UAW endorses Benson for governor, El-Sayed for Senate

Mary Waters campaigns for write-in votes

Detroit Council Member Mary Waters has launched a write-in campaign for Michigan’s 13th congressional district. Waters said in a statement that the people of Michigan deserve a representative who understands that public service is about delivering results, not chasing headlines. Her campaign focuses on lowering the cost of living, protecting seniors, and bringing critical federal resources back.  She originally launched a campaign last month but was disqualified for a lack of signatures.   ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2026 OVERDOSE RATES DECLINE Michigan overdose death rate has declined by 47% since 2021 according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. Preliminary data suggests overdose deaths have continued to decline for the fourth year in a row.  The department attributes the decline to strategic investments largely funded by opioid settlements prioritizing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. The efforts include expanding harm reduction sites from 5 to 115 in 2025, and distributing over 1.8 million free naloxone kits, which resulted in nearly 34,000 reported overdose reversals.   SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM ENROLLMENT CLOSES SOON Enrollment for Summer Discovery, a no cost summer learning program, is closing soon. Put on by United Way of Southeastern Michigan and the Ballmer group, Summer Discovery connects students entering kindergarten through 10th grade with learning and enrichment opportunities. Spots are still available at Detroit Public Schools Community District sites, Detroit Police Athletic league, Brilliant Detroit and more. The program is open to all students across Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties. To apply visit summerdiscoverymi.org [https://summerdiscoverymi.org].  RECALL ON ORB FUNKEE SQUEEZE TOYS The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging is families to check their children’s toy boxes for Orb Funkee Monkee squeeze toys. The toy has been recalled because they may be filled with sand contaminated by asbestos. The recall is for toys purchased from Walmart or Ollie’s Bargain Outlet stores between February 2025 and April 2026. Asbestos comes from minerals that create thin fibers when they crystallize and pose a human health risk when they enter the air.  As of June 18, the state health department had not received any reports of illness or injuries tied to these toys.  METROPARKS SURVEY Huron-Clinton Metroparks is asking community members to fill out a survey to provide feedback [https://www.metroparks.com/planning-and-development/#FEEDBACK] about some of their parks. That includes the Lake St. Clair, Stoney Creek and Wolcott Mill Metroparks. It’s part of an effort to update their Park Master Plans to guide future projects, investments and facilities improvements.  The surveys are open until Wednesday, July 15.

Sun Bucks program returns to help Michigan families feed kids this summer

Michigan has restarted its Sun Bucks program. The goal of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program is to help ensure school-age children continue to receive healthy meals during the months when they are not in school. The state says families who enroll will receive $120 for each eligible child during the summer. Some families are automatically eligible, while others will need to apply. Sun Bucks benefits can be used at any retailer that accepts EBT. For more information, visit Michigan.gov and search for "Sun Bucks." ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR JUNE 17, 2026 FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR METRO DETROIT Much of Metro Detroit is under a flood watch this afternoon through late tonight. The advisory includes Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Storms are expected tonight, bringing the threat of gusty winds and heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service says 1 to 2 inches of rain are possible within a three-hour period. That could cause flash flooding in rivers and streams and affect residents living in low-lying areas. Heavy rains increase risk of beach closures This week's heavy rains are making temporary beach closures more likely in some areas. Stormy weather can lead to high levels of E. coli bacteria in Michigan lakes, creating unsafe swimming conditions. Tom Barnes, environmental health division director at the Macomb County Health Department, says heavy rainfall can wash contaminants into the water. "If you have a big rainy event and you have lots of goose feces on the beach, that'll wash it into the water. That will definitely result in a higher E. coli count." Barnes says swimming in water with high E. coli levels can cause health problems. SPOT LITE AND UFO BAR TO CLOSE Detroit's nightlife scene is about to lose two well-known establishments. The owners of Spot Lite and UFO Bar announced on Instagram Tuesday that the venues will close later this month. Spot Lite's last night of operation will be Saturday, June 28. UFO Bar will open its doors for the final time on Monday, June 30. DETROIT TO HOST PWHL DRAFT Detroit will host another historic hockey event tonight. The Fox Theatre will be the site of the Professional Women's Hockey League draft. The league chose Detroit for the event after strong fan support helped break attendance records in back-to-back seasons. Jayna Hefford, the league's executive vice president of hockey operations, says the PWHL has helped grow women's hockey by giving athletes a professional stage on which to compete. "My generation would have loved this. We didn't get a chance to have it, but I'm so happy that they get to have it. And then when we look at the next generation of young girls that are going to watch this and not know a world where there isn't professional women's hockey." Detroit's PWHL team is one of four expansion teams signing players before league play begins this fall. CBC ENDS 'HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA' ERA The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known as CBC, has announced it will no longer broadcast "Hockey Night in Canada." The network has aired the Saturday night NHL games since 1952. The change comes after the public broadcaster could not reach a deal with Rogers Sportsnet, which has held the broadcast rights since 2013. The move may make it more difficult for some Detroit-area viewers to tune in to Saturday night hockey. Generations of Detroiters have watched NHL games on CBC Windsor 9.

