Cover Stories
Michigan graduates struggle with the skyrocketing cost of college
When Marie Muhammad graduated from Wayne State University in December 2017, she was saddled with more than $50,000 in college loan debt. Making less $15 an hour as a lab technician after graduation, she could only afford to pay the interest that accumulated monthly. But even after landing a better job this summer as a…
Three metro Detroiters on why they dropped out of college — and why they’re happy they did
The Wayne State University class of 2019 had a special graduate at its ceremony. During all the pomp and circumstance, Jack White — the Detroit musician and entrepreneur — got to move his mortarboard tassel to the left when he received an honorary doctor of humane letters for “his dedication to Detroit and significant contributions…
The original ‘Alien’ turns 40 with midnight screenings at Royal Oak’s Main Art Theatre
Earlier this year the groundbreaking 1979 Ridley Scott film, Alien, made headlines. (And no, it wasn’t because some asshole dared to attempt some punk-ass remake… don’t do it.) A high school in New Jersey had gone viral for its creative staging of the film, complete with practical effects and an impressive costumery that caught the…
Future and Meek Mill co-headline DTE Energy Music Theatre
Yeet yeet — shit’s getting legendary. Philadelphia rapper and an unlikely face of prison reform, Meek Mill, has teamed up with Atlanta’s behind-the-mic nihilist turned salvation-seeker Future for the Legendary Nights tour. Both rappers came up around the same time with their respective mixtapes and collaborations. Since then have built reputations on championing self-aware and…
‘Cats,’ the musical nobody asked for, claws its way through Detroit’s Fisher Theatre
At some point in history, someone (cough, cough Andrew Lloyd Webber) thought that a 2 hour and 20 minute musical about feral cats was a good idea. And, oddly enough, he was apparently on to something. Against all odds, Cats the musical has survived well past its nine lives. Thirty-eight years after the award-winning, record-breaking…
Welcome home, baby girl — Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas return for performance at Detroit’s Magic Stick
Detroit’s Jessica Hernandez has gone totally gaga. The Detroit-born, now L.A.-based frontwoman has been taking a year-long departure from some of the high-energy, soul-heavy rock she was churning out during her Detroit years. Since relocating to the West Coast, Hernandez has dedicated herself to new motherhood as much as she has to a more shimmery,…
Detroit’s prodigal son, Wayne Kramer, returns with MC50 performance at Saint Andrew’s Hall
It’s never too late to “kick out the jams, motherfuckers!” Last year was a hallmark year for Detroit’s MC5 — the Motor City dudes that shook the rock world with their controversial debut, Kick Out the Jams, which was recorded live over two nights on Devil’s Night and Halloween in 1968 at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom.…
Loose Koozies and Kelly Jean Caldwell at Detroit’s Outer Limits Lounge is the late summer vibe we need now
While the end of summer may be just around the dang corner, it doesn’t mean that deep-fried boozy tunes should get packed up with your shorts, tank-tops, and seasonal ambitions that failed to come to fruition. Described as “slacker country-rock,” Detroit’s Loose Koozies — E.M. Allen, Erin Davis, Nick German, and Andrew Moran — are…
‘Black Girl Joy/Magic’ celebrates Black womxn with self-care zine launch
The term “Black girl magic” is not merely a hashtag, it’s a movement. Though coined by CaShawn Thompson in 2013, in 1996 then-25-year-old Detroit poet and activist jessica Care moore also came up with “Black girl juice” to mean the same thing — that “unadulterated dopeness” exhibited by Black girls and women everywhere. To continue…
No genre is off limits for Dani Darling, who will pay a visit to Detroit’s Willis Show Bar
Showtunes, Radiohead, and a space-age Ella Fitzgerald: Ann Arbor’s Dani Darling draws inspiration from all of these things. Danielle Davis, who performs aching alternative soul as Dani Darling alongside Noor Us-Sabah, Joel Harris, and Chris Jones, is a bit of a sonic chameleon. One minute she’s covering the Beatles (peep her Instagram for eclectic covers),…
Mexican singer, actress, and mama Ximena Sariñana heads to Saint Andrew’s Hall
Before Ximena Sariñana scored a Grammy nomination for her 2008 jazz-infused pop debut, Mediocre, audiences had already developed a relationship with the Guadalajara-born actress thanks to her work in telenovelas and film. Sariñana’s multifaceted career has led to the release of her fourth record, this year’s ¿Dónde Bailarán las Niñas?, which follows what Sariñana describes…
