Cover Stories
In defense of Ty Cobb, perhaps the Detroit Tigers’ most infamous and misunderstood ballplayer
Tyrus Raymond Cobb’s life was a ball of fire and chaos before he ever stepped foot in Detroit. He was a mixture of intelligence, hypersensitivity and unhinged rage. The personality emerged early. Cobb said he beat up a classmate in the fifth grade who caused the boys to lose to the girls in the school…
The 2020 Hash Bash livestreamed due to the coronavirus
Like other art and music events have resorted to doing amid the coronavirus outbreak, this year’s Hash Bash is going digital. Since we can’t gather in large groups due to the highly contagious virus, and since sharing a joint with a stranger is ill-advised at this time, this year’s annual ode to the sweet leaf…
Local meme lord imagines ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic as 1978 Detroit Tiger
Just as cities and states all across the country instructed residents to self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 coronavirus, the Netflix gods did us a fucking solid. They gave us Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, an all-access pass to a world within a world within a fever dream within a precautionary…
Michigan reports 75 new coronavirus deaths, bringing total to 259
The number of deaths from the coronavirus doubled in Michigan in just two days, a troubling trend that is overwhelming hospitals. Michigan reported 75 new deaths — the largest single-day increase, bringing the death toll to 259. At this time a week ago, Michigan had 24 deaths. The number of new confirmed infections rose to…
Gov. Whitmer reverses course on coronavirus drugs, is now asking feds for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer drew fire from some on the right after the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) sent a letter last week threatening “administrative action” against doctors who prescribed two experimental drugs that could potentially help coronavirus patients. The Whitmer administration has since removed the language threatening doctors from the letter and…
Carhartt is joining coronavirus relief efforts by making masks and gowns for essential workers
American workwear brand turned-streetwear favorite Carhartt is shifting gears to help those on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. The durable Dearborn-bred retailer announced Monday that it would start production of protective medical gear for essential workers. Carhartt, which turned 130 in 2019, will manufacture 50,000 medical gowns and 2.5 million masks out of its…
Gov. Whitmer asks medical personnel to come to Michigan to help fight coronavirus
As Michigan and Detroit become hotspots for the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer posted a video message on Twitter calling for out-of-state help. “If you’re a health professional anywhere in America, Michigan needs you,” Whitmer said. “Detroit, Michigan needs you especially.” If you’re a medical professional anywhere in the United States, Michigan needs…
Motor City Comic Con is the latest event to postpone due to the coronavirus crisis
Dim the Bat-Signal, hang your invisibility cloaks, and deactivate your lightsabers. Another high-profile metro Detroit event has been extinguished in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, something that gives us major Stephen King’s The Stand vibes. Motor City Comic Con announced Monday that it would be postponing its 31st iteration, which was set to take place…
Number of coronavirus deaths doubles in 2 days in Detroit as hospitals reach capacity
Detroit reported 21 new coronavirus deaths – the largest increase yet – bringing the city’s total to 73. The number of positive cases rose to 2,086, up 285 on Monday. The increase comes as public health officials are bracing for exponential spikes in new cases and deaths for at least the next two weeks. The…
Lizzo treats ER nurses and doctors to lunch across the country, including those at Henry Ford Hospital
Superstar Lizzo didn’t just treat emergency room staff at Henry Ford Hospital to a snack — she gave them a whole damn meal. As part of National Doctor’s Day on Monday, Detroit-born twerk goddess Lizzo decided to show her appreciation to those working tirelessly during the COVID-19 crisis by sending those on the frontlines some…
Michigan man busted selling toilet paper out of his car for $60 — but family says he was just trying to help
[image-1] A sign propped up against a Ford Escape hatchback read, “Toilet tissue $60.00 a case, cash only.” A 64-year-old Canton Township man is accused of selling the toilet paper in a Meijer parking lot along Ford Road in Canton Township on March 18. He’s expected to be charged with misdemeanor counts of soliciting, canvassing,…
Trump approves deploying the National Guard in Michigan to help fight the coronavirus
Up to 3,000 members of the Michigan Army and Air National Guard have been authorized to help with humanitarian missions across the state in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump approved Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s request for assistance on Monday. Under Title 32, the authorization puts Michigan’s National Guard under Whitmer’s command for…
