Mike Duggan drops out of Michigan governor’s race

Wayne State announces director for new Detroit Center for Black Studies

Wayne State University has announced the inaugural director of its Detroit Center for Black Studies [https://dcbs.wayne.edu/]. Dr. Richard D. Benson comes from the University of Pittsburgh where he was an associate professor. His work has focused on the Black radical tradition in education. The university cites Benson’s work as an examination of the intersections of Black intellectual traditions, education, activism, and social movements. The Detroit Center for Black Studies, it says, is being established to “create an interdisciplinary… Detroit-rooted center for scholarship, teaching and public engagement that reflects both the richness of Black Studies and the unique intellectual context” of the city.  ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2026 COMPANY CONTRACTED FOR SOLAR NEIGHBORHOODS GOES UNDER One of the companies contracted to build arrays for Detroit's Solar Neighborhoods program has been sold. The city is looking to DTE Energy to take over.   The company Lightstar was contracted to build 63 acres of solar fields in the Gratiot/Findlay and State Fair Neighborhoods for phase one of the project and 19 acres in the Houston-Whittier/Hayes neighborhood for phase two.  Detroit Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Trish Stein told city council that tax credits for the project are scheduled to expire by July 4, so a decision needs to be made soon. "You heard it today, the residents came and they talked to you about some have got their energy efficiency upgrades, some have not. Ninety-seven of those 209 homeowners have not had their energy efficiency. They have been waiting for over a year."  Stein says DTE is ready now to take over the project. Lightstar was expected to start construction early this year.  GORDIE HOWE BRIDGE OPENING Officials will cut the ribbon on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge in southwest Detroit on Friday. The Detroit News [https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/08/date-set-for-opening-of-gordie-howe-international-bridge-to-traffic-canada-detroit-trump/90463427007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z117262p118450l000150c118450e1154xxv117262d--64--b--64--&gca-ft=212&gca-ds=sophi] and the Free Press [https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2026/06/08/gordie-howe-international-bridge-ribbon-cutting-snyder-whitmer-trump/90458444007/] cited sources with knowledge of the plans who did not want to be identified. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority would not confirm the reports but said it expects to open the bridge for traffic soon. Trump threatened to block the opening unless Canada agreed to share toll revenue with the United States. Canada paid for construction and co-owns the bridge with the state of Michigan. Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a Senate panel that Customs and Border Protection agents are ready to go. -Reporting by Pat Batcheller [http://wdet.org/author/pbatcheller] MICHIGAN RANKS WORST FOR CHILD WELLNESS A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Michigan worst in the Midwest for overall child wellbeing. The Kids Count Data Book [https://www.aecf.org/resources/2026-kids-count-data-book] bases its scores on education, health, economic wellbeing and other factors.  The data come mostly from 2024, meaning the impact of some recent steps the state has taken don’t show up.  -Reporting Colin Jackson/MPRN [https://www.michiganpublic.org/people/colin-jackson] CONVERSATION ABOUT MEDIA BIAS AND PALESTINE Arab Americans for Progress, Pluto Press and Source Booksellers are bringing a conversation about media bias and Palestine to the Arab American National Museum [https://arabamericanmuseum.org/] Thursday. Adam Johnson, author of the book “How to Sell a Genocide” will speak with moderator Bilal Baydoun. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to register on Eventbrite [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-sell-a-genocide-an-evening-with-author-adam-johnson-tickets-1988798213995].

