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Riverfront nonprofit investigation given to FBI
Michigan State Police handed over its investigation into the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's finances to the FBI, board chair Matt Cullen said this week.Why it matters: The FBI's involvement comes just a week after the conservancy forwarded financial records to the MSP and asked for a criminal investigation.What they're saying: "The state police have advised us that due to the nature and complexity of the situation they have turned the investigation over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation," Cullen said in a statement Tuesday.Catch up quick: The conservancy recently ordered a forensic audit and sought counsel from the Honigman law firm...
Pride month exhibition brings art to 11 Detroit galleries
A multi-gallery exhibition of local and national LGBTQ+ artists is returning for Pride Month after its debut in 2022.Why it matters: This year's Mighty Real/Queer Detroit is now a biennial exhibition, and curator Patrick Burton tells Axios he wants Detroit to be the "go-to city every two years for queer art."Burton, also a Detroit public school teacher, says the event aims to reflect LGBTQ+ people and their humanity to those outside their communities.It's a timeless effort, Burton says, but queer art is also more relevant in today's political atmosphere with anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ bills across the United States.Driving the news:...
New-build homes in Detroit are rare, but that may change soon
New construction of single-family homes is exceedingly rare in Detroit, but a recent project could be an indicator of whether that's about to change.The big picture: Detroit issued only 18 permits for new house construction last year. Among those testing the waters of new-build demand is developer Greatwater Homes, which recently completed three homes in East Village.It has two more nearing completion and plans 18 additional homes in the area.State of play: Mayor Mike Duggan called Greatwater's development "the beginning of a trend over the next couple years β¦ I think you will see more and more people building market-rate...
Michigan football offseason: QB competition heats up
U of M's national title defense this fall will be without many of last year's star players and former coach Jim Harbaugh.The big picture: College football programs across the country are seeing big changes this offseason.Players are changing schools more frequently due to a combination of relaxed transfer rules and their ability to get paid through NIL deals.State of play: The big question in Ann Arbor is who will succeed quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.The frontrunner is junior Alex Orji, whose mobility is reminiscent of that of Denard Robinson, the Free Press reports.Jack Tuttle, who played at Indiana, brings experience to the QB competition.The latest: The Wolverines tapped into the transfer portal, adding four defensive backs in a three-day span last week, the Detroit News reports.What's next: The season opener against Fresno State is Aug. 31 at 7:30pm at Michigan Stadium.Alcoholic beverages will be on sale inside the stadium.
DCFC wants new Southwest stadium to connect community
Detroit City Football Club wants to demolish an abandoned Southwest hospital for the site of the club's "forever home."Driving the news: The club held an owners meeting at Supergeil in Corktown on Monday to celebrate plans for a new stadium and answer questions from part owners.Detroit City announced last week after Crain's broke the news that the club plans to build a soccer stadium at the site of the abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital.Catch up quick: The team, founded in 2012, played its matches at Cass Tech before moving to Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.Executives said bringing a new stadium to Southwest...
What to expect for Movement weekend 2024
Movement, Detroit's annual electronic music festival, is days away and organizers are gearing up for techno music's biggest weekend.Driving the news: More than 115 acts will perform across six stages over Memorial Day weekend. This year's headliners include electronic artist Richie Hawtin, house artist Dom Dolla, dance music legend Fatboy Slim, DJ and producer Solomun and Ludacris.What they're saying: "The festival is one of the longest-running music festivals in the world," festival spokesperson Morin Yousif tells Axios. "The history behind it, the legacy that it carries and the programming is unique to the city and to the music itself.""Detroit is,...
Michigan's most popular baby names in 2023
Noah and Charlotte continued their supremacy, remaining Michigan's top baby names for the third straight year.The big picture: The name Noah was given to 454 male babies in 2023, and Charlotte to 428 female babies, according to 2023 data released last week by the Social Security Administration.The next most popular male names were Oliver, Henry, Theodore, Liam, Jack, Elijah and Hudson. For females, they were Amelia, Olivia, Sophia, Emma, Ava, Harper and Evelyn.The names with the largest increase in popularity over the last decade were Atlas and Theo.The intrigue: Our very own Samuel Robinson's first name appeared on the list, ranked 35th most popular for male babies. Nearly 200 children born last year share the name.Neither Joe's nor Annalise's name appeared.Data: U.S. Social Security Administration; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals
Detroit becomes a Bee City USA pollinator affiliate
The city joined a national bee preservation initiative, which means expect new signs, programming and native plant gardens around Detroit.Why it matters: More than 40% of pollinator species are on the decline due to factors like pesticides, climate change and habitat loss, according to Bee City USA. They're necessary for pollinating crops and other essential plants.Bees are the primary pollinators but there are also butterflies, beetles, ants, moths and bats.The latest: Officials announced Monday that Detroit is joining a Bee City USA initiative. The city appointed nonprofit Detroit Hives to do community engagement and host public events to educate residents...
