Residents can now opt out of automatic voter registration

Wayne State tuition rises

The tuition at Wayne State University is rising by 4% for its undergraduate and graduate students. This comes after a unanimous decision from the university’s board of governors.  How will this affect the university students? Well, undergraduate students can see a tuition increase of about $250 and graduate students will see an increase of $33 dollars per credit.  The university increased their tuition last year by 4.5%. According to the school’s officials the 2026-2027 housing rates will not increase.  This rate increase is following a trend occurring in 4-year public and private universities and colleges across the country––tuition increases due to inflation, a drop off in enrollment post pandemic or uncertainty around state funding. WDET is licensed to Wayne State University.   ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2026 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SHOWS POSITIVE RESULTS This week, the city of Detroit released a Community Health Assessment that revealed that community improvements positively affect the health of residents.  The report was an assessment of about 6,000 residents, some commuity organizations, public health experts and local data.  During a press conference about the assessment, Mayor Sheffield expanded the idea of what health means. “Health is much more than what happens inside of a doctor’s office. It is also about prevention. Health is about whether a mother has access to prenatal care. It is about whether a child has healthy food nearby and it is about clean air, safe housing, transportation and whether families can access the care that they need when they need it.”   SPORTS  FIFA The U.S. had their first loss of the 2026 World Cup to the already eliminated country of Turkey. Turkey kicked a last minute goal to win the match. The U.S. also had mostly reserves playing in the second half of the game to ready the team for their next game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. That game is Wednesday, July 1.   NFL  The Lions’ defensive back Terrion Arnold was arrested this week in Tampa, Fla. on alleged felony charges of robbery and kidnapping.  Six other individuals were arrested, but according to police Arnold was the one coordinating and directing the codefendants. Arnold is from Tallahasse, Fla., which is about 4 hours away from Tampa.   The Lions said in a statement that they are aware of the news but are not commenting “out of respect of the ongoing legal process.”  MLB  The Tigers loss to the Astros yesterday in the score of 4-1. Next game is today at Comerica Park. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.   BURGER BATTLE And this weekend get ready for what organizers are calling the biggest burger battle in the Midwest. This weekend the 10 year anniversary of Detroit Burger Battle [https://burgerbattle.info/]is going down in the Motor City. Fifteen of metro Detroit’s top restaurants will bang burgers and chef it up for the crown. Participants of the battle get a single voting card to pick their top 3 burgers. Whoever gets the most votes wins. This is all going down on Sunday, June 28 from 1-4 p.m. at Shed 5 of the Eastern Market.

Mayor Sheffield gives update on road improvement plan

“Our great partner, Governor Whitmer isn’t the only one fixing the roads around here," said Mayor Sheffield yesterday, where she and the Department of Public Works gave an update to their road improvement program. This $58 million initiative includes 140 individual major road and residential paving and construction projects, as well as bridge removals and streetscape construction. The mayor said the project will not only fix the infrastructure of Detroit but it will build up the community’s workforce. “We are also putting Detroiters to work while we invest in our neighborhoods... 90% of the individuals that are doing this work are Detroit residents and 100% are unionized. Let’s give that a round of applause.” Funding for the road projects will come from federal and state transportation funds. This project will begin along West Grand Boulevard. ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026 NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX FOR SENIORS Earlier this week city leaders joined together for the ribbon cutting of new senior housing in Grandmont Rosedale. The new development Minock Park Place is a mixed use development bringing commercial space as well as affordable housing for seniors.  The development includes 36 one bedroom apartments and six two bedroom apartments for low to moderate income seniors. Mike Randall, executive director of the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, says completion of this project brings value to the neighborhood and community.  “In the face of doubt, skepticism, a global pandemic, 3 presidential terms, skyrocketing inflation and costs, yet here we stand. Not for the recognition and not to boast but to demonstrate that value exists on our corridor not just on grand river not just on 6 mile...and not just on schoolcraft but throughout all the great city of Detroit.” Residents are expected to begin moving in in July with commercial spots opening in the first quarter of next year.   SPORTS MLB The Tigers lost to the NY Yankees with the score of 4-2. Their next 3 game series is against the Houston Astros starting tonight at Comerica Park. First pitch is a 6:40pm. Club soccer Detroit City FC face Birmingham Legion FC on July 2 at Protective Stadium in Alabama  FIFA  And the FIFA group stage continues as TEAM USA faces Türkiye. The U.S. has a 51% chance of winning according to sports analysts. Tonight’s game at the Los Angeles stadium in Inglewood California starts at 10 p.m. EST.  Murder mystery walking tour And if you are looking for something spooky to get into this weekend, look no further than The Rosary Requiem—Detroit Murder Mystery Walking Tour. The tour starts at Most Holy Redeemer Church – the church where the film "The Rosary Murders" was filmed. Organizers say the walking tour is blends mystery and intrigue, with the vibrant spice of Detroit's Mexicantown – that means food! For more information go to distinctivelydetroit.com. [http://distinctivelydetroit.com]