Detroit City Council approves downtown curfew for fireworks event

The Detroit City Council has approved an extended curfew for the Detroit fireworks display on Monday, June 22. Under the measure, minors will not be allowed downtown without parental supervision from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. Councilmember Denzel McCampbell voted against the curfew. He said he does not believe curfews are effective because incidents still occurred during last year’s fireworks curfew. “That’s what I’m bringing forth here is not an aspect of, do you care about public safety, do you want folks to be safe or not. My question before this council is, is this effective to achieve that goal or not? And in my view, it is not, because the data shows us that.” McCampbell said the extended curfew sends the message that Detroit’s youth are not welcome downtown. The discussion comes as city officials continue to address concerns about large gatherings of young people at so-called “teen takeover” events, a trend that has spread through social media. Dearborn Heights police said a group of teens attempted to stage a teen takeover during the city’s Spirit Festival on Saturday. The Detroit News reported that city officials said arrests were made and several people were detained. Officials said multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the response. ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FOR JUNE 16, 2026 MARY SHEFFIELD ENDORSES JOCELYN BENSON FOR GOVERNOR Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has endorsed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Michigan’s race for governor. Benson has lived in Detroit for more than a decade. Sheffield said that connection to the city was one factor in her decision to endorse the candidate. “Every time I’ve called Jocelyn Benson, she has been accessible, she has been honest, she has been a hard worker, and she has always shown her commitment and her passion and her love for the city of Detroit.” Sheffield said she and Benson share a goal of reforming Detroit’s property tax structure, which they believe is limiting opportunities for new housing development. Benson has been leading Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in recent polling. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his Democratic bid for governor and is now running as an independent candidate. DETROIT CITY FC STADIUM OPENING DELAYED UNTIL 2028 The opening of AlumniFi Field, Detroit City Football Club’s planned stadium in Corktown, has been pushed back to spring 2028. The venue was originally expected to open in 2027, but DCFC CEO Sean Mann said that timeline proved too aggressive. Despite the delay, Mann said work is continuing at the site. “We’ve already taken down the old Southwest Detroit Hospital, and it just came to a point of making sure that we have a timeline where we can confidently deliver a stadium.” Mann said a groundbreaking ceremony for AlumniFi Field will take place next month. Detroit City FC will continue playing its home matches at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck until the new stadium is completed. WAYNE STATE TO HOST JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION Wayne State University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence will hold its Juneteenth Celebration on June 17. This year’s theme highlights the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The event will feature the premiere of the yearlong Campus Genealogy Project documentary. Food vendors and community organizations will also be on site. The celebration runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Industry Innovation Center, 461 Burroughs St. in Detroit. Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-detroit-evening-report/id1627556131], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4rDMkSV23AxYpUTeR6Ayhi], NPR.org [https://play.cdnstream1.com/s/wdet/the-detroit-evening-repo-0780e4] or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jews of Color Initiative to bring national listening tour to Detroit

