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Inside the Flint water crisis cover-up: Top officials’ missing phone messages and Rick Snyder’s legal war against prosecutors
This story was produced in a partnership between The Intercept and Detroit Metro Times. In October 2015, then-Michigan Governor Rick Snyder finally announced that Flint’s water was contaminated with dangerous lead levels. That public admission had come after more than a year of pleading from the city’s residents to examine the situation. The city, Snyder…
Adeshola Makinde’s ‘Relevant’ highlights civil rights protest signs of past and present at Playground Detroit
Black Power! Police Brutality Must Go! Education For All! What has been made very clear in recent years is that the fight is not over and, frankly, it may be a very long time until we see environmental justice, racial and housing equality, an end to gender-based pay gaps, and police brutality. Whatever mountain you…
Detroit’s Concert of Colors returns for annual celebration of music, culture, and diversity
The category is … diversity. When it comes to Concert of Colors, Detroit’s long-running weeklong music and culture celebration, diversity, global arts representation, and productive and expressive dialogue is the name of the game for the festival, which is returning for its 29th year. “As we all know, the world is craving concerts after being…
Detroit’s El Club prepares for week-long reopening celebration with Danny Brown, Negative Approach, Sada Baby, and more
We’ll never forget the day(s) music died, and no, we’re not referring to the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, though, like, still v sad. Sometime in March of 2020 the future proved uncertain, as we had no idea when we might rage, sway, scream, sing,…
Detroit Whisky Festival will get you tipsy at Eastern Market
If there was ever a time to indulge in some hard whisky drinking, it’s now … and, well, like, the last 16 months or, for most of us, our whisky habit started on Nov. 8, 2016. With climate change raging, COVID variants popping, and K*nye West doing whatever it is he’s doing, we have very…
Tommystock returns to Lake Orion campground with two-days of music and camping
The brainchild of John Carson, who grew up near Tommy’s Lake in Lake Orion, where he used to play music by campfire with his friends, Tommystock, now in its seventh year, has grown far beyond friends jamming (but also, it’s just friends jamming.) Back then, Carson and his friends jokingly called their jam sesh “Tommystock.”…
Frankenmuth Credit Union launches new program to service cannabis businesses despite legal grey area
Earlier this year, U.S. regulators penalized a Michigan credit union for servicing accounts belonging to owners and operators of legal cannabis businesses. Though Michigan voted to legalize recreational adult-use cannabis in 2018 — and is one of the more than 30 U.S. states that have recreational and/or medical weed programs — marijuana remains illegal on…
Councilman Spivey to be indicted on bribery charge, attorney says
Detroit City Councilman Andre Spivey is expected to be indicted in federal court Tuesday for allegedly accepting a bribe. Spivey’s attorney Elliot Hall told WXYZ that the indictment was unexpected because the councilman has been cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office “for well over a year now to try to resolve this issue.” Hall said…
Stroh’s is Michigan’s favorite ‘trashy’ beer
If there’s one thing we love in Michigan, it’s beer. There are some amazing breweries all over the state, and we even dedicated the month of July to craft beers. But IPA’s with cute names and fruity notes aren’t for everybody, and even in a state that’s at the epicenter of the craft beer industry,…
Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood receives state historical marker
Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood was once one of the most thriving African American communities in the city, filled with a variety of Black-owned businesses including pharmacies, barbershops, diners, lawyers, nightclubs, and more, and it became home to many Southerners who migrated North for factory work. The once-flourishing neighborhood was destroyed as a result of the…
Whitmer raises a record $8.6M in her reelection bid, far more than entire field of GOP challengers
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has raised $8.6 million for her reelection bid so far this year, breaking a record for the most money raised by a Michigan gubernatorial candidate in an off-year, according to newly released campaign finance records. Whitmer’s campaign has more than $10.6 million in the bank, giving her a decisive, early fundraising advantage…
How to get your criminal records expunged in Michigan
In April, new “Clean Slate” legislation went into effect in Michigan that allows people with criminal convictions to get them wiped clean — including marijuana-related misdemeanors for behavior that is now considered legal, after voters approved legalizing cannabis for adult use in 2018. Criminal records can prevent people from getting jobs or housing. “I have…
Rep. Jewell Jones justifies spending campaign funds at strip club, saying he believed it was a lounge
Sometimes you just have to meet people where they’re at, wise words spoken not by Aristotle or Plato, but state Representative Jewell Jones (D-Inkster) via a text message to The Detroit News. Jones took that sentiment very literally as the ostentatious politician comes under criticism for spending $221 at Pantheion Gentleman’s Club in Dearborn. The…