Universal Academy students turned to YouTube to learn after being taught by substitute teachers, according to report
Students at Detroit charter school Universal Academy relied on YouTube to learn after feeling that long-term substitutes were not effectively teaching them, according to Bridge magazine. “We had to go home and learn online. Everyone would have to do that in order to pass the class,” Wally Alhomaidi, a Universal Academy student, told Bridge. “Everything’s…
910AM Superstation fires conservative firebrand Nolan Finley for being ‘boring’
Conservative firebrand and radio host Nolan Finley was fired from 910AM Superstation on Tuesday because the station’s owner said he was “boring” and didn’t connect with listeners. Listeners of the predominately Black radio station often complained that Finley, the snarky editorial page editor of The Detroit News, was dry, spoke in monotone, and didn’t tolerate…
Which racially problematic things in Detroit should we rename next?
On Tuesday, after months of teasing, Detroit’s Cobo Center was finally, officially renamed. The convention center is now the TCF Center, named after TCF Bank, which bought the 22-year naming rights for $33 million. Though a press release from TCF might suggest the name change was merely about a “unique opportunity to support our hometown…
MSU seeks to dismiss 107 Larry Nassar assault claims
Michigan State University lawyers filed a motion late Monday seeking to dismiss 107 sexual assault claims made against serial molester Larry Nassar. The dismissal motion, which was more than 1,000 pages, argues the claims failed to show MSU was liable and that the women did not file within the proper time limitations. “Although Nassar’s actions were repugnant…
Detroit’s Lizzo brought a big ol’ inflatable ass to her good as hell MTV VMAs performance
If you had no idea that a giant inflatable ass was capable of twerking on the national stage, well, neither did we. Just two days after former President Barack Obama tweeted his and Michelle’s annual summer playlist — which lists Lizzo’s “Juice” at No. 6 — the Detroit-born twerking flutist brought the booty, positivity, and a bedazzled tequila bottle…
The Disney cover band of your dreams, the Little Mermen, bring whimsy to Ferndale’s Magic Bag
Did you ever think, damn, I wish “A Whole New World” had some sick ass synths, or maybe you’ve thought that “Let it Go” would fucking slap with some electric guitar? Well, Hakuna Matata, Disneyphiles, New York City’s the Little Mermen are doing the lord’s work by repurposing Disney nostalgia into contemporary rock jams complete…
Racist city council candidate in Michigan withdraws from race amid backlash
A racist city council candidate in Michigan who said she wants to keep her town “a white community as much as possible” has bailed out of the race. Jean Cramer was one of five candidate vying for three seats on the Marysville City Council when she shocked attendees at a candidate’s forum Thursday with her…
Lawsuit by Eminem’s publisher against Spotify could be a case for the Supreme Court
Eminem’s music publisher Eight Mile Style filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Spotify on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The complaint, filed in a Nashville federal court and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, alleges that Spotify did not secure the necessary license before streaming Eminem’s songs billions of times. The lawsuit also alleges that the Music Modernization…
Shri Thanedar explores running for state House after moving to Detroit
Shri Thanedar, the millionaire chemist and businessman who ran for governor last year, drew a lot of speculation when he announced in May that he was moving to Detroit with plans to run for political office. Was he running for mayor or maybe Congress? It appears the 65-year-old Democrat, who has never held a political…
2020 Farmers’ Almanac predicts a ‘polar coaster’ winter for Great Lakes region
Here we go again. The 2020 Farmers’ Almanac’s extended weather forecast has predicted an upcoming “polar coaster winter” that will affect the majority of the country — including those in the Great Lakes region. The coldest outbreaks in late January are expected to affect millions of people in both the Great Lakes and the Northern…
Off-duty cop spots man masturbating on his bike in Sterling Heights park
An off-duty police officer was jogging in a park in Sterling Heights when she says she spotted a man masturbating while riding a mountain bike. William Brown, 29, was charged Friday with two counts of aggravated indecent exposure, a crime punishable by up to two years in prison. “Brown was in full view of the…
