Severe storms hit metro Detroit

Pathways for first-gen students at the University of Detroit Mercy

Dean Dr. Ahmed Radwan of the College of Health Professions at the University of Detroit Mercy is hoping to bring more first-generation students to the private university. He tells WDET's Nargis Rahman what additional support the university provides to help students that need more structure, and how having those systems brings diversity to the campus—and eventually, to various professions.

Detroit offers respite centers to get people out of hazardous air

The city of Detroit’s Health Department is offering guidance and respite centers to help residents to stay safe from the Canadian wildfire smoke.   In a press conference this week, Mayor Sheffield acknowledged the hazardous air quality conditions.  “We know we have unsafe air quality outside, and we are doing all that we can to get that information out to residents to stay in and to stay masked and to ensure we’re checking on our loved ones.”     In response to the air quality, the health department has informed residents to check the website, airnow.gov [https://airnow.gov] to check up to date air quality conditions in your area.    They also advise residents to stay indoors as much as possible, keep windows and doors closed, move physical activities indoors, and wear masks.  Residents that don’t have air-conditioning can check out some of Detroit’s recreations centers at detroitmi.gov [https://detroitmi.gov]. There you will find centers near you and the numbers to contact them.      ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026 DETROIT INVESTS IN SEWER LINE REPAIR The city is also investing $184 million to repair a long list of damaged sewer lines. This project will help prevent sewer backups and sinkholes that are most common in low-income neighborhoods. Gary Brown is the director and CEO of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). He says these repairs are too expensive for homeowners to repair. “In Detroit, homeowners and the maintenance of these lines are the homeowner's responsibility. Many residents don’t realize they’re responsible for the connections.  Unfortunately, it is also the deepest most difficult and most expensive portion of the sewer repair.”    The federally funded project will repair nearly 9,000 clogged or broken sewer connections in mostly low to moderate income neighborhoods. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.   Sports  MLB   The second half of the Tigers season starts this weekend after the all-star break. The home team goes against the Los Angeles Angels for a 3-game weekend affair. The Tigers are currently trying to dig out of the American League Central against an Angels team that is trying to do the same.    First pitch for today’s game is 9:35 p.m. at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.       Soccer Detroit City FC go against the Indy Eleven tomorrow at Keyworth Stadium. Game starts at 7 p.m.      FIFA  And the FIFA World Cup final takes place on Sunday, July 19 with Spain facing Argentina in a game that will make history with Lamine Yamal and Lionnel Messi leading their respective teams. Game starts at 3 p.m. at the MetLife stadium—temporarily known as New York New Jersey Stadium in New Jersey.      FESTIVAL OF BOOKS   And this Sunday is the 9th Annual Detroit Festival of Books. Organizers say that at this event you’ll be able to shop for rare, unique, and unusual books, vinyl records, comic books and more. The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 19 at Eastern Market.