Detroit's brand biggest winner of population increase
City leaders are celebrating new data showing that Detroit is growing for the first time in nearly 70 years.The big picture: Increasing the population has been a tenet of Mayor Mike Duggan's tenure since he took office as Detroit filed for municipal bankruptcy a decade ago, when the population was recorded at more than 720,000 people.The latest Census Bureau estimates from 2023 recorded 633,218 residents, up from 631,366 in 2022.Reality check: An 1,800-person increase won't change the number of congressional districts or result in a windfall of federal grant funding, but many believe the reversal of the downward trend is...
Detroit is missing out on Caitlin Clark and WNBA explosion
There are no signs of a local ownership group or billionaire actively pursuing the return of a women's basketball team to Detroit as the WNBA considers expansion.Why it matters: This year has marked a turning point in women's basketball, as teams describe skyrocketing ticket demand across the WNBA and growing revenues, ESPN reports.Zoom out: A combination of factors β sports betting, blue chip college stars and more robust media coverage β have given women's basketball newfound popularity.WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has been open about wanting to expand the league from 12 to 16 teams by 2028. The league announced its...
Nearly half of Michigan's rural hospitals in the red
Data: Chartis; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosNearly half of Michigan's 63 rural hospitals are running in the financial red, a recent report from health care consultancy Chartis shows.Why it matters: Millions of Americans rely on rural hospitals for emergencies and other forms of care.Plus, as the report points out, "within many rural communities, the hospital is often among the largest employers and thus a major contributor to the local economy."Driving the news: While COVID-19-era government aid helped alleviate some financial pressure on rural hospitals, those support programs have largely ended.Nationally, 199 rural hospitals have closed or significantly altered services since 2005, including three Michigan hospitals, per research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported by the Free Press this fall.What they're saying: "When you see all of this negative pressure, what you're really talking about is loss of access in the places where we need it, one could arguably say, most," says Michael Topchik, executive director of the Chartis Center for Rural Health.Zoom in: Challenges faced by rural hospitals in Michigan include lower numbers of patients, higher costs, worker shortages and lack of access to behavioral health services, the Free Press reported.
Inequities remain across Michigan long after Brown v. Board
Students of color in Michigan are more likely than white students to have access to fewer opportunities because many are growing up in districts with fewer resources, a new report found.Why it matters: As the U.S. marks the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling Friday, American public schools remain separate and unequal, despite the country being more racially and ethnically diverse.The latest: The Education Trust-Midwest report released Wednesday, alongside a new statewide education campaign, calls for more equity in Michigan school funding, Chalkbeat Detroit reports.Looking at the intersection of history, class and race, the campaign...
Detroit's Rev. Larry Simmons talks legacy of Brown v. Board
Rev. Larry Simmons, 77, has been an advocate for students' rights since he was a student himself.The big picture: Simmons β executive director of community coalition the Brightmoor Alliance β is a longtime Detroit civic figure, from working for former Mayor Coleman Young to becoming a pastor for Baber Memorial A.M.E. Church.He spoke with Axios on Wednesday about the legacy of Brown v. Board, and his perspective on the city's changing education landscape.The interview has been edited for length and clarity.Axios: Can you discuss how you've been involved in education advocacy in the past?Simmons: I got involved in education advocacy...
The makeup of Michigan's public schools vs. its top schools
Adapted from Kurt Metzger; Chart: Axios VisualsThe demographics of Michigan's top-performing high schools in U.S. News and World Report differ significantly from the state's overall student makeup, per local demographer Kurt Metzger β especially when it comes to Black and Asian students.Just a fourth or less of the students at seven of the 10 schools are considered "economically disadvantaged," the Free Press reported. Meanwhile, across Michigan, 54% of students are seen as economically disadvantaged.The rankings are often criticized for giving badges to wealthy districts with stronger tax bases.What they're saying: Analyzing schools by their socioeconomic composition and educational outcomes is important to show state leaders what's needed to close achievement gaps, Metzger, founder of Data Driven Detroit, tells Axios. Michigan is failing its students, he adds, especially students of color."And we know Michigan's education β¦ is one of the biggest problems for Michigan to attract people or grow."Go deeper: Inequities remain in Michigan schools long after Brown v. Board
Push for NBA All-Star Game in Detroit heats up
Bringing the NBA's All-Star Weekend to Detroit is a priority for the organization that helped the city host the most attended NFL Draft in history.Why it matters: For the NBA, a league that β like the city of Detroit β is more than 70% Black, hosting an All-Star Weekend here makes sense. But it hasn't happened in 45 years.Chris Moyer, communications director for Visit Detroit, the economic development group that promotes the city as a destination for events and conferences, tells Axios that the NBA All-Star Game in Detroit would be special.State of play: Cities hosting the NBA's All-Star weekend...