FBI warns of ‘public corruption threat’ in legal marijuana industry
Thousands of people are maneuvering to get a piece of what’s expected to be Michigan’s $1.5 billion legal marijuana industry. Everyone knows money is a magnet for public corruption, so it’s no surprise the FBI is getting involved in the industry. “As an increasing number of states change their marijuana legislation, the FBI is seeing…
Jet’s offering 41% off pizzas to celebrate 41st anniversary
Jet’s is celebrating its anniversary in the best way — with pizza. The restaurant is offering 41% off to celebrate 41 years of business. The offer is valid on Monday, Aug. 26, for one day only. The discount is for menu-priced pizzas, and applies specifically to online orders for pickup only (not orders for delivery).…
State bill would require kratom users to get prescription for herbal supplement
A Republican state senator wants to require kratom users to obtain a prescription from a doctor to use the increasingly popular herbal supplement in Michigan. Sen. John Bizon, a medical doctor, introduced a bill last week that would regulate kratom, which is available online and at gas stations and head shops. “The currently unregulated drug…
Could Aaliyah’s music be coming to major streaming services in 2020?
On Saturday, fans mourned the 18th anniversary of the death of Detroit-born pop star Aaliyah Haughton, who died in a plane crash in the Bahamas at 22. The singer left behind a celebrated body of work that resonates to this day — especially her futuristic 2001 self-titled third and final studio album. However, it’s only…
Smoking good old-fashioned flower is the best way to ingest cannabis for pain relief, according to study
Smoking marijuana flower is the most popular method of ingesting cannabinoids. It’s a simple, time-honored, and quick method of delivery. Within minutes after ingesting smoked marijuana the user can feel the desired effect. At least that’s the case for people who want to get high. It also seems to be the case for people who…
Oakland County Republicans ask judge to reverse Dave Coulter’s appointment to replace L. Brooks Patterson
Oakland County Republicans are taking legal action in a last-ditch attempt to remove the first Democrat to become county executive. In an amendment to a previously filed lawsuit, Republicans allege former Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter was improperly appointed to replace L. Brooks Patterson by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners in a 11-10 vote on…
City council candidate says keep Michigan town ‘a white community’
A city council candidate in Michigan told attendees at a forum on Thursday night that she wants to keep her town “a white community as much as possible.” Jean Cramer, one of five candidates running for Marysville City Council, was responding to a question about whether the St. Clair County town should more aggressively attract…
Four new spaces will occupy the Detroit RenCen’s former Coach Insignia spot
The former Coach Insignia restaurant atop Detroit’s towering Renaissance Center is getting a makeover x4. Beginning Nov. 15, the space once occupied by the fine-dining spot Coach Insignia, which shuttered in February of last year, will house two new restaurants, a whiskey and dessert lounge, and a private event space. The brainchild of James Beard…
Anthony Bourdain made a documentary on Detroit — and it’s looking for a home
It’s no secret that Anthony Bourdain ate Detroit up. The beloved chef, travel documentarian, and author — who died by suicide last year in France while filming an episode of his long-running Travel Channel series, Parts Unknown — left behind a love letter to Detroit in the form of a documentary series. According to Bourdain’s co-producer…
Viral video shows scofflaws vandalizing scooters, attacking random people in Detroit
A viral video showing young scofflaws vandalizing rental scooters and attacking random people has caught the attention of the Detroit Police Department. DPD posted the 40-second video on Twitter on Thursday night in search of victims. “Detroit Police has been made aware of this video circulating on social media,” DPD tweeted. “If you have been…
Weedmaps to no longer take ads from unlicensed marijuana provisioning centers
Here’s a little something that may cheer up local provisioning center owners. Weedmaps, an online advertising giant most known for helping people find marijuana stores, has announced it will stop taking ads from unlicensed provisioning and delivery services. The policy, to be implemented later this year, could help steer more business to state licensed facilities.…
