Art installation depicting killed children of Gaza comes to Dearborn

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   State lawmakers repealed Michigan’s third-grade reading law a couple of years ago when Democrats controlled the Legislature.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.

Detroit police explore alternatives to ShotSpotter surveillance system

Detroit Police want to extend their contract with ShotSpotter before it expires at the end of the month. But as WDET's Bre' Anna Tinsley reports, DPD officials tell city council they're searching for alternatives to the technology.  Detroit City Council has expressed concerns about ShotSpotter's surveillance tech in the past and they have questions about the effectiveness and security of the system.  DPD Officer Mathew Pencil frequently responds to ShotSpotter incidents in the city's ninth precinct. He told council members that hearing gunfire is so common in the city, that sometimes residents won't even call 911. "Sometimes residents are afraid. Sometimes they can't tell where they came from, or they assume someone else will call. ShotSpotter doesn't hesitate, it doesn't panic, it doesn't look away. It alerts immediately, and it gives the chance to intervene while seconds matter on the street."  Pencil says ShotSpotter's surveillance is the reason police responded after 66 shots were fired in one neighborhood on the night of August 17, 2025, minutes before anyone called 911.  The city's Public Health and Safety Committee voted to postpone a decision on the contract until next week in order to hear from residents first.  -Reporting by Bre'Anna Tinsley [http://wdet.org/author/btinsley] ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FROM TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2026 UAW STRIKE About a thousand UAW members went on strike at the Dauch Corporation factory in Three Rivers Monday. Dauch is the company once known as American Axle. The Three Rivers plant is the company’s largest in Michigan. It makes axles for General Motors.  The union says Dauch is refusing to restore fair wages after the workers took cuts during the Great Recession. UAW President Shawn Fain kicked off the strike with a video saying “no contract…no axles." The Detroit News reports [https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2026/06/01/uaw-set-to-launch-strike-against-american-axle-early-monday/90348597007/] the strike could disrupt production of pickup trucks in Flint if it goes on for more than a couple of weeks.  PHEASANT FLOCK PARTY This weekend, you might want to pop into Detroit’s first ever Pheasant Flock Party [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pheasant-flock-party-tickets-1987392430258]. Brewery Faison and the Detroit Bird Alliance are co-hosting the event Saturday where Michiganders and Michigeese can partake in a bird festival block party. There will be a bird impersonation pageant, a “crow-off," bird-themed workshops and games, a “pheasant strut” (as one does) and a meet and greet with Fabio the Pheasant. The Pheasant Flock Party is Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at Brewery Faison at 1087 Beaufait Street on the city’s east side. VAULT OF MIDNIGHT HOSTS GAME NIGHT Vault of Midnight hosts its monthly game night [http://vaultofmidnight.com/events] Sunday in Hamtramck. This month’s featured games include Wondrous Creatures, High Society Yokai Carnival, some tiny games and more. Detroit Vault of Midnight Game Night is every first Sunday from 5 - 8 p.m. at Florian East Lagers and Ales at 9350 Joseph Campau in Hamtramck.