City council approves banning ads for alcohol, drugs around places of worship

Detroit City Council approved a change to an ordinance that prohibits alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana advertisements to be placed withing 1000 feet of sensitive locations.  Places of worship have been added to the list of protected locations.   Council President Pro-Tem Coleman Young raised concerns about information on treatment centers and educational services being affected by this new rule.   But Councilmember Scott Benson says that is not the case.  “This ordinance does not capture that. And this ordinance is already in place for alcohol and tobacco products, and there is no prohibition about advertising [Detroit Integrated Health Network] services or other services for substance use disorders.”  The amended ordinance passed unanimously . ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026 HIGHLAND PARK LAUNCHES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM The Highland Park School District announced a new scholarship program to help residents pursue post-secondary education. Officials says Highland Park high schoolers are often not eligible for promise scholarships in the school districts they attended because of their address. The Highland Park Promise Scholarship is available to every graduating high school senior who lives in the city. Beginning fall 2027, eligible student can get an initial $1,000 to go toward any post-secondary education such as community colleges, universities, or trade schools. Because the school district does not currently have its own high school, the scholarship will be available to any student attending high school in a neighboring district as long as they currently live in Highland Park.  CONGRESS CANDIDATE FORUM The Eastside Community Network is hosting a forum with the 2026 U.S. House and Senate Candidates [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LS27HfzK7pHqWvVMNAn5QUJ5n4AOxxw8afol9Fp_1To/edit?tab=t.0#headin%E2%80%A6]about issues shaping Detroit’s eastside. Candidates expected to participate include Donavan McKinney for the U.S. Houses 13th district,  Abraham Aiyash for the State Senate first district, as well as candidates for the 3rd Senate District and 9th and 11th State Representative Districts. Forums will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday July 18 at the East Side Community Network on 4401 Conner Street. WHEN: Saturday, July 18, 2026. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. • 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. — U.S. House, District 13  • 10:45 - 11:15 a.m. — State Senate, District 1  • 11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. — State Senate, District 3  • 12:45 - 1:30 p.m. — Lunch  • 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.— State House, District 9  • 2:45 - 3:30 p.m. — State House, District 11  WHERE: Eastside Community Network (ECN), 4401 Conner St, Detroit, MI 48215 MOVE OVER LAW Michigan State Police is planning a one-day initiative to enforce the state’s “move over” law. When approaching a stationary vehicle with flashing lights such as police, ambulances, fire, rescue or road service vehicles, drivers must slow down to at least 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit and move over one lane. If you cannot move over due to traffic, weather or road conditions, still slow down and pass with caution. Colonel James Grady said in a statement there have been 13 instances this year where patrol vehicles were struck while conducting traffic stops. The one day initiative will be on July 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. across Michigan and neighboring states.

EGLE issues air quality alert

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has issued an air quality alert for the state of Michigan. That’s due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.   The air quality can harm those who are unhealthy or sensitive groups… potentially reaching the unhealthy range. EGLE has published a page for resources [https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/air-quality/air-monitoring/wildfire-smoke] on how to respond to wildfire smoke.  The state’s health department advises people to limit outdoor activity by monitoring the air quality in their area. They also recommend sheltering indoors with air conditioning — and to find a shelter if it’s too hot at home. People can call 211 to find a local shelter.   Visit michigan.gov/egle [http://michigan.gov/egle] for more information.   Invest in MI Taxes   Some Michigan lawmakers are backing a joint resolution to have voters decide whether the state’s highest earners should pay more in taxes. The proposal seeks to change an extra 5% tax on annual income above half a million dollars for single filers or a million dollars for joint filers. The extra revenue would go toward health, housing and education. Democratic State Senator Stephanie Chang says the money could come in handy as economists predict tough years ahead for the state budget.  “I think its important that as lawsmakers we keep talking about those priorities and also talk about how if we make the wealthy pay their fair share, we can create another revenue source that can help generate over a billion dollars.”   Republicans and business groups claim the plan increases taxes for small businesses — organizers say that’s not true. It would take supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature to get the measure on the ballot.   -Reporting by Colin Jackson [https://www.michiganpublic.org/people/colin-jackson] DTE outage response Days after severe storms interrupted service for thousands of DTE Energy customers, the head of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) says the company’s response could have been better.   Commission Chairman Dan Scripps says DTE’s own restoration estimates fed into people’s frustrations.   “There were a number of problems with the restoration estimates. They were off… and sometimes significantly. And not just the level of communication that you’d expect from a utility to its customers.”   Scripps spoke with WDET’s Robyn Vincent on The Metro. He says MPSC received higher-than-normal public complaints after the storms.   DTE’s chief executive apologized to customers last week, saying the company will review its response and try to do better.   DTE Energy is a financial supporter of WDET.   -Reporting by Pat Batcheller [http://wdet.org/author/pbatcheller] Chinatown Block Party  The Detroit Chinatown Vision Committee is hosting its second annual block party in Detroit [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/second-annual-chinatown-block-party-tickets-1986461596108?aff=oddtdtcreator] on Cass and Peterboro Streets. The event corresponds with the 2023 demolition of the former Chinese Merchants Association Building, which also housed several Chinese organizations. Community members opposed the demolition of Detroit’s Historic Chinatown.   Lisa Yee-Litzenberg is a volunteer member of the committee. She says the block party and commemoration is an effort to create a safe space, a Pan-Asian district in Detroit.  “This is an opportunity for people to celebrate and feel pride about their culture and their history, but also for people from all walks of life to come and learn about the culture, the history of different Asian groups in the Detroit metro area, so that's a big.”   Yee-Litzenberg says her father Henry Yee was the former unofficial mayor of Detroit's Chinatown in the 1960s and 1970s.   Last year, Michigan State Senator Stephanie Chang announced one million dollars in funding to create a streetscape in the Chinatown district [https://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/one-detroit/detroits-chinatown-gets-1-million-for-streetscape-renovation/] to recognize the contributions of Asian Americans.  The free Detroit Chinatown Block Party takes place Saturday, July 25, from noon to 8 p.m. The event will feature historical exhibitions, performances and food from over 50 vendors. There will also be free film screenings [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/detroit-chinatown-block-party-2026-asian-american-film-showcase-tickets-1992222080873?aff=oddtdtcreator] at the Masonic Temple featuring the movies “Bad Axe” and “Warren King: King of Cardboard.”

