Latest Detroit news
Community, housing, local government and more Detroit news.
Photo credit: Jacob Wooten/Outlier Media
Kamala Harris rallies with UAW in metro Detroit: ‘We believe in the collective’
“We believe in the collective,” Harris said. “We’re not falling for these folks who are trying to divide us, trying to pull us apart. That’s not where the strength lies.”
🥬 ✅ Tasting some greens and counting the votes
Michigan primary election results. Then, more on the VP candidate and a collard green culinary competition.
Collard Green Cook-Off elevates Black culinary tradition, mixes competition with community
Detroit is Different founder Khary Frazier created the Collard Green Cook-Off to celebrate Black culinary expertise.…
Women Who Drum, RnB Rib Music Festival and more Detroit events
This week in Detroit, hang out with Women Who Drum at a festival, enjoy R&B and…
We voted. Did you?
Detroit will soon have a new inspector general, but the outgoing IG has a story to…
Council approves solar plan, recesses for summer
This week, Mayor Duggan’s neighborhood solar plan gets approved and Board of Police Commissioners may have…
Get Involved: Workshops, trainings and more civic engagement opportunities in Detroit
Detroit Documenters offer free workshops and training to anyone with a Documenters account. Sign up to…
Sign up to get our free newsletters!
‘Do you have AC?’: Why that could be a life-saving question
Given the health risks of extreme heat, it might come as a surprise that no one knows which communities need the most support during a heat wave. A professor has a suggestion — just ask!
The Dirt: Preserving affordability and historic structures
Ad developer looks to keep low-income complex Clement Kern Gardens affordable, and the city looks to…
Term is up for Detroit’s top watchdog
“Just because you like someone doesn’t mean that you can look the other way, especially given…
Arthur Jemison hired as new head of Detroit Housing Commission
The public housing authority announced the hire at a board meeting on Aug. 2. Jemison has…
💃 🧓 Movin’ and groovin’ with the elders
Dance and exercise classes, how Harris is persuading uncommitted voters, and a big worker win.
‘Sizzling Seniors’ brings music, exercise, community to Detroit older adults
Older adults in the city can attend different exercise classes to get out of the house…
For Detroiters, by Detroiters
The people who work at and with Outlier Media put service at the center of what we do. We use our work to fill information, accountability and connection gaps in Detroit. Learn more →
Pow Wow in the D, art fair, Bike Safari and more Detroit events
Celebrate Native American culture at Pow Wow in the D, experience a bike safari at Detroit Zoo, or find something else to do this week.
Residents demand respect from public officials
Residents at multiple meetings last week said they felt disrespected, and SMART bus operators have had…
Detroit residents reject comparisons to other cities; SMART operators demand a contract
Last week’s meetings saw attendance issues at BOPC, pointed criticisms during a city presentation and SMART…
Fork over the $$$, Wayne County
The state’s highest court says a 2020 decision requiring counties to pay back tax auction profits…
Wayne County may have to pay back $100M+ in proceeds from tax auction
Speculators, who bought cheaply from the annual Wayne County Tax Auction and subsequently neglected to pay…
Community land trusts make strides toward long-term affordable housing in Detroit
Five neighborhood organizations are making progress on permanently preserving affordable housing in neighborhoods across Detroit. All…
The Dirt: Transit projects are all over the city
We’ve got updates on state plans to build over I-75 and do streetscaping on Michigan Avenue.…
Subscribe to the free newsletter to get the dirt on development, housing and real estate across Detroit’s 143 square miles.
Detroit commission delays key staff interviews
Detroit’s police oversight board was unable to do job interviews after four members didn’t show up and another one present kept going out into the lobby.
Get to know the primary candidates running for Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court judge
“Don’t base your selection on a name,” 3rd Circuit Chief Judge Robert Colombo Jr., son and…
🥯 Bailing on bagels
RIP, DIB. Plus, a primary primer, video game designer and a physicist hops on the giant…
Detroit game developer’s ‘We Never Yield’ drops players into an Afrofuturist kingdom
Neil Jones spent his childhood on the westside joyfully gaming. It’s what propelled Jones — aka…
Canfield Street Fair, free yoga, improv training and more Detroit event picks
From the spicy (burlesque) to the stimulating (an authors’ talk), here’s what you won’t want to…
Are you ready for the primary?
What you need to know to get ready to vote in the Aug. 6 primary election.…
Primary voter guide: Proposition P, Wayne County parks millage
If approved, the millage would be in place from 2026-2030. It is projected to generate about…
Keep an eye on local officials with the Detroit Documenters newsletter, bringing you highlights from public meetings, breakdowns of how local government works, reporting on civic life and plenty of ways to level up your skills and get involved.
Primary voter guide: Proposition A, Wayne County ballot proposal
Proposition A would remove a requirement in the Wayne County charter that it find a new financial auditor at least every eight years.