Rep. John James calls for Canadian smoke control to be a part of bridge deal

Michigan candidate for governor, John James, says Canadian wildfire smoke needs to be better controlled, as part of a deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge.  James made the comments on a video on Facebook earlier this month.   “You look at wildfire smoke every summer.  They’re throwing off 500 million vehicles’ worth of carbon emissions into our air each and every year and doing very little to nothing about it.  That’s got to change right now," said James.  "As a part of any deal we do with Gordie Howe Bridge, we have to work in close cooperation with Ottawa to make sure they’re also managing their business, so we can keep our people healthy and we can keep our relationship strong.”    Last summer, James wrote a letter to Canadian officials asking them for action to keep wildfire smoke from drifting into Michigan.   President Donald Trump endorsed James on Monday to become Michigan’s next governor.  Other elected officials around the country quickly followed suit.  James will face businessman Perry Johnson, and former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox in the Aug. 4 Republican primary.    ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026 DETROIT POLICE PICK UP 180 CURFEW VIOLATORS DURING FIREWORKS  The Detroit Police Department is reporting that it detained 180 juveniles on Monday night for curfew violations before the annual Ford fireworks show over the Detroit River.  A news release says 171 of those detained were city residents.  Nine live elsewhere.   A special curfew was approved for fireworks night.  It required everyone under 18 to be accompanied by an adult from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.  The police department says 19 adults were arrested for a variety of infractions, including carrying concealed weapons, aggravated assault, and disorderly conduct.   One 18-year-old was shot by a police officer after a short chase, several hours before the fireworks began.   DEARBORN SCHOOLS SEEK NEW BOND APPROVAL  Dearborn residents will see a new millage proposal on their November general election ballot.  The city’s Board of Education will ask voters to approve a $1.5 billion bond measure.  If passed, the money will fund the construction of six new schools.   The district says the bond would also be used to remodel every remaining school building over the next 20 years.  The board approved ballot language for the proposal at Monday’s meeting.  NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX OPENS ON WEST SIDE    A west-side Detroit neighborhood is getting a new apartment building.  The city opened the OSI Art Apartments Tuesday afternoon.  The newly constructed four-story complex provides 30 residential units.  About half qualify as “affordable housing”.   Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says the project will make a difference along the Grand River corridor. “It is an honor as mayor to welcome this project to our city.  A project that combines housing, culture, arts – and to breathe this vibrancy back into our community, which is so needed in our city.  So I thank you all so much for investing in Detroit.”   The development, which also includes 5,000 square feet of retail space, will be the gateway to the West End Gallery District.  The building located on Grand River near Selden is named for Nigerian-American artist Osi Audu.