Art installation depicting killed children of Gaza comes to Dearborn

A Dearborn park will be the home of a new visual art project depicting the children of Gaza. The City of Dearborn, Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, and ACCESS present this “Wall of Tears” artwork [https://dearborn.gov/wall-tears-exhibition-open-dearborn-event-june-11]to the community. Artist Phil Buehler created the 100 foot long, 7.5 ft tall outdoor mural that includes the names, ages and stories of over 18,000 children who were killed in Gaza since October 2023. An opening night event will be held for the exhibition on Thursday, June 11 at the Dearborn PEACE Park East from 5-7 p.m.  The Wall of Tears has previously been displayed in cities around the world, including New York and San Francisco. New murals will also be built in Mexico City, Dallas and Portland.  Another installation called “Gaza City” will be displayed at the Henry Ford Centennial Library on Saturday, June 13 at 2 p.m. That installation will also be presented by Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network. The event will feature a screening of "The Voice of Hind Rajab " and speakers including Huwaida Arraf, a civil rights lawyer who recently joined the Freedom Flotilla. This installation is a collaboration between Phil Buehler and Palestinian photojournalist Shroug Alaiya.  ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2026   STATE LAWMAKERS VOTE TO REINSTATE READING REQUIREMENT The Michigan House voted last week to revive the requirement that kids learn to read within one grade level by third grade or risk repeating a year in school.  Republican supporters argue its necessary to address the state’s lagging reading scores. Many educators counter that holding kids back a grade does nothing to improve their reading. Democratic Representative John Fitzgerald says teachers need more resources to improve literacy. “We want to give educators and those around kids the tools that they need to give students the best opportunity for success, and just telling kids you have to read at third grade reading is not going to do it. It’s the resources and we want the result of that policy.”   State lawmakers repealed Michigan’s third-grade reading law a couple of years ago when Democrats controlled the Legislature.  -Reporting by Colin Jackson [https://www.michiganpublic.org/education/2026-06-05/house-leader-looks-to-re-instate-third-grade-reading-law-in-budget]  HURON VALLEY INMATE DIES The state corrections department says an inmate at the Huron Valley women’s prison died Saturday morning. The Detroit Free Press reports that Ashley Hoath fell ill and was taken to an emergency room, where her condition worsened, and life-saving measures failed. Hoath was serving time for killing her boyfriend in 2017.  She’s the third Huron Valley inmate to die in less than a month. The state is investigating the other two deaths.   -Reporting Pat Batcheller  [http://wdet.org/author/pbatcheller] HAMTRAMCK TOWN HALL The City of Hamtramck is hosting a town hall meeting today. The meeting is to help residents understand their water bill structure. City representatives will discuss changes that are taking place. Arabic and Bangla translators will be available. The town hall is scheduled for June 8 at 7 p.m. People can also watch the meeting at the City of Hamtramck YouTube page [https://www.youtube.com/@cityofhamtramck4779].

UAW endorses Benson for governor, El-Sayed for Senate

The United Auto Workers has endorsed Jocelyn Benson for governor and Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate in Michigan's 2026 elections. In a statement, the UAW said it supports El-Sayed because it wants "a fighter" in Washington, D.C. During an interview with ABC News Live this week, El-Sayed discussed the importance of unions like the UAW. "The best way to protect people's wages is to allow them to form unions. I want to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the PRO Act to make sure you have the voting rights and that you can form a union anywhere and in any sector in American life." The UAW also said the 2026 gubernatorial race is critical and that Benson has demonstrated she would stand with working-class Michiganders. The endorsements come after former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan entered the governor's race as an independent candidate and following last week's Mackinac Policy Conference, where El-Sayed and fellow Democratic Senate candidates Mallory McMorrow and Haley Stevens participated in a debate. ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR JUNE 5, 2026 DEARBORN OPENS THIRD PEACE PARK IN SOUTHEND Dearborn has opened its third PEACE Park in the city's Southend neighborhood. PEACE stands for Park Equity and Access for Civic Engagement. The parks are part of the PEACE Project, a nearly $30 million grant-funded effort to invest in the city's green infrastructure. PEACE Park South includes a community basketball court, two pickleball courts, a garden walk and other amenities. During a town hall meeting in April, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud discussed additional efforts to expand green space throughout the city. "Every year, we choose six to nine schools where we're planting rain gardens and trees in various schools." The new park is now open for residents to enjoy. TIGERS HOST MARINERS IN WEEKEND SERIES The Detroit Tigers host the Seattle Mariners this weekend for a three-game series at Comerica Park. Detroit enters the series looking to gain ground in the American League Central amid trade speculation ahead of the deadline. First pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. DETROIT CITY FC TAKES ON LEXINGTON SC IN USL JÄGERMEISTER CUP Detroit City FC will face Lexington SC in Group D action of the USL Jägermeister Cup on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck. MICHIGAN STATE RESEARCHER HELPS PREPARE WORLD CUP PLAYING SURFACES Michigan State University professor Trey Rogers is helping prepare playing surfaces for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rogers helped pioneer indoor natural grass systems for the 1994 World Cup. For next year's tournament, he and his team are developing methods to ensure the safe transportation and installation of turf at host stadiums. According to Bridge Michigan, Michigan State and the University of Tennessee are also supplying turfgrass through a FIFA-funded project. The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins June 11 and concludes July 19.