Coronavirus deaths double in 3 days in Michigan, with nearly 6,500 confirmed infections
Michigan reported 52 new deaths from the coronavirus on Monday, the largest single-day increase, bringing the total number to 184. The total number of confirmed infections grew to nearly 6,500, with more than 1,000 new cases. Michigan now ranks fourth in the U.S. in total confirmed infections, behind New York, New Jersey, and California. The…
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith resigns amid alleged embezzlement scheme
Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith resigned Monday after after he was charged last week with 10 felony counts for his role in an alleged embezzlement scheme. But Smith, who held the position since 2004, said he’s going to mount a vigorous defense and has “absolute confidence” that he will be exonerated. “I intend to whole-heartedly…
Feeling cooped up? Detroit’s MoGo bike-share service offering free monthly passes
Good news for quarantined folks feeling a bit restless — MoGo Detroit is offering free monthly passes. Detroit’s public non-profit bike-share program, which launched in 2017, announced Monday that it would waive the cost of its monthly pass in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Monday, riders can sign up for the free pass via the…
Detroit reports 15 new coronavirus deaths, largest one-day spike, and more than 250 new cases
Detroit reported 15 new deaths from the coronavirus on Monday, the largest one-day jump since the outbreak was first reported in Michigan on March 10. The city identified an additional 262 positive coronavirus cases, bringing its total to 1,804. The death toll rose to 50, a two-fold increase in four days. The steep rise in…
Metro Detroit native Kristen Bell to host Nickelodeon town hall to help kids cope with coronavirus
Actress Kristen Bell is opening the door for kids who may be confused or concerned about the coronavirus epidemic and the many changes to their day to day lives as a result of COVID-19. The Huntington Woods native and Frozen star will host “#KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall,” which will air at 7 p.m. on Monday,…
Coronavirus peak still weeks away, Michigan officials warn
Michigan will continue to see an exponential increase in new coronavirus cases and deaths for several weeks, state officials warned Monday. “Current models suggest we are likely several weeks away from a peak in the number of cases in Michigan,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health in Michigan, said at…
Gov. Whitmer moves to protect Michigan prisons as coronavirus spreads
As outlined in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s latest executive order, Michigan’s prison system will now have detailed “risk-reduction protocols” to protect vulnerable Michigan Department of Corrections’ faculty and incarcerated populations in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The number of positive COVID-19 cases throughout MDOC facilities doubled over the weekend. As of Sunday, 58…
State Rep. Isaac Robinson fought tirelessly for coronavirus victims until a suspected infection killed him
Just a day after the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Michigan on March 10, state Rep. Isaac Robinson sprung to action. “We need to protect our senior populations,” the Detroit Democrat emailed me. A few days later, he texted me: “Calling for swift action to protect our senior populations and those economically devastated by…
Dr. Fauci says he’s worried about coronavirus spread in Detroit
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the few experts who seems to be able to tame President Donald Trump, appeared on Good Morning America to explain the timeline of the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. — and issued a warning for Detroit.…
Confirmed coronavirus cases now top 5,000 in Michigan, with 132 dead, including 25-year-old WMU student
The number of positive coronavirus case in Michigan increased to 5,486, with 132 total deaths. Michigan identified 836 new infections and 21 new deaths on Sunday. Among the deaths was a 25-year-old Western Michigan University student, who is the youngest to die so far from the coronavirus in Michigan. His sister said he was denied…
Michigan could see more than 4,000 coronavirus deaths, according to study
The U.S. could see 81,000 deaths due to the coronavirus, with more than 4,000 here in Michigan, according to a University of Washington study. The analysis projects Michigan’s peak resource use date will come April 8. At that time, we’ll need 20,717 hospital beds and 3,306 intensive care unit beds. But there are only 10,154…
A Michigan doctor advises sanitizing groceries to prevent coronavirus spread — but others say washing produce with soap is a bad idea
A Michigan doctor is advising people to leave their groceries outside for three days before touching them to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. If that’s not possible, Dr. Jeffrey VanWingen, a family medicine doctor in Grand Rapids, says to thoroughly disinfect and remove any outside packaging. A recent study by U.S. government scientists found…