Primary voter guide: Proposal L, Detroit Public Library millage
Proposal L would renew a tax levy that makes up the majority of the Detroit Public…
Free parking, shuttle service for staff at new jail to cost Wayne County more than $3 million
Wayne County Commissioners approved a $3,062,736 service contract to secure free parking and shuttle services for…
All about Detroit renters
The city gets serious about landlord compliance as conditions worsen for older and unhoused residents.
How the city calculates rent limits based on apartment size
To determine rent in “affordable” units, the city uses area median income, which is based on…
The Dirt: Rights of tenants and unhoused residents in the spotlight
Detroit is looking to bring more rentals into compliance, which should help older adults who continue…
We rode Belle Isle’s giant slide with a physicist
Dozens of people lined up at the Belle Isle giant slide on Friday to find out…
Sign up for the free Thursday newsletter to get connected to Detroit’s culture, community and civic life — and to the people who make our neighborhoods and communities vibrant.
Insurance reforms were supposed to bring relief. Detroit drivers are still paying more because of where they live
The average cost of auto insurance in Detroit is $5,300 a year, more than any other big city in the country.
🛝 A dispatch from Milwaukee as you Giant Slide into the weekend
Also: Why do Detroiters still pay such high car insurance rates? A brand-new investigation from Outlier…
Michigan’s ‘fair and reasonable’ reforms allowed car insurers to charge more in Black neighborhoods
An investigation by The Markup and Outlier Media found lawmakers created loopholes big enough to drive…
How to get a discount on your car insurance
This guide should be taken as a general set of ideas for reducing your insurance prices.…
What the GOP is saying about Black votes and Black jobs
Detroit reliably votes Democratic, but Donald Trump’s campaign is trying to put a dent in that…
Hoopfest, Bookfest, a Clark Park fest and more Detroit events
From finding a new novel at Bookfest to shooting hoops at Hoopfest and dancing to the…
Will City Council decide on solar before the August recess?
The council seeks legal advice on solar, teachers get a raise, and Motown Museum is rezoned…
Planning commission approves Motown Museum expansion
Also: Councilmembers were split on the city’s proposed neighborhood solar initiative and asked for a legal review. Their summer recess starts July 31.
Why both the library and downtown authority want you to pass this millage
Proposal L is essential to the Detroit Public Library. A lot of the money also goes…
Proposal L would fund Detroit’s libraries for another 10 years. How much of that money will get diverted downtown?
“All these funds would have gone directly into our general fund and other services were they…
How a dangerous corner store became a beacon of safety
The scene of a terrifying armed robbery 30 years ago is now headquarters for a New…
The Dirt: Dan Gilbert poised to buy RenCen, demolish most of it
It’s looking more and more like a large portion of the Renaissance Center will be demolished.…
SW Detroit residents hold ‘community hearing’ to push back against police overreach
Detroit police faced backlash when officers detained and ticketed eight people during the Cinco de Mayo…
🤔 Are block parties to blame for gun violence?
Plus, an update on Detroit’s 3D house, pro-Ukraine rally, Dabls’ bead museum gets another chance and…
Things to do in Detroit this week: Hot DAM! Show, African World Festival and Kite Festival
Whether it’s dancing at the DIA, networking on the Dequindre Cut or celebrating at Hart Plaza, there’s plenty of things to do in Detroit.
What’s happening, Detroit?
Detroiters are navigating changes with public housing, park access, solar energy and more.
Tough discussions for decision-makers
Wayne State University meeting switch-up, City Council’s apology to Black residents and more updates from Detroit…
When do parties cross the line? Detroit police clamp down after violent weekend
“We’re not going to have neighbors becoming hostages in their own homes this summer,” Mayor Mike…
Getting the most out of your neighborhood plan
You might want to take a cue from Cody Rouge, which heavily involved young people.
Detroit spends lots of money and time on neighborhood plans — in the case of Cody Rouge, it’s paying off
The city’s neighborhood planning process may be the best way for residents to get what they…
One good pool: The unsung gem of Rouge Park
The only city-owned outdoor pool hosted Olympic trials and got a face-lift in 2014.
The Dirt: Residents and advocacy groups continue to question I-375 plans
This week in Detroit development news, residents remain skeptical of the I-375 project, the Brodhead Armory…
🇺🇲 Happy Fourth of July (eve)!
Outlier Media will be a few days into our weeklong summer break. But we still wanted…
Detroit Fourth of July events: Unity Fest, Afrobeat parties and a jazz weekend bash
From cultural showings at Detroit African Caribbean Unity Fest to historical teachings at Not Our Independence…
So, what you’re telling me is you care about safety?
More than any other issue, Detroiters want local officials to make the city safer. Plus: New…
How AI-generated misinformation threatens elections: What Detroiters need to know
Realistic AI-generated content is exceptionally easy to create but difficult to spot. Knowing how to detect…
Detroit buys more BolaWrap, lasso-like devices that police have used twice
Detroit police who are part of the citywide Mental Health Co-Response Task Force began carrying BolaWrap…