Cover Story
A trip through the imagination of Zig Zag Claybourne
A tall, unassuming man with a gray beard and a kind smile sits behind a gnarled tardigrade desk that looks like a massive cutting from, as he calls it, The World Tree. In front of him is a television camera and a crew of hurried people wearing headphones and dressed in black. Behind him, crowding…
Documentary ‘Breed & Bootleg’ gives Flint’s rap scene its due
In 1991 Eric Tyrone Breed (known to the world as MC Breed) shot to superstar rap status with his hit “Ain’t No Future in Yo’ Frontin’” off the studio album MC Breed & DFC. The single peaked at No. 12 on Billboard’s Top Rap Songs and immediately put Flint on the hip-hop map, as the…
Whitmer commutes sentence of Michael Thompson, put behind bars for up to 60 years after selling marijuana
Governor Gretchen Whitmer granted requests for clemency for four people who were put behind bars due to the War on Drugs, including Michael Thompson, who was sentenced in 1996 to up to 60 years in prison after selling marijuana to an undercover cop. After Michigan voters approved marijuana for adult-use in 2018, activists have put…
You have mail? Packages stack up ‘wall to wall’ at metro Detroit USPS center
Getting a package delivered in time for the holidays may take a Christmas miracle. Packages are stacking up inside metro Detroit’s mail distribution center in Allen Park as the U.S. Postal Service struggles to keep up with the unprecedented amount of shipping during the coronavirus pandemic. Through mid-December, parcel volume increased 15% nationwide compared to…
Metro Detroit native Kristen Bell tells Oakland County to mask up in Instagram post
Star of The Good Place Kristen Bell thinks Oakland County — home to her hometown of Huntington Woods — would be an even better place as long as people mask up and act responsibly during the ongoing pandemic. Bell, 40, is the new face and voice of reason for Oakland County’s new public education campaign,…
Insane Clown Posse auction off ‘limited’ tickets for in-person show at El Club
Whoop-whoop — cough? The thought of being sprayed in our Juggalo painted faces with Faygo from a bottle someone just put their mouth on just hits different during a pandemic. But that’s not stopping Juggalo royalty Insane Clown Posse from throwing a Christmas party at Detroit’s El Club on Wednesday, Dec. 23. For Wednesday’s Big…
Michigan movie theaters are reopening this week, but… why?
Due to new orders from the state of Michigan, movie theaters — as well as bowling alleys, casinos, stadiums, and high schools — are permitted to reopen… despite the fact that while coronavirus cases are going down, they still remain far higher than what they were in the previous peak in the spring. Movie theaters…
Michigan judges are locking up children for noncriminal offenses like repeatedly disobeying their parents and skipping school
This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica Illinois is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism with moral force. Sign up for The ProPublica Illinois newsletter for weekly updates. In Michigan, judges have sent children to locked detention centers for refusing to take medication or failing to attend online class. For testing positive…
Weathering the Storm: How Can Restaurants Survive During the Pandemic and Attract More Visitors?
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant industry has been struggling to adjust to the new reality and weather the storm. According to estimates, more than 100,000 restaurants, cafes, and bars have shut down indefinitely or closed entirely. The healthcare guidance and regulations that were enforced by federal and local authorities to curb…
COVID-19 relief bill tainted with ‘downright dangerous’ provision for hazardous material on Ambassador Bridge
Snuck into Michigan’s COVID-19 relief package is a potentially dangerous provision that would allow trucks to transport hazardous and toxic material across the Ambassador Bridge. Despite strong opposition from environmentalists, Detroiters, and some Democrats, the measure passed the state House 97-5 on Monday morning, and the state Senate approved the bill 35-2. Before the vote…
Gage Cannabis awards $50k to nonprofit Runner’s High as part of social equity grant program
Running while high doesn’t sound that fun, mostly because to us the idea of running sounds like a nightmare. But the Michigan-based non-profit Runners High 5k has committed to spreading awareness about CBD’s benefits for the mind and body — and they just received $50,000 to aid in their mission thanks to Gage Cannabis. As…
Michigan’s cannabis market could reach $3 billion, 4 million customers within 3 years
Michigan’s legal cannabis market could top $3 billion and nearly 4 million customers within three years. That’s according to Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency director Andrew Brisbo, who made the comments on a recent episode of the Four20Post podcast and reported by The Social Revolution. “We have estimates in our economic analysis that are more based…
What will cannabis consumption lounges look like in Michigan?