Native American tribes feel shut out of Michigan’s cannabis industry, according to report
Because federally recognized Native American tribes operate as sovereign nations subject to federal law — and because the federal government still considers marijuana to be a Schedule 1 drug — Michigan’s Native American tribes say they feel left out of the state’s nascent recreational cannabis industry. That’s according to a news brief from MiBiz, which…
Michigan GOP challenges independent redistricting panel in federal lawsuit
The Michigan Republican Party filed a federal lawsuit Thursday in an attempt to prevent the formation of a voter-approved redistricting commission to draw congressional and legislative lines. In the second suit filed in less than a month, the GOP alleges the commissioner selection process violates the party’s basic constitutional rights to choose its own representatives.…
Coalition calls for firing of Royal Oak cop who stopped Black man in viral video
The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality is calling for the dismissal of a Royal Oak cop over his zealous mishandling of a Black man accused in a 911 call of looking suspiciously at a white woman. The Royal Oak Police Department’s interaction with 19-year-old Devin Myers drew strong backlash after it was captured Aug. 14…
Dearborn stops working with ICE amid backlash from immigration advocates
The city of Dearborn has ended its practice of working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid backlash from protesters. Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly Jr. said the city will no longer hold detainees for ICE, which has come under fire as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to step up enforcement against undocumented immigrants. Last year, the…
St. Clair Shores man accused of threatening to shoot 200 police officers
A 30-year-old St. Clair Shores man was arrested Wednesday night after authorities said he threatened to carry out a mass shooting targeting local police officers. Cory Fraser is expected to be charged Thursday with making a false threat of terrorism, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Macomb County Prosecutor…
Bartender sues Detroit’s Ready Player One bar arcade for sexual harassment and retaliation
A former female bartender at downtown Detroit’s popular Ready Player One bar arcade is suing the company for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation, as well as violations of the Persons With Disability Act. The suit, filed in August in Wayne County Circuit Court by Stacey Watrobski, claims that she rejected sexual advances from her boss,…
Detroit’s Cobo Center, named after a segregationist mayor, will finally, officially be renamed next week
Detroit’s Cobo Center will be no more — in name, anyway. TCF Bank, which bought the naming rights for the convention center back in February, will reportedly make it official official with a news conference and community block party on Tuesday, Aug. 27, according to Crain’s Detroit Business. The name change comes at a time…
Rapper Tee Grizzley and aunt reportedly involved in deadly shooting on Detroit’s east side
Rapper Tee Grizzley and his aunt and manager, Jobina “JB” Brown, were reportedly involved in a shooting on Detroit’s east side. News of an alleged drive-by shooting involving Grizzley and Brown, who was said to have been killed in the attack, began circulating on Twitter Wednesday afternoon. The story was confirmed by TMZ Wednesday evening, citing insider…
Gov. Whitmer creates task force to tackle Michigan’s opioid epidemic
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Wednesday forming a task group to tackle Michigan’s growing opioid epidemic. The Opioids Task Force panel, created as an advisory body within the Department of Health and Human Services, will be led by the state’s chief medical executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. The advisory group will be responsible for…
Trump’s DOJ urges Supreme Court to rule against transgender woman in Garden City
President Donald Trump’s administration is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that it is legal for employers to fire transgender employees in a case stemming from metro Detroit. The Department of Justice filed a brief Friday arguing that federal anti-discrimination laws do no protect LGBTQ+ workers. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals previously…
Without a trace of irony, a man flashes a white supremacist symbol among pro-Israel Trump supporters in front of the Holocaust Memorial Center