The Jews of Color Initiative is hosting a national listening tour across the U.S., with a stop in Detroit next week. The organization aims to increase awareness of regional experiences and foster conversations about racial equity within the Jewish community. CEO Ilana Kaufman says the tour is an effort to center the voices and experiences of Jews of Color while also hearing from community members and understanding local needs. "Detroit is one of those smaller communities for us where we know that the community has a sense of connection, an ability to transcend or at least set aside conflict in service of not only interracial and cross-racial relationships, but also relationships across faiths." The Detroit session will take place from 6-8 p.m. June 25. More information is available through the Jews of Color Initiative. More information: https://thejoci.org/event/joci-national-listening-tour-detroit/ [https://thejoci.org/event/joci-national-listening-tour-detroit/] MDHHS HIGHLIGHTS VIOLENCE DATA DASHBOARD, FREE GUN LOCKS The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is promoting resources during Gun Violence Awareness Month, including its Injury and Violence Dashboard, which provides data on violence trends across the state. According to MDHHS, gun violence injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States among people ages 1 to 44. They are also the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel says the dashboards help communities, leaders and policymakers identify where additional work is needed to improve public safety. The state also offers free gun locks at more than 100 locations across Michigan through Project ChildSafe, a program supported by the Michigan State Police. More information is available at Michigan.gov [http://Michigan.gov]. DETROIT SKILLED TRADES TASK FORCE MEETING SCHEDULED The City of Detroit is hosting a Skilled Trades Task Force meeting this week to connect residents with employment opportunities and tuition-free apprenticeship programs. The meeting will take place from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Adam Butzel Complex in Detroit. Residents can also participate via Zoom. More information: https://detroitmi.gov/events/skilled-trades-task-force-meeting-june-17-2026 [https://detroitmi.gov/events/skilled-trades-task-force-meeting-june-17-2026] CITY TO HOST RETIREES TASK FORCE MEETING The City of Detroit is hosting a meeting for retirees to share information and gather feedback from residents. The City of Detroit Retirees Task Force hybrid meeting will take place from 1-3 p.m. June 18 at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center and on Zoom. The meeting is hosted by Councilmember-at-Large Mary Waters and Councilmember Denzel McCampbell. https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/82953432101 [https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/82953432101] Flyer from the City of Detroit. [https://wdet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-4.10.33-PM-900x651.png] STATE, FEDERAL AGENCIES INVEST $10 MILLION IN DETROIT RIVER RESTORATION State and federal agencies have announced $10 million in funding to support restoration efforts in the Detroit River. The funding comes from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [https://www.michigan.gov/egle] through Michigan's Make It in Michigan Competitive Fund. It is also part of the Great Lakes Legacy Act, a bipartisan cost-share program focused on addressing contamination in the Great Lakes. EGLE Director Phil Roos says the Detroit River is an important natural resource and restoring it remains a priority. The Detroit River was designated an Area of Concern in 1987 because of industrial pollution, untreated wastewater and stormwater runoff. EGLE and the EPA have been working to address contamination in the river since 2012.

The Library Network funds Southgate Pride vendor after city backs out

Southgate’s Pride celebration is back on thanks to The Library Network [https://tln.org/], a library cooperative based in Novi. The celebration was canceled after Southgate city officials decided not to pay for a vendor at the event, stating the city should not be used to pay for social or political advocacy activities.  So, the Library Network offered to pay the vendor instead.  The event is scheduled for 2-3 p.m. on Saturday at Southgate’ s Veterans Memorial Library, located at 14680 Dix Toledo Road. Southgate’s event comes about a week after Madison Heights City Council reversed its decision to cancel its Drag Queen Storytime event [https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/06/05/madison-heights-reverses-decision-restores-drag-queen-story-time-to-pride-event/] during its Pride Week celebrations.   ADDITIONAL HEADLINES FROM FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026 COOLING CENTERS OPEN Cooling Centers are opening across Detroit to give residents a break from the heat.   High temperatures are known to pose health risks. Chief Public Health Officer and Director Ali Abazeed says these centers are an effective solution to keep at-risk residents healthy.  "Folks in Detroit, especially our vulnerable populations.... if they don't have access to some of the critical infrastructure that we know is helpful in keeping and preventing extreme heat related health outcomes, then we want folks to know that these cooling centers are available. They're open and we want our residents to take advantage of them."  Detroit's cooling centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. on weekends. They are open to anyone.  HEALTHY HOME RESOURCE DAY Detroit’s Healthy Home Resource Day – HOPE event [https://detroithousingnetwork.org/hope/] is coming earlier this year. On Saturday, qualified residents can apply for Homeowners Property Exemption program to receive up to 100% property tax exemption. The exemption is given based on the homeowner’s income.  Those who make an appointment can get a free ride to and from any HOPE event. The next event is Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Samaritan Center on 5555 Connor Ave.  INFILL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE The Detroit Land Bank is hosting the first-ever Developers Conference focused on infill development opportunities. Infill development is the process of building on vacant lots in established neighborhoods. The Detroit Land Bank currently owns 56,000 parcels of vacant land and is working to return them to productive use.  Attendees will learn about development opportunities, financing resources, permitting processes and more. The event is June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  OCCUPY THE SUMMER PROGRAM STARTS Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield launches a new summer recreation program for kids today. It's part of her response to recent teen takeovers downtown, and it's supposed to give them something creative to do. More than 1,500 young people have registered for the Occupy The Summer activities [https://ots.detroitmi.gov/], which include late night basketball games and longer hours at nine recreation centers. The city will give away 700 bicycles this afternoon.