Alcohol, cannabis ads may soon be banned from being near religious buildings

Houses of worship may soon be added to the list of sensitive locations where certain advertisements are not allowed within a 1000-foot radius.  Councilmember Scott Benson says posting ads for things like alcohol and cannabis near a house of worship is inconsiderate. "You have your church, and then 30 feet from your church is a probably a 40 by 20 sign advertising King of Bud, just a level of disrespect and a level of just insensitivity to what we have here."  The Public Health and Safety Committee approved the changes to the amendment today. City council will choose whether to enact the changes at the next formal session.  -Reporting by Bre'Anna Tinsley [http://wdet.org/authors/btinsley] ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026 GORDIE HOWE TOLL DEAL We're learning more about the deal to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27. CBC News and other media report 50% of toll profits over the bridge's first 15 years of operation will go into a U.S. development fund. President Trump had said he would not let the bridge open unless Canada agreed to share toll revenue. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told CBC's Power and Politics while the deal may look like a win for Trump, the U.S. won't get much out of it. He said it could take longer than 15 years for Canada to recoup the cost of building the bridge before it would share revenue with Michigan.  Canada spent almost $6.5 billion to build the bridge. The U.S. paid nothing.  -Reporting by Pat Batcheller [http://wdet.org/author/pbatcheller] FREEDOM TOUR DETROIT High school students are invited to apply for the Freedom Tour Detroit 2026. The four-day program explores advocacy, civil rights, justice and Detroit history. The Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, the City of Detroit’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Wayne State University and the American Civil Liberties Union are working together to offer in-person seminars and guided field trips between July 30 and August 2. Applications [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFbLYJNLRUnkLAYpLTUEiVevOhtvrML0XCsEKhNfnJe__1gQ/viewform]are due by Sunday, July 19. SUMMER GAMES AT THE MICHIGAN SCIENCE CENTER The Michigan Science Center’s After Dark series is back with “Summer Games” on July 24. This event offers those 21 and over a chance to explore science, sports and a little friendly competition. The Penske Planetarium will offer a one-night only show featuring the “Olympians of the Night Sky," Detroit City FC will be in the house with giveaways and photo ops, former Piston and President of the Motor City Cruise Durand “Speedy” Walker will speak, and adult games—including a 50-foot inflatable obstacle course, Warrior Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em and something called Hippo Chow Down. National Coney Island is bringing classic and veggie coneys and there will be signature cocktails from the Byrdie Bar. Michigan Science Center After Dark Summer Games is Friday July 24 from 6-10 p.m. Tickets are $35 for members, $45 for non-members and $30 for designated drivers. Learn more at mi-sci.org [http://mi-sci.org].