Things got really stupid really fast at a Close the Camps rally held outside Farmington’s Holocaust Memorial Center on Tuesday, where Jewish activists gathered to protest ICE’s migrant detention centers. The rally also drew a counterprotest, which included Trump supporters — and resulted in a surreal image of a man flashing a white power sign…
Wayne County Sheriff Napoleon endorses Cory Booker for president
Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker, suggesting he’s the best candidate to confront racial issues. “I have known Cory Booker for years and continue to be personally inspired by his comprehensive plans to take on criminal justice reform, combat gun violence, and address the rise in violence incited by white…
Knight Arts Challenge Detroit announces 2019 finalists
The Knight Foundation announced 62 finalists for its 2019 Knight Arts Challenge Detroit. The finalists all seek a share of $2 million in prize money that they will in turn use in artistic projects to highlight Detroit’s history and culture, as well as tell stories that are unique to Detroit. “Detroit honors its rich history…
John Oates is not Daryl Hall — and that’s a good thing
There’s no bigger mindfuck than preparing to interview Daryl Hall and it ends up being John Oates. “I’ll tell you what, you can just call me Daryl and I’ll just pretend to answer for him,” Oates says. Apparently, this happens a lot. As attractive an offer as that might seem, Oates, 71, couldn’t be more…
More cannabis companies join Michigan’s green rush
Cannabis-related businesses are coming to Michigan. With adult-use marijuana now legal in Michigan and the state scheduled to begin processing applications for adult-use licenses later this year, folks are jostling to get in line to do business here when the market officially opens up. Brands that have established themselves elsewhere are rushing to establish themselves…
‘Where’d You Go, Bernadette?’ wanders, gets lost
There are several scenes in Where’d You Go, Bernadette? in which Cate Blanchett, playing the poised and brittle renowned architect of the title, rails over the phone or to those she’s close to about her antipathy toward Seattle, her professional frustrations, and her hesitations about an upcoming family trip. Over several of them, Graham Reynolds’…
What I learned on my blissfully Trump-free summer vacation to Barcelona
The thing about spending two weeks in a blissfully Trump-free vacation bubble is that it’s pretty easy to burn up on re-entry. I’ve been on vacation most of August — first on a cruise ship/floating music festival on the Mediterranean, sailing back and forth from Spain to Sardinia, then spending a week in Barcelona, all…
Savage Love: Am I a male ‘unicorn?’
I took Molly with my best bud. We wound up cuddling and telling each other everything. We didn’t mess around — we’re both straight guys — but one of the things I told him is that I would much rather eat pussy than fuck, and one of the things he told me is that he’s…
Horoscopes (Aug. 21-27)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20 You have a couple of weeks to figure out what you want to do next. If things are in a holding pattern, it’s because it takes time and a totally different perspective to get onto a new track. In your shoes, what I would do is turn off the…
As the Archdiocese of Detroit awaits its judgment day, it plays hide-and-seek with its money — including a Cayman Islands venture
While the local Catholic Church promotes its efforts to protect children today, it’s been busy protecting its financial assets as a day of fuller reckoning for past sexual abuse survivors draws closer. Across the country, statute of limitations laws on civil actions have been eroding, leading to costly settlements for abuse victims. Only intense lobbying…
Don’t fear the (Ass) Reaper at Jiti Indian Fusion
I was ready for The Ass Reaper. I really was. But I was talked down by Lilucky Singh, the owner of Jiti Indian Fusion in Troy. “Try the number nine,” he said, suggesting a hot sauce called “The Ass Sizzler.” Apparently he took me for the kind of guy who could handle having his ass…
Inside the groovy redesign of Royal Oak’s Bowlero bowling alley
Northern Royal Oak’s Bowlero bowling alley has lived a full life. More than a half-century of cigarette-smoking, domestic beer-drinking bowling leagues and piecemeal alterations had left its mark, leaving behind scuffed Formica and burn-scarred seats. But beneath the water-damaged shag carpeting and grandpa’s basement-style paneling was an architectural treasure that gleamed like gold. It just…
