepped you your entire high school career."
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline cuts beneath the Great Lakes, stretching over 600 miles and crossing beneath the Straits of Mackinac. For decades, the pipeline has raised concerns because of its potential to spill oil and contaminate water for millions of Americans. This water is also a source of sustenance, culture and sovereignty for tribal communities.
Now, Enbridge has a proposal on the table to build a new oil tunnel to replace a section of Line 5. The Canadian oil and gas company says this will address aging infrastructure. An executive order from the Trump administration could expedite the construction of this project.
But advocates argue that the construction of this new oil tunnel and potential leaks from it pose many threats, especially to tribal fishing rights and livelihoods.
Andrea Pierce is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and the policy director at Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition. She spoke with me on the shores of Mackinac Island ahead of a rally on Thursday protesting the proposed oil tunnel.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.