Detroit police shooting leaves teen in critical condition

Detroit Police shot a teenager who was running away from them after they arrested another teen near Campus Martius downtown. Chief Todd Bettison says officers approached a group of young men and arrested one who was holding a suspicious-looking backpack. He says they searched the backpack and found a gun in it. An 18-year-old started walking away from the group and officers chased him. Bettison says the officer who shot the fleeing teen feared for his safety. This happened a few hours before the annual fireworks over the Detroit River. Police said the teen was shot several times and is in serious condition.  Police also arrested minors who violated the city's 8 p.m. curfew and held them  until a parent or legal guardian came to get them. (Batcheller/Raiyn)  - Pat Batcheller [http://wdet.org/author/pbatcheller]contributed to this report ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FROM TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026 SCOTUS RULES AGAINST MICHIGAN FAMILY The Supreme Court ruled today against a Michigan family who said their rights were violated when their county sold their house for less than half its open-market value to cover a tax bill of just over $2,000. Isabella County maintained that auction sale prices are always lower than open real estate transactions. It said requiring foreclosure prices to match the open market would essentially end those sales.   PROJECT DOCUMENTING NATIVE BOARDING SCHOOLS REACHES CLOSE A project that gathered testimonies from more than 360 survivors of Native American Boarding schools has finished its first phase. The Tulsa-based National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition [https://boardingschoolhealing.org] collected video oral histories from Indigenous survivors across 19 states. The stories will be preserved in the Library of Congress. The project aimed to document the systemic abuse endured in boarding schools and how survivors found healing.  It identified eight boarding schools that operated in Michigan. Three are still open. HURON VALLEY WARDEN ON LEAVE FOLLOWING INMATE DEATHS Jeremy Howard, the warden at Michigan’s only women’s prison has gone on personal leave after three deaths at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility. The Michigan Department of Corrections told the Detroit Free Press [https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/06/23/warden-jeremy-howard-michigan-womens-prison-personal-leave-michelle-floyd/90655246007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z117061p119250c119250e1193xxv117061d--55--b--55--&gca-ft=50&gca-ds=sophi] today the leave is “personal and unrelated to current events." The deaths of Khaira Howard, Rebecca Fackler and Ashley Hoath are still under investigation. A former corrections officer at the facility was sentenced last week for criminal sexual conduct involving an inmate. The warden at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson has been temporarily assigned to lead the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.   PWHL ANNOUNCES OUTSIDE INVESTORS The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced the Illitch Company is one of its first two outside investors. Toronto-based Kilmer Sports Ventures is the other. Mark and Kimbra Walter founded and funded the league in 2023 with hundreds of millions of their own dollars. Mark Walter is the owner of the LA Lakers, the Dodgers, and the LA Spark. The PWHL has not yet turned a profit but just two and a half years later has doubled its size to 12 teams – including Detroit’s scheduled to play at LCA in the fall.

National poll shows that aging populations need to learn how to maintain brain health

Most older adults do not know how to care for their brain health, according to a new survey by the National Poll on Healthy Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association. The survey of adults 50 and up found that people rated their brain health as excellent, very good, or good, but lacked knowledge about how to maintain it. The survey found 70% of Michigan’s older adults believe diet, physical activity, and sleep are important factors. However fewer older adults were engaging in the behaviors that determine better brain health or reduce Alzheimer’s, such as getting seven or more hours of sleep, doing mentally stimulating activities, eating healthy, balanced diets or exercising. The survey also found that they prefer to get information about brain health from a health care provider. Many also believe brain health is more important than physical health. The National Poll on Healthy Aging online and phone survey was conducted in January 2026, surveying 1,300 Michigan residents and 2,800 non-Michigan adults between 50 and 98 years old.  ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2026 SUN BUCKS PROGRAM Many children face food insecurity over the summer because they no longer have meals provided by school. The summer EBT “Sun Bucks” program from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services works to make sure that no kids will be hungry.   The department’s Erin Frisch says families with students who participate in school lunch and breakfast programs face extra pressure on their budgets during the summer.   “SUN Bucks, also known as summer EBT helps bridges that gap by providing eligible children with funding to purchase food during the summer months. We have this program because we understand Michigan children need consistent access to healthy food to grow and learn and thrive.”   Children ages 6 to 18 are eligible for the SUN Bucks program. Those who already receive SNAP benefits will automatically be enrolled. Families not already on SNAP can apply for the summer program on the MI Bridges website.  -Reporting by Helena Najar   BLACK CAUCUS CALLS FOR REPARATIVE MEASURES The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus is calling for the passage of new “reparative justice,” measures. The bills would create a state office to serve American descendants of enslaved people, launch a reparations commission and collect data.   Democratic Representative Jason Hoskins says Black people in Michigan continue to live with the legacy of slavery and segregation, including worse health outcomes and pollution in their communities.   "If we are serious about addressing these challenges, we must first understand the harms that were done, the policies that perpetuated these harms, who’s affected, and what remedies are appropriate," says Hoskins.   The new commission would recommend reparations, but the package itself would not include any payments for Black Michigan residents. Majority State House Republicans are not likely to pass the bills.   -Reporting by Colin Jackson   [https://www.michiganpublic.org/people/colin-jackson] MICHIGAN RELIEVES MEDICAL DEBTS The State of Michigan has collaborated with the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt program to erase $74 million of medical debt for 72,000 Michigan residents. People will begin getting letters in the mail this week informing them if their debt has been forgiven. Each dollar paid by Undue Medical Debt equals $100 of debt relief. Unpaid medical debt is often a result of unexpected illnesses. Half of U.S. adults have a hard time paying off medical debt.   People receiving the relief at four times the poverty line or have medical debt that’s more than 5% of their annual income. This round of debt erasure is supported through a $4.5 million fund from the state’s in partnership with Wayne, Oakland and Kalamazoo Counties.   Last year, the State of Michigan and Undue Medical Debt provided $144 million in debt relief to over 210,000 Michigan residents.