“I am excited about the exploration of it all,” Akilah Russell says of storytelling. Meet Planet Detroit’s 2025 Neighborhood Reporters in this Q&A series, written by Neighborhood Reporters.
Posted inNews
USDA’s rural energy grants resume, but with a twist: ‘Nothing short of devastating’
Michigan’s Jim Lively, awarded a $39,696 USDA grant, faces uncertainty over installing solar panels on his family market due to Trump administration guidance to remove DEIA and climate mandates from proposals.
Posted inNeighborhood Reporting Lab
Leah Samuel’s journalism career began with watching Walter Cronkite. Her work gives a voice to the voiceless.
Leah Samuel, a journalist dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices, says anyone can tell their own story. Meet Planet Detroit’s 2025 Neighborhood Reporters in this Q&A series, written by Neighborhood Reporters.
Posted inCommunity
Natural skincare products gain ground: ‘It’s about taking the plastic off my body’
Black women are increasingly opting for natural skincare products to steer clear of phthalates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals linked to health issues.
Posted inNews
Consumers Energy signals another rate hike request days after winning $153.8 million increase
AG Nessel slams Consumers’ intent to file another rate case, says utilities are “asking for more” before regulators know whether previous increase improved service.
Posted inNeighborhood Reporting Lab
A Detroiter teaches Mandarin Chinese. A love of learning fuels her journey.
Carissa Welton, a foreign language teacher at Detroit Waldorf School, is spearheading a new program for students to learn Mandarin Chinese. Meet Planet Detroit’s 2025 Neighborhood Reporters in this Q&A series, written by Neighborhood Reporters.
Posted inNews
EPA air quality rollbacks could cost 200,000 lives
Proposed air quality rule changes, polluter exemptions, agency cuts could make breathing more dangerous.
Posted inCommunity
Detroit community fridges highlight mutual aid efforts around food insecurity, waste: ‘We’re scrappy’
Community fridges, popularized during the COVID pandemic to address surges in food costs, are a mainstay in a handful of Detroit neighborhoods, with room for expansion into more parts of the city.
Posted inNews
What we’re reading: Rainfall breaks 1945 record, floods metro Detroit basements, streets
Heavy rainfall in southeast Michigan has led to widespread flooding, with more rain expected. Kent County confirms Michigan’s second measles case of 2025, highlighting the need for vaccination. Michigan joins a lawsuit against federal public health grant cuts.
Posted inNews
Trump cuts jeopardize energy assistance for over 400,000 Michiganders: ‘Devastating’
The Trump administration’s decision to cut thousands of federal health agency employees, including the entire staff of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, threatens the future of a vital service that aids over 400,000 Michigan residents with their energy bills.