William Smith, who held sway over the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s finances, faces 19 years in prison for embezzling $40 million intended to enhance the city’s riverfront, impacting community projects and delaying riverwalk developments.
Posted inNews
DTE files for $574 million rate hike, its second-largest request, months after its last increase
DTE Energy’s $574.1 million rate hike proposal aims to boost infrastructure and clean energy, raising Michigan residents’ bills by $13.50 monthly. Critics, including Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, challenge the plan, demanding proof that DTE’s expenses and rates are fair and justified.
Posted inNews
Detroit’s green spaces: Analysis reveals inequities in park access
A Michigan Technological University study reveals that 87% of Detroit buildings are over a quarter-mile from parks, with vulnerable communities facing the greatest green space shortages.
Posted inNews
USDA cuts rattle Detroit’s ‘resilient’ food pantries
In Detroit, a food distribution event at Pilgrim Baptist Church has been a lifeline for hundreds of families for over a decade. Recent cancellations of $4.3 million in state food bank orders due to USDA spending reshuffles have cast uncertainty over its future.
Posted inCommunity
The art of recycling: Detroiter Donald Calloway’s creative process
Detroit artist Donald Calloway transforms discarded objects like chair stools and clock parts into vibrant art pieces, filling local galleries and his Grand Boulevard studio with sustainable creativity.
Posted inDemocracy
Why is Trump choosing Michigan for his 100-day milestone?
President Donald Trump will mark his first 100 days in office with a rally in Macomb County, Michigan, and will also travel to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral, his first foreign trip in his second term.
Posted inNews
What we’re reading: Ontario fire sends smoke into metro Detroit
Smoke from an Ontario marsh fire drifts into the area, while Michigan lawmakers push to ban political donations from major utilities. DTE Energy faces criticism for enforcing cash-only bill payments on thousands of customers.
Posted inNews
Michigan water affordability bills reintroduced in bipartisan push: ‘Moral imperative’
Legislation to cap water bills for low-income Michigan households is reintroduced in the state Senate with bipartisan support, aims to establish a statewide water affordability program.
Posted inNews
Climate is adding to Detroit air quality problems: American Lung Association
Detroit’s failing air quality grade in the American Lung Association’s State of the Air Report highlights the impact of climate change and wildfire smoke, as over 77 million people nationwide face unhealthy PM 2.5 pollution spikes.
Posted inCommunity
Giant sequoias take root on Detroit’s east side on Earth Day
Detroit’s Giant Sequoia Filter Forest initiative empowers communities by transforming vacant lots into urban forests, tackling blight, enhancing air quality, and safeguarding sequoias from wildfire threats.