Madison Heights cuts drag queen story time from Pride festival

The Madison Heights City Council voted to cut “Drag Queen Story Time” from their Pride festival days before the event. The story time event would have featured drag queen performer Jadein Black reading books to children during the city’s celebrations. Council members voted 4-3 to cancel it, due to concerns about the “appropriateness” of a drag queen reading to children. Black told Fox 2 she was surprised the city canceled the program. Black says instead she will be performing a drag queen story time this weekend at Sidetrack in Ypsilanti.  ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FROM THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2026 NEW HANGAR OPENS AT DETROIT AIRPORT A new 20,000 square foot hangar opened at the Coleman A. Young International Airport on Detroit’s east side Wednesday.   It’s the first new facility to open at the airport in 60 years.   Mayor Mary Sheffield says it’s the start of many investments in store for the airport.  “We are continuing major investments into our airport, including runway and taxi upgrades, safety enhancements, the upcoming My Flight helicopter tour facility in the new Benjamin Davis Aerospace Academy that will be opening this fall.”  The new hangar was planned, designed, and built by Avflight. The company has operated at the city airport since 2011.   INCENTIVE INCREASES ATTENDANCE IN DPSCD The Detroit Public Schools Community District says nearly 84% of high schoolers were paid for attendance this year. That’s roughly 12,800 students who received at least one $100 visa gift card for showing up to class everyday between January and May this year. District officials say absenteeism decreased by 10 percentage points this school year compared to 2023-24 before the incentive program began. The district launched the initiative last year as part of an effort to curb chronic absenteeism.  FREE DUTCH GIRL DONUTS  Friday is National Donut Day, and Detroit staple Dutch Girl Donuts [https://www.dutchgirldetroit.com/] is celebrating by offering free donuts at its new second location in New Center. Customers can receive two free donuts while supplies last from 8-10 a.m. at its location on 2820 E. Grand Boulevard.

Lawsuit to block SMART bus millage dismissed

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit targeting a millage proposal on the August primary ballot that would prevent Wayne County communities from opting out of the SMART bus system.   The group Not SMART Wayne filed the suit, claiming the Wayne County Transit Authority did not follow disclosure and notice requirements before placing the millage on the ballot.  The judge dismissed the case for insufficient evidence.   Matthew Wilk is an organizer of Not SMART Wayne.  He says the battle is not over. “So we are going to fight this at the ballot box.  We’re going to make sure everybody knows exactly what they’re doing.  I think it is wholly inappropriate to have a tax, a special double tax on Detroiters.  It’s 650,000 Detroiters and we’re going to let the world know about it.”    Wayne County Executive Warren Evans applauded the judge’s decision.  Evans says expanding the SMART bus system will provide an affordable alternative, especially when Detroiters are dealing with high gas prices.  Voters will see the millage proposal on the August 4 ballot.  -Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley [http://wdet.org/author/btinsley] ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2026 DEARBORN STARTS AGGRESSIVE DRIVING UNIT  The city of Dearborn has launched a new unit to stop aggressive driving.  The city says the unit will watch for driving behaviors that may cause accidents and threaten the public’s safety.   The Dearborn police department has acquired three Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles for the special unit.  Those cars will be able to more easily blend in with normal traffic.   The city says police officers issued more than 33,000 traffic citations last year.    GAS PRICES FALL Metro Detroit gas prices are trending downward despite continued hostilities in the Middle East.   The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular in the area is now $4.28.  That’s down 29 cents per gallon from last week at this time.   Analysts say talk of a possible peace deal has helped push prices lower.  But the U.S. and Iran have both launched strikes in recent days – and there’s no clear word on when the situation might be resolved.   The vital Strait of Hormuz remains closed to commercial ship traffic.  Twenty percent of the world’s crude oil typically passes through that waterway.  DPSCD TO DEMOLISH COOLEY HIGH SCHOOL  The Detroit Public Schools Community District will demolish Cooley High School this summer.  That’s according to reporting by Bridge Detroit [https://www.bridgedetroit.com/cooley-high-school-detroit-demolition-planned/] and Historic Detroit [https://historicdetroit.org/].  The high school was originally built in 1928 and closed in 2010.   There were efforts to save the building.  The non-profit Life Remodeled had offered in 2023 to purchase the site from the district, but that offer was rejected.  TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS OPEN  And the Michigan Department of Education is looking to recognize teachers for their hard work.   The Teacher of the Year program [https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/ed-serv/educator-retention-supports/recognition-programs/mtoy] was created to acknowledge the achievements of educators in the state.  Anyone can nominate a teacher using the form on the state Department of Education website until September 23.   The winner of the award will be announced in the spring.