Coronavirus death toll in Michigan jumps to 111, with 4,650 positive cases
Michigan’s death toll from the coronavirus outbreak continues to surge, increasing from 92 on Friday to 111 on Saturday. The number of positive cases in the state rose by 993, bringing the total to 4,650. On Friday, Michigan ranked fifth in the U.S. in total confirmed infections and is on pace to soon pass California…
Detroit rapper Curtis Roach took TikTok by storm with ‘Bored in the House’ — the coronavirus quarantine anthem we need
For those of us who are well into the double-digit days of our coronavirus quarantine, being bored has become the new normal. By now, we’ve already binged Netflix’s Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness; meticulously cleaned, organized, re-organized, and labeled junk drawers and linen closets; and in some very specific cases, gotten stoned and handcrafted…
After demanding praise, Trump finally approves coronavirus aid for Michigan
Following days of threats to withhold federal disaster relief from Michigan because Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had been critical of him, President Donald Trump finally announced he approved the funds on Saturday. The major disaster declaration provides federal funding and assistance to State, tribal, and local recovery efforts. It also makes funding available for crisis counseling…
Detroit Police Chief and 39 of his officers have tested positive for coronavirus
Detroit Police Chief James Craig is the latest high-profile Detroiter to test positive for the coronavirus. At least 39 police officers have also tested positive. An additional 468 officers — or nearly a quarter of the police force — have been quarantined, posing a serious challenge in one of the nation’s most violent cities. In…
QLine service halted indefinitely due to coronavirus
Detroit’s QLine will completely cut its service for the foreseeable future. Officials say the streetcar service will temporarily cease at 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 29 due to the impact of the coronavirus, which has decreased transit demand on Woodward Avenue. The cut in service was also to help stop the spread of the disease.…
Coronavirus deaths rise to 92 in Michigan, with 3,657 positive cases
The coronavirus outbreak is showing no sign of letting up in Michigan as health officials announced 801 new positive cases and 32 new deaths Friday. Michigan’s death toll is now at 92, more than double what it was Wednesday. With 3,657 new positive cases, Michigan ranks fifth in the U.S. in total confirmed infections. With…
Another recreational marijuana dispensary opens in Oakland County
Another recreational marijuana dispensary is opening in Oakland County. Lume Cannabis Co.’s new Walled Lake location will begin selling recreational marijuana products on Saturday, and customers will receive a 10% discount for all online and phone pre-orders for curbside pick-up. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, dispensaries in Michigan are prohibited from letting customers and patients…
Trump doesn’t give a shit about Michigan, and he never did
President Donald Trump, famously, won the presidency in a surprise upset thanks in part to Michigan, where he eked out a win by some 10,000 votes. He seems to have forgotten that already. In response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s request for federal aid to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, Trump suggested he would withhold aid…
Henry Ford Health coronavirus treatment prioritized for patients likeliest to survive
A letter printed on Henry Ford Health System letterhead saying that coronavirus treatment will be prioritized for patients most likely to survive has gone viral. The hospital’s Twitter account confirmed the authenticity of the letter on Thursday night. “With a pandemic, we must be prepared for worst case,” the tweet said. “With collective wisdom from…
Nearly half of marijuana users stocked up for the coronavirus pandemic
Nearly half of marijuana users nationwide stocked up on cannabis during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a new survey of 990 pot consumers. The survey by AmericanMarijuana.org found that 48.7% of marijuana users stockpiled cannabis. In Michigan, marijuana was deemed “essential” on Monday, so recreational and medical dispensaries may continue selling cannabis, but only for…
Michigan nurse shares tearful plea after 13-hour shift treating coronavirus patients
A video showing a Michigan ICU nurse breaking down in tears while describing her harrowing first day treating coronavirus patients has gone viral. In the video, Melissa Steiner of Beaumont Health pleads for the public to take the coronavirus seriously, describing the experience as “like a war zone”: “So today was the first day that…
Detroit’s drive-through coronavirus testing facility opens Friday
As Detroit is fast becoming a hotspot for the coronavirus in the U.S., the city has partnered with the tri-county region, health care systems, and Dan Gilbert to create a drive-through testing facility that will test 400 people a day. The facility, located at Detroit’s State Fairgrounds near Eight Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, opens…
Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield on enlisting Detroit’s Bonny Doon as her new backing band, getting sober, and her new record
The first thing Katie Crutchfield says during our interview is, “Honestly, when I heard you were calling from Detroit, I thought: ‘Let’s just spend the whole interview talking about Bonny Doon!’ I would love to just do that…” We actually wound up talking to the singer-songwriter, who performs as Waxahatchee, about a lot more than…
A fifth of Detroit’s police force is now quarantined; 25 officers test positive for coronavirus
A fifth of Detroit’s police force is quarantined, and 25 officers have tested positive for the coronavirus, Mayor Mike Duggan said Thursday. The update comes after two members of the Detroit Police Department died from the coronavirus in the past week. Duggan also warned that Detroit, which has 868 positive cases and 15 deaths, is showing…
There’s a raunchy buddy-cop comedy coming to Netflix next week — and it’s set in Detroit
Looking to join the ranks of great films set in the Motor City like RoboCop, True Romance, 8 Mile, and Only Lovers Left Alive is Coffee & Kareem, a new Netflix exclusive starring Ed Helms and Empire star and Golden Globe-winner Taraji P. Henson. OK — so, maybe this raunchy buddy-cop movie isn’t gunning for…
Michigan’s coronavirus death toll reaches 60, with 564 new positive cases
The number of positive coronavirus cases in Michigan increased to 2,856, with 60 deaths now reported. Michigan on Thursday identified 564 new infections – the largest daily increase – and 17 new deaths. The uptick is creating a significant challenge for hospitals, which are reaching capacity and running out of ventilators, beds, and personal protection…
Michigan beer sales were up 36% the week before coronavirus shutdown
When news of the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold earlier this month, Michiganders got ready to hunker down by… stocking up on beer, apparently. According to Nielsen, Michigan beer sales were up 36% for the week ending March 14 compared to the same period in 2019. Those numbers topped all other states, except for…
Coronavirus outbreak to get much worse before it gets better, Michigan officials warn
The exponential growth of coronavirus cases will likely continue for a few weeks before new infections begin leveling off, state officials warned Thursday. “We are seeing an exponential growth in cases, especially in southeast Michigan,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical officer for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said during a press conference.…
Meijer to install plexiglass shields to combat coronavirus, removes Sandy the coin-operated pony
Michigan-based retailer Meijer announced Wednesday that it would be taking extra safety measures across its 248 supercenters as the coronavirus continues to sweep through the state. Deemed an essential business by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday, Meijer and other grocery stores are among those allowed to operate during the three-week stay at home order for…
Report: Detroit’s coronavirus infection rate is among the nation’s highest
The COVID-19 coronavirus infection rate of Detroit is among the nation’s highest — exceeded only by the greater New York City area and New Orleans. That’s according to an explosive report published Wednesday by Bridge magazine. Nearly a third of all of the state’s positive coronavirus cases are in Detroit, according to the report, even…
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office commander dies from coronavirus
A 63-year-old Wayne County Sheriff’s Office commander is the latest local law enforcement official to die from the coronavirus. Cmdr. Donafay Collins, a nearly 30-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was hospitalized for nearly two weeks before he died. He is survived by a wife and four children. As of Wednesday, 18 Wayne County Sheriff’s…
Detroit’s QLine streetcar service reduced due to the coronavirus
Officials say they are reducing the service of the QLine streetcar in response to decreased demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. The reduced service goes into effect on Thursday. Officials say the cuts to service amount to a 50% reduction, with two of the system’s total of six streetcars operating from 6 a.m-8 p.m. Monday…
The 2020 Freep Film Festival postponed until December due to the coronavirus
The 7th annual Freep Film Festival, which was originally scheduled for April 22-26, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organizers says the festival will now fall the first week of December, though an exact date is to be announced. “We need to keep the safety of our attendees, filmmakers, partners and staff as…
43.3% of adults in Michigan face elevated coronavirus risks