ImaginATE brings creativity and fine dining to downtown Royal Oak
Chef Omar Mitchell hit several roadblocks when he opened his fine-dining restaurant, Table No. 2, on Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion in 2019. First it was the city’s construction on Livernois that slowed his business through February of 2020, then soon after the pandemic hit. Despite those challenges, the doors to Table No. 2 shuttered (for…
Wayne County man exonerated in 2001 double murder is awarded $10M
A Wayne County man who was exonerated after spending 17 years in prison for a double murder has been awarded nearly $10 million. Mubarez Ahmed was released from prison in October 2018 after a judge dismissed the murder case against him. He was convicted in March 2002 of murdering Lavelle Griffin and LaTanya White in…
Detroit chef to debut cheesecake egg rolls for National Cheesecake Day
For National Cheesecake Day on July 31, Detroit Chef Cynthia Love will debut cheesecake egg rolls through her online treat shop Dip Confectionery. It’s something of a Motor City twist of the dish — Detroit is, after all, the city that brought us corned beef eggrolls. In addition to the new cheesecake egg rolls, Love…
Michigan state board to review rejected initiative to protect LGBTQ residents from discrimination
Update: The Michigan Board of Canvassers voted 4-0 to reject the certification of signatures. Fair and Equal Michigan said it plans to challenge the decision in the Court of Appeals. The Michigan Board of State Canvassers plans to meet Monday to determine the fate of a petition-driven initiative to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in…
Plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, hatched in Ohio, was conceived and steered by FBI
Last fall, six men with ties to right-wing militia groups were arrested for an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The conspiracy, which was hatched in Dublin, Ohio, became an international story and was later regarded as a spiritual precursor to the Jan. 6 riot and putsch at the U.S. Capitol. But the…
The Department of Justice will not investigate Michigan nursing homes
The Department of Justice declined opening a civil rights investigation into Michigan nursing homes following a request of information last year in regards to COVID-19 policies. GOP lawmakers are pushing to uncover the role that state orders played in the spread of COVID-19. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has declined further looking into the policies…
Historic Negro League ballpark in Hamtramck to get new life with $2.6M in renovations
Not long ago, Hamtramck Stadium was a forgotten relic surrounded by knee-high grass and weeds. The ballpark dates back to the 1930s, when the Detroit Stars of the storied Negro Leagues played in front of thousands of fans. After decades of abandonment, the stadium is getting a new life. The Wayne County Commission on Thursday…
Former RecoveryPark farm associate accuses owner of intending to ‘flip’ properties given by Detroit for profit
The leader of Detroit’s RecoveryPark — a multimillion-dollar urban farm and media darling that was supposed to provide jobs for formerly incarcerated people and has since fallen into disrepair — has been on the defensive ever since Metro Times reported on the collapse of the project earlier this year. In the weeks since our May…
For a limited time, you can score $20 ‘all-in’ tickets at these Detroit-area music venues this summer
For just $20, you can catch Detroit-area concerts by acts like Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse, Hall & Oates, Maroon 5, Erykah Badu, Alice Cooper, and more this summer — including taxes and those pesky “convenience fees,” whatever those are. On Thursday, live music companies 313 Presents and Live Nation announced the return of their…
Detroit City Council approves reparations measure, but challenges lie ahead
Black Detroiters moved a step closer to receiving long-awaited reparations for systemic racial discrimination, but the historic measure still faces legal and funding uncertainties. The Detroit City Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday that would give residents the opportunity to vote on whether the city should “establish a Reparations Committee to make recommendations for housing…
Detroit’s Grand Trunk Pub reopens with ticketed preview after more than a year of renovations
If you’ve spent the better part of the last year craving a Reuben sandwich from a specific Detroit restaurant, then you’re not alone, and thankfully, the wait is almost over. Detroit’s historic Grand Trunk Pub, located at 612 Woodward Ave., will reopen this weekend for a ticketed preview where guests can dine on fan favorites and…
The Rolling Stones keep fucking going, will perform in Detroit this year
If you happen to notice the Rolling Stones trending on Twitter, do not panic. The 308-year-old band — that’s if you add up the ages of the unstoppable Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood — announced the return of their No Filter tour, which was postponed last year, leaving Detroit fans craving…
Legislature yanks Whitmer’s emergency powers used during pandemic — and governor can’t veto
As expected, the GOP-led Michigan House voted Wednesday mostly along party lines to permanently topple a 76-year-old state law that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used during the first months of COVID-19. The vote came down to 60 members in favor of repealing the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act (EPGA), with 48 opposed and two…
