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Axios Detroit
A look at Metro Detroit's freelance market
Data: Census Bureau via Fiverr; Note: Analysis includes tax returns for non-employer entities with at least $1,000 in annual receipts; Chart: Axios VisualsWhen it comes to the number of freelance workers, Metro Detroit ranks 17th out of the 30 biggest metro areas with nearly 81,000 people in 2023, according to a new Fiverr report.The big picture: Freelancers account for 4.1% of the U.S. labor force, per the report — and many seem to be finding success, with 43% reporting a revenue bump last year.By the numbers: Metro Detroit freelancers made an estimated average of $37,335 in 2023. Those in creative...
Road closures split Jefferson for Detroit Grand Prix
Road closures will make getting around downtown tricky this week as the city gears up to host the Detroit Grand Prix from Friday through Sunday.Why it matters: The temporary circuit wrapping around West Jefferson Avenue, Atwater, Larned and Congress is back after the IndyCar race made a successful return from Belle Isle to downtown last year.Zoom in: The Chevrolet-branded pedestrian bridge will take Grand Prix attendees over parts of the track that have been constructed. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel will remain fully open from I-375 but not from Jefferson Avenue or the Lodge freeway.DDOT and SMART buses will operate on their...
Movement festival rides weather delay to huge crowds
Thousands of dancing Movement attendees dealt with weather delays while Sunday pass holders were allowed free entry Monday at this year's annual techno fest.Why it matters: The techno festival is no stranger to rain, but the storms over the weekend that resulted in an evacuation of Hart Plaza on Sunday meant some ticket holders skipped the festival for auxiliary events and day parties sponsored by major brands featuring well-known acts.The intrigue: Wind gusts up to 20 mph forced the festival to evacuate Hart Plaza for nearly four hours Sunday. Attendees returned around 10pm for a set by English singer and...
Spartans football offseason report: Retooling the roster
Michigan State's football program is trying to rebuild itself after former coach Mel Tucker's sudden downfall last year. Why it matters: The Spartans not only have a new coach — Jonathan Smith, from Oregon State — but also a drastically different roster. Dozens of players are transferring in...
Trajan Langdon will be the Pistons' new president of basketball operations
The Pistons will hire New Orleans Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon as the team's president of basketball operations, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.Why it matters: Major changes to organizational leadership could be on the horizon and the ball is in Langdon's court.Between the lines: Despite Monty Williams' six-year, $76 million contract inked one season ago, owner Tom Gores is open to eating the cash if Langdon decides to bring change, according to The Athletic.Same goes for general manager Troy Weaver, who has accumulated solid young pieces, but injuries and the lack of fit resulted in a franchise worst 14–68 record and an NBA record-tying 28-game losing streak. What they're saying: "Presidents generally want their own people in place rather than sticking with the old regime," Free Press Pistons writer Omari Sankofa II tells Axios. "Ownership is comfortable with the possibility of an entirely new front office and coaching staff being in place by October."Catch up quick: The last person within the organization to hold the title of president of basketball operations was former head coach Stan Van Gundy.Since 2018, Ed Stefanski and Weaver have been Detroit's top decision-makers.
Detroit City Council member James Tate opens up about mental health
The city's longest-serving councilperson is opening up about his struggles with anxiety as the health department launches a novel survey to gauge residents' mental health attitudes.Why it matters: City Council President Pro Tem James Tate — first elected in 2009 to represent the northwest side — shared his mental health struggles to encourage residents to complete the health department's anonymous mental health survey.The goal is 5,000 responses to help city leaders identify and fund solutions.What they're saying: "I am someone who has severe anxiety and I've had it for a number of years now," Tate tells Axios Detroit."I was very...
Things to do in Detroit over Movement weekend: May 25-27
For everyone who didn't buy tickets to Movement, you can still get your live music fix without spending hundreds of dollars.Here's where to go to celebrate electronic music's biggest weekend:⛪️ The Congregation has live music on its patio from local DJs Seven Whales, Sapphyree, Sincerely and more from 1-5pm Thursday.🐘 The Elephant Room hosts a free before 10pm pre-Movement party Thursday night from 9pm-2am. Sets by local DJs JMT, Fullbodydurag, Planet Kaia, Milkyway, Dylan Fly and Sincerely. 🎅🏾 The Old Miami is hosting "Techno Christmas" on Friday from 4pm-2am with DJ sets from Sheefy McFly, Nick Speed and others.$10 cover,...
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 … 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 — sports betting, blue chip college stars and more robust media coverage — 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 — executive director of community coalition the Brightmoor Alliance — 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...
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