Dutch Girl Donuts returns with old customers and big line
The reopening of Dutch Girl Donuts after closing nearly three years ago has customers waiting in line for an hour or more.Why it matters: The enthusiasm around Dutch Girl's rebirth at Woodward and 7 Mile is a testament to the importance of history and preservation, the shop's new owner says.What they're saying: "Even when a Detroit institution like Dutch Girl is seemingly lost forever, there's always hope to bring it back," Paddy Lynch told Axios in a text.Catch up quick: Lynch, who also owns The Schvitz bathhouse, announced his purchase of the business from the Timmer family last year.After some renovation work, Dutch Girl reopened this month. The previous owner's son, Jon Timmer, remains on board to help make the traditional-style doughnuts, the Free Press reported.State of play: Wednesday morning's line down the block has been common since it reopened.Those in line cheered every time a customer walked out the door with doughnuts in hand. Casandra Hicks waited an hour for doughnuts and the Dutch Girl atmosphere.Zoom in: Casandra Hicks, 62, said she waited for about an hour "just because they've been closed and I remember them from years ago."If you go: 19000 Woodward Ave.Open 6am-6pm Tuesday-Friday and 8am-4pm Saturday-Sunday.
Things to do this weekend in Detroit: May 17-19
Memorial Day is more than a week away, but the summer vibes are starting to sink in.Here's what's happening this weekend:π» Experience an orchestral rendition of Dr. Dre's "2001" album by No Strings Attached, a European collective of orchestras and musicians.Friday, 7pm, at Harpos Concert Theatre.Tickets start at $45.π» Celebrate the Dequindre Cut Freight Yard's return with karaoke, food and drinks at the all-ages beer garden near Eastern Market.Friday, 6-9pm.π°οΈ Go antiquing at Cadieux Cafe's pop-up market with vendors selling a variety of vintage, retro and antique items.Saturday, 11am-4pm, at 4300 Cadieux Road.Free!π¨ Watch a giant woodblock printing demonstration known...
Wayne County executive eyes regional transit ballot question
Wayne County's top executive wants voters to decide whether to create a countywide public transit system.Why it matters: Leaders in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties all say they want more transit options to better connect the region to retain and attract new residents.What they're saying: "What I would like to do is have a countywide ballot proposal to see whether or not we as a county want to support SMART," Wayne County executive Warren Evans said at a Detroit Regional Chamber event in Lathrup Village last week, the Detroit News reports.Reality check: The county commission would need to introduce such...
Here's what's happening at Belle Isle
The state Department of Natural Resources, which manages Belle Isle, gave City Council an annual update Tuesday on the island park's operations.Our top takeaways:πΆ The island saw a 7% increase in attendance last year, up to 5.6 million visitors from 5.2 million in 2022, the DNR said.It reached full capacity only twice, which the DNR attributes to increasing entrance booth staffing, improved parking and bike lanes, and the new connection to the riverwalk.π² Since Michigan took control of the island in 2014, the state and other partners have spent more than $140 million on infrastructure and maintenance improvements. That includes $22 million in fiscal 2023.This year, upgrades to 20 restrooms and shelters are expected, plus disability access improvements.π€ Council member Fred Durhal III told DNR representatives it's "concerning" that despite Belle Isle's popularity, it's not promoted through the state's Pure Michigan campaign.Belle Isle is the second-most visited state park in the U.S. behind Niagara Falls State Park, per the DNR.π The giant slide that became infamous on social media is coming back after improvements, per the Detroit News.
Detroit wants decision in population case against Census Bureau
City attorneys are pushing for an end to Detroit's ongoing fight against the U.S. Census Bureau for alleged population undercounts.Catch up fast: The city filed a motion last week for a judge to rule on at least part of its complaint in its lawsuit filed against the bureau in March.City attorneys argue the Census Bureau treating the demolition of vacant residential structures as evidence of population loss for the purpose of estimating Detroit's population violates the Administrative Procedure Act.The big picture: Census figures are used to determine federal funding, and increasing the city's tax base has been part of Mayor...
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