MI health officials prioritize equity in calls for residents to get vaccinated
Michigan health officials are prioritizing equity as they continue to urge more residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Delta variant now accounts for the majority of infections across the country, and it’s making its way through Michigan. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun — Michigan’s chief medical executive and the chief deputy director for health for the…
Michiganders with autism, hearing impairments can now opt to inform law enforcement of their communication needs
Michigan police will now be able to identify people with deafness or autism before engaging during traffic stops, thanks to a new designation implemented by Michigan’s Secretary of State earlier this week, the Associated Press reports. Jocelyn Benson was joined by advocates and members of the deaf, deafblind, and autism communities this week during her…
Buddy’s Pizza is opening two more Michigan restaurants in 2022
Detroit-style pizza progenitor Buddy’s Pizza is continuing to expand, with two new Michigan restaurants planned to open in early 2022. The new locations will be located at 5510 Shashabaw Rd., Clarkston, and 2010 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos, according to a press release. The Clarkston location will be carry-out only, while the Okemos location will…
US extends nonessential travel restrictions through August
It looks like those dinner plans in Windsor’s Little Italy are going to have to wait a few weeks more. On Monday, Canada announced it would reopen its border for nonessential travel starting Aug. 9.The catch: Travelers are required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before their trip to our northern neighbors. All…
Concert of Colors returns to Detroit next month with in-person and virtual programming
The 29th annual Concert of Colors will return to Detroit this August.. The festival hosts a wide variety of musical artists covering a global range of musical styles and genres, and this year’s event will combine both in-person and virtual options, allowing festival goers to choose the best option for their experience. Concert of Colors…
Ex-Detroit police chief Craig launches fundraising campaign as he preps for gubernatorial run
Retired Detroit Police Chief James Craig announced Wednesday that he’s launched a so-called exploratory committee to raise money as he considers running for governor as a Republican. Of the eight Republicans who have formed a candidate committee so far, Craig is widely considered the frontrunner and the only candidate with statewide name recognition. Craig, who…
First-ever BLKOUT Walls Festival, Moodymann, Concours d’Elegance, and more things to do in Detroit this week
Select events happening in metro Detroit. Submit your events to metrotimes.com/calendar Fri 7/23-Sun 7/25 The Concours d’Elegance Have you ever seen the Black Ghost? As in the rare and totally famous triple-black Detroit-made 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE muscle car that would have Fast and Furious’ Dom Toretto fully torqued if you catch our Tokyo…
ICYMI: 4 die at Faster Horses festival, the cost to weather-proof Michigan’s infrastructure, and other stories you may have missed
The return of the summer concert season got off to a tragic start when four people died during last weekend’s Faster Horses country music festival at Michigan International Speedway, the state’s first major music fest since 2019. Five men in their early 20s were found unconscious in a travel trailer due to suspected carbon monoxide…
The White House is pressuring Facebook to crack down on vaccine misinformation. That’s a bad precedent.
Though Voltaire never said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” — the quote originated with a 20th-century historian summarizing the 18th-century French philosopher’s beliefs — the sentiment behind the maxim has always been a bedrock upon which liberal democracy stands. Absent the right…
The good, the bad, and the ugly of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package
Back in the spring, President Biden proposed two massive pieces of legislation that would reshape America’s infrastructure and its contract with American families. The aptly named “American Jobs Plan,” weighing in at $2.2 trillion over 10 years, included investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, lead pipe replacement, public broadband, and home care workers. Its cousin, the…
Nicolas Cage rises from the muck in ‘Pig’
Despite signaling revenge-film potential akin to John Wick or The Rover, Michael Sarnoski’s Pig shows less concern for avenging the red-haired, truffle-hunting animal of its title than for exploring the tensions she represents: the closely twinned gulf and bond between labor and refinement. Opening on exiled Portland chef Robin Feld (Nicolas Cage) peacefully hunting for…
Free Will Astrology (July 20-27)
ARIES: March 21 – April 19: Author Valerie Andrews reminds us that as children, we all had the “magical capacity to see the land as an animal does; to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee; to feel the earth quiver and breathe beneath us; to know a hundred different…
Yellow Light serves up delectable drive-thru doughnuts on Detroit’s east side
It started with coffee, the best love of Yellow Light owner Nico Dimitrijevic. He roasts his own, medium, in a tiny building that once was destined to be an outpost of Krispy Krunchy Chicken. With frying equipment already on hand, he thought, why reinvent the wheel? Coffee and doughnuts, a natural. So he began experimenting.…