Last month, Detroit OK’d a recreational marijuana ordinance that allows for consumption lounges, and it’s likely we’ll see them crop up across Michigan in the next year. But what would a cannabis consumption lounge actually look like? “The big feedback we heard on the designated consumption establishment is, how do you make it profitable?” Michigan’s…
Today in scams, this absolutely brazen cash grab for a bus trip to Trump’s 2021 inauguration
After seeing this in the Bulwark newsletter today, we were pretty sure it would be dead on Eventbrite by the time we clicked. But nope, these hucksters are still taking money. For a bus trip to Donald Trump’s inauguration. On Jan. 20, 2021. *screaky-screaky noise as you grind your fists into your eye sockets in…
Iggy Pop is losing his mind, drops COVID-19 banger ‘Dirty Little Virus’
OK — so Detroit’s godfather of punk may not have, uh, unleashed a masterpiece with his latest track, “Dirty Little Virus” (the lyrics are pretty cringey). But what we’ve learned is that Iggy Pop is not necessarily an anti-lockdown guy like Eric Clapton and Van Morrison, whose recent collaboration, “Stand and Deliver” is truly cringe-worthy.…
City of Detroit CFO Massaron to serve as Whitmer’s state budget director
Dave Massaron, the city of Detroit’s chief financial officer, has been tapped to serve as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state budget director. Massaron will replace Chris Kolb, who is stepping down to serve as vice president for government relations at the University of Michigan. “Throughout his service to the City of Detroit, Dave Massaron has shown a deep…
Dashboard shows COVID exposure still high in Michigan nursing homes
Michigan seems to be getting a better handle on the coronavirus as vaccine distribution begins and cases level off. But experts say the risk of exposure is still high, especially in the state’s long-term care facilities. AARP continues to update its Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard, and the latest data shows sharply increasing resident and staff…
Two days of public funeral arrangements are set for Sheriff Benny Napoleon
Funeral arrangements are set for Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, who lost his weeks-long battle with COVID-19. Public viewing is scheduled for 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28 at Swanson Funeral Home at 806 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit. A second public viewing is set for 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Greater…
Amazon says it’s looking into preserving Detroit bandshell after backlash
Wow, a recent Metro Times piece sure made waves — and it seemed like a long shot. In an essay published last week, David Gifford, a transit blogger and musician, argued that Amazon should preserve Detroit’s decrepit bandshell on the former Michigan State Fairgrounds. The City of Detroit recently sold the land to the retail…
Big Sean mentored an aspiring rapper and found a new purpose in himself
Big Sean may be one of the most likable rappers in the world. He’s definitely beloved in his native Detroit. The Cass Tech graduate, along with his mother, Myra Anderson, have been regularly giving back to Detroit in one form or another since the early days of his career. Whether through a partnership with Adidas…
Marathon refinery offers to buy $5M worth of homes in southwest Detroit to create buffer
For decades, residents in a predominantly Black neighborhood bordering Marathon Petroleum’s oil refinery in southwest Detroit have complained of high levels of air pollution and numerous health problems. Now residents may finally have a way out. Marathon Petroleum Corp. on Thursday announced it’s offering to spend up to $5 million buying homes in the Boynton…
Livestream concert to help Detroiters pay rent will feature Bevlove, Little Animal, Hazy GreenSky, and others
As the economy-annihilating pandemic stretches into its ninth month, and with Congress’s efforts to provide more federal relief stalled, local artists are banding together to raise money to help Detroiters avoid evictions — creating a 21st century version of the rent parties that originated in Harlem during the 1920s to help Black tenants. A “Home…
Detroit’s Anna Burch drops Carpenters-esque Christmas single just in time to lowkey depress us for the holidays
Singer-songwriter Anna Burch was supposed to have a stellar 2020. Not only did she drop her serene sophomore record If You’re Dreaming (Polyvinyl) in the middle of the pandemic, but she also had three headlining tours planned, including a European jaunt. And then she got COVID-19. Naturally, as one does when their creative and professional…
Kelly Jean Caldwell Band tackles partying and the complexities of motherhood on swaggering ‘Birdie’
Kelly Jean Caldwell has started having mask dreams again. “I didn’t for a long time, but now I’m in public and all of a sudden I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t have a mask on!’” she says. Caldwell, who has been writing and performing dynamic, relatable, and, raw jangly rock for decades (and long…
Bedrock’s stalled Monroe Blocks project will temporarily pivot to drive-in theater, concert stage
A temporary plan to bring outdoor entertainment is coming to the site of Bedrock’s Monroe Blocks project, which is behind schedule. An $800,000 proposal approved by the Downtown Development Authority Board on Wednesday and first reported by Deadline Detroit calls for a movie screen, stage, food and beverage concessions, a no-touch play area for children,…
‘Heartbroken’ community leaders mourn the loss of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon
Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon died Thursday night after spending three weeks in an intensive care unit at Henry Ford Hospital with a COVID-19 infection. He was 65. Beloved, charismatic, and devoted to law enforcement and his community, Napoleon was a popular figure in metro Detroit. A lifetime Democrat, civil rights advocate, and native Detroiter,…
Michigan hunters, anglers set 2021 conservation goals