About 43.3 percent of Michigan adults are considered at risk of coronavirus complications due to age or pre-existing medical conditions, the 18th highest share among the 50 states, according to a study released March 17 by the website 24/7 Wall St. The share of adults over age 60 out of the total at-risk adult population…
Michigan’s new coronavirus cases near 2,300; death toll reaches 43
The number of coronavirus cases in Michigan grew to 2,295 on Wednesday, as the death toll rose to 43. The state reported 507 new cases in 31 counties as public and private labs continue to expand their capacity to test for COVID-19. But the state still has a significant shortage of testing kits, so health…
Jesus take the wheel: A militant Christian with a YouTube account brings salvation (and possibly the coronavirus) to Hamtramck
A recent article by the Harvard Business Review identifies the collective discomfort we are feeling amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic as a series of griefs. While some of the losses are obvious, like routine, normalcy, social activity, and adventure, grief expert David Kessler also says a lot of what we’re feeling is anticipatory grief. Though…
Council President Brenda Jones is challenging Rep. Rashida Tlaib for her congressional seat
Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones officially announced Wednesday that she’s going up against freshman U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Jones, 60, was among a large field of Democrats whom Tlaib defeated in the primary election in the 2018 Democratic primary. Tlaib narrowly beat Jones by fewer than 1,000 votes. Prior to that contest, Jones won…
Phone data shows that Michigan is very good at social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic
You deserve a six-feet-apart air high-five, Michigan. You’re killing the social distancing game, according to your phone data. New York and Norway-based data and analytics company Unacast revealed the findings of its “Social Distancing Scoreboard,” which shows just how good — or bad — of a job some states are doing at navigating this whole…
Detroit’s Eastern Market now offers online ordering and curbside pickup due to the coronavirus
Even though Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order instructing Michiganders to stay at home as much as possible for the next three weeks in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, you can still shop at Eastern Market — and avoid the crowds. Like many local businesses, Eastern Market is tweaking its model to…
2 TSA workers at Detroit Metro Airport tested positive for coronavirus
Two Transportation Security Administration workers at Detroit Metro Airport have tested positive for coronavirus, the agency has confirmed. One is a screening officer who worked at the North Terminal, Blue 1 security checkpoint. The other is a baggage officer who was at the Northern Terminal baggage screening room. The TSA said both employees have been…
Detroit community leader Marlowe Stoudamire dies of coronavirus, WDIV-TV morning news anchor Evrod Cassimy is recovering
Marlowe Stoudamire, a Detroit community leader and entrepreneur, died of the coronavirus on Tuesday, officials say. He was 43. Stoudamire’s the first publicly identified coronavirus-related death in Michigan. According to officials, he had no underlying health issues. “An amazing man, husband, friend and one of the best dads that I have ever met lost his…
Second Detroit police employee dies of coronavirus; nearly 300 officers are now quarantined
A second Detroit Police Department employee died after becoming infected with the coronavirus. The employee, who died Tuesday, was a commanding officer, but police didn’t divulge his rank, name, or age to give the department time to notify his family. “I don’t want to release the name out of respect to the family,” police Chief…
Horoscopes (March 25-31)
ARIES | March 21 – April 20: I wish I could tell you what you want to hear. There’s nothing to fear, but it looks like various forces are lining up to interfere with your plans. Let me remind you: Interference is inevitably God’s way of getting us back on track. Your control trips need…
Due to the coronavirus, we have to put Metro Retro on pause
As we count down to our 40th anniversary in October, we’ve been revisiting our archives to highlight Metro Times stories that resonate in 2020. Unfortunately, due the spreading of the coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive order for all non-essential businesses to close. We do not have access to MT’s print archives for…
How to profit from the plague
To write about politics is to become jaded. Time and time again, you watch people you admire disappoint you and idealism get overwhelmed by the seductive cocktail of power, ego, and money. This was always true. But it’s especially true in the Trump era, when the president has turned bad faith into both an art…
Savage Love: Should I still date during the coronavirus pandemic?
My question is on managing “gray area” intimacies during the pandemic. I have a lover/friend that I’ve been hanging out with — fucking, drinking tea, going on hikes, eating ice cream, watching movies, and other activities — for about nine months. He’s 36 and was married for 10 years and due to that experience he’s…