Hunters and anglers in Michigan and other states say they’re ready to work with the new administration and new Congress on key conservation issues. Director of Sporting Advocacy with the National Wildlife Federation Aaron Kindle said sportsmen and sportswomen have unique insights on conservation. He explained they see firsthand the impacts of wildlife and habitat…
Eminem drops surprise — and surprisingly good — ‘Music To Be Murdered By — Side B’
Taylor Swift isn’t the only mainstream artist to drop two full-length records in 2020. As it turns out, internet sleuths and stans were on to something when they pieced together some breadcrumb clues earlier this week that suggested that Eminem might be dropping new music on Friday. Well, at midnight Em did drop Music To…
Electric Forest festival eyeing possible 2021 dates
With the first COVID-19 vaccines approved and being deployed, Michigan’s Electric Forest music festival is considering dates for a 2021 return. According to a message posted to its website, organizers are eyeing the fest’s typical slot in June, but looking at other potential dates as well. “While we are holding our typical June timeframe, we…
Nessel joins 37 state attorneys general in antitrust lawsuit against Google
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Thursday joined a bipartisan group of state attorneys general who filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, alleging the search giant illegally maintains a monopoly that hurts consumers and advertisers. At least 38 states, Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico have joined the suit, which claims Google sought to suppress…
Michigan breathalyzer technician sentenced to 9 months in jail for falsifying documents
A technician who falsified documents that certified the accuracy of breathalyzer tests in Michigan was sentenced to nine months in jail and three years of probation. David John, 59, of Kalamazoo, created fictitious documents to falsely suggest he tested and repaired two Datamaster DMT breathalyzers to ensure they were accurate. The breathalyzers were used by…
Moodymann DJs at a nightclub in the new ‘Grand Theft Auto’ update
While we still can’t go clubbing due to this fucking pandemic, Rockstar Games, creators of the popular Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, have booked some top talent for a virtual party that may very well be the next best thing. The elusive Detroit DJ Moodymann appears as a character in a “virtual nightclub” called…
Grand jury indicts 6 suspects in plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer
Six men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were indicted by a federal grand jury late Wednesday, paving the way for a criminal trial. The suspects face up to life in prison on one count of kidnapping conspiracy. A trial date has not yet been set. The indictment sheds more light on the…
Michigan will get fewer doses of Pfizer vaccine than previously reported, state confirms
It looks like Michigan won’t be getting 84,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, as previously reported. On Wednesday, Michigan health officials confirmed that the state would receive 29% fewer doses of the Pfizer vaccine starting next week, Crain’s Business reports. The unexplained dip in doses comes days after the first shipments left a West Michigan…
Detroit police using more force against citizens, report shows
The number of times Detroit police officers used force so far this year has increased over the same period last year. Detroit police reported an increase in use-of-force tactics in the first nine months of this year, according to a new report. Police used force 779 times between Jan. 1 and Sept. 27, a 27%…
Now anti-lockdown protesters are harassing Michigan’s health director at his home
Anti-lockdown protesters and supporters of President Donald Trump have been targeting Michigan officials, gathering outside their homes at night and leaving them rattled. The latest event came Tuesday evening, when protesters gathered outside the Lansing home of Robert Gordon, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In a video posted to…
Michigan Secretary of State writes searing letter on why she turned down election hearing
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson declined an invitation to appear at a House Oversight Committee hearing on alleged — and unsubstantiated — interference in the November election, calling a recent hearing “such an embarrassment, lacking in merit and any form of decorum, that it was mocked on national comedy shows as a clear waste…
MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist and ex-wife to Amazon overlord, donates millions to non-profits
She may not have taken part in the panned and totally tone-deaf mid-pandemic star-studded cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” (thank god), but MacKenzie Scott — a billionaire philanthropist, novelist, and the 18th wealthiest person in the world — is making real change by moving quickly to fulfill a generous donation pledge she made last year…
Betsy DeVos calls on Education Department to ‘resist’ Biden administration
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who spent the past four years clashing with staffers at the department, is now pressing the career employees to “resist” the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden. “Let me leave you with this plea: Resist,” DeVos said, according to a recording of a virtual, department-wide meeting obtained by Politico. “Be…
Dirt Room finds resonance in music that sounds ‘kinda out there…’
What would the music of the apocalypse actually sound like? Perhaps not really punk or death metal, but maybe something that defies structure altogether? In a world gone mad, maybe music that sounds defiantly eccentric would just feel exceedingly cathartic right about now… Dirt Room is a Detroit-based musical project made up of mainly of…
Free Will Astrology (Dec. 16-22)
ARIES: March 21 – April 19: Temporary gods are deities who come alive and become available for particular functions, and are not otherwise necessary or called upon. For instance, in ancient Greece, the god Myiagros showed up when humans made sacrifices to the goddess Athena. His task was to shoo away flies. I encourage you…
