Cover Stories
Detroit speculators hide their identities to avoid scrutiny — and it’s perfectly legal
This story was originally published by Outlier Media. Susan Newell remembers how her Detroit neighborhood emptied out seemingly overnight following the 2008 housing crash. Neighbors in Morningside, where she’s lived for more than 40 years, were forced out because they couldn’t pay their mortgage or tax bill. Absentee owners swooped in, bought houses for pennies…
What is property speculation — and who’s doing it in Detroit?
This story was originally published by Outlier Media. Property speculators have wreaked havoc on Detroit over the last decade. Some of the effects are easy to see: blighted properties that fall apart bit by bit for years. Some are easy to feel: historic buildings that sit vacant. Others are easy to measure, like lost tax…
Dennis Kefallinos: Detroit’s most notorious speculator
This story was originally published by Outlier Media. Wayne State University was looking for a buyer for its shuttered Shapero Hall near downtown in 2007. The brick building from the 1950s once housed the university’s pharmacy program, but had been vacant for years. The school was eager to sell to a developer who would save…
Four new movies to watch in November — in a theater!
As life becomes more lived in, I notice I have less time to spend at the movie theater, so when I’m finally able to go, I really like to take advantage of it and stuff as many movies into one visit as humanly possible. One of the worst parts of doing that? Spending eight or…
Bipartisan bills aim to end Michigan’s wealth-based bail
Michigan lawmakers are considering a historic bipartisan package of pretrial reforms aimed at transforming the state’s criminal justice system by reducing wealth-based detention, strengthening due process, and ensuring fairer pretrial decision-making. On Tuesday, the House Criminal Justice Committee heard testimony on the bills — 4655-4656 and 4658-4661 — which, if passed, would bring sweeping changes…
Glenlore Trails opens winter-themed ‘Aurora’ edition this week
Michigan’s Glenlore Trails is kicking off its winter wonderland edition on Friday. Dubbed “Aurora,” the kid-friendly, illuminated, technologically enhanced nature trail has a host of new features this year, including a revised pathway and “magic wands” that unlock interactive surprises along the trail. That’s in addition to other touch-sensitive installations, motion-triggered displays, holiday songs and…
The White Stripes dismiss copyright lawsuit against Trump over ‘Seven Nation Army’
The White Stripes have decided to drop their copyright infringement lawsuit against former President Donald Trump after the unauthorized use of their hit song “Seven Nation Army” in a Trump campaign video earlier this year. Jack White and former bandmate Meg White filed a short notice on Monday to dismiss the case “without prejudice,” allowing…
Tickets are now on sale for the 5th annual Whiskey in the Winter
It’s nearly wintertime in Detroit, which means it’s time to get cozy, hunker down, and sip whiskey with friends. That’s what Metro Times’s annual Whiskey in the Winter is all about. The 5th annual whiskey tasting event is set for 7-10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 at the Detroit Shipping Co. food hall. Tickets are…
Detroit’s Campus Martius ice rink opens 21st season with new lounge
Detroit’s iconic outdoor ice skating rink at Campus Martius is set to open its 21st season next week, with a festive weekend celebration that includes themed skate parties, live DJs, and special guest appearances. Hosted by the Downtown Detroit Partnership and presented by Visit Detroit, The Rink at Campus Martius attracts nearly 100,000 visitors each…
Neo-Nazis gather outside Anne Frank play in Howell, waving Swastika flags
Masked white supremacists waving Nazi flags gathered outside an American Legion Post that was hosting a performance of The Diary of Anne Frank in Howell on Saturday night. The Fowlerville Community Theater put on the play, which depicts a young Jewish girl’s life in hiding during the Nazi occupation. “It’s historical and something people can…
Young Detroiter transforms westside building into a community bookstore
Jerjuan Howard’s love for his community shines bright. The 26-year-old Detroit westsider is transforming a long-abandoned building on Puritan Avenue into the Howard Family Bookstore — a space he envisions as a hub for books, coffee, and connection, grounded in literacy, local history, and empowerment. Just blocks from his middle school and childhood home, which…
Lapointe: The Trump Train pulls into Crazytown
Every now and then, even Donald Trump tells the truth, sometimes accidentally in a rhetorical question. This occurred last Wednesday morning when the felonious former Republican president crowed to a crowd in Florida after beating Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election for the White House. “Look what happened,” the 78-year-old demagogue…
Made-in-Detroit ‘Mad’ documentary is no joke
There’s an inherent tension at being impatient with the state of the world that is found at the core of the creative arts and, especially, satire. It is also found in a Pleasant Ridge filmmaker’s willingness to jump in with both feet to tell the tale of the culture-changing humor magazine, Mad. While working a…
Michigan cannabis firm pushes back against ‘defamatory’ allegations from state regulators
Trucenta, a large cannabis company operating processing plants in Hazel Park and Warren, has addressed accusations of misconduct, describing the stance of state regulators as “defamatory and one-sided.” In a statement issued Friday, Trucenta said it’s committed to “transparency and cooperation” with the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), which is investigating the company. Last week,…
Most Michigan Muslims voted for Jill Stein, followed by Trump, exit poll suggests
Many Arab Americans in Michigan followed through on their pledge to vote against Kamala Harris on Tuesday, with fewer than one in seven Muslims casting a ballot for the Democratic nominee, according to an exit poll released Friday. In fact, about 59% of the state’s Muslim residents voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, according…
Metro Times is searching for Michigan’s best cannabis with new column
As Michigan’s cannabis market continues to grow, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer variety of products on dispensary shelves. Walking into a dispensary can be a sensory overload — rows of flower jars, glistening concentrates, and pre-rolled joints promising everything from deep relaxation to boundless energy. But with hundreds of choices, how do…
Duggan’s upcoming political announcement could reshape Detroit’s future
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is set to reveal his plans for his political future next week, an announcement that is expected to trigger a wave of political activity. The third-term mayor has not yet hinted about his next move, but many political observers are speculating that the Democrat plans to run for governor in 2026.…
House of Dank Continues Annual Turkey Drive Tradition & Brings Back Canned Food Drive for 2nd Year
MICHIGAN – November 2024 – House of Dank, a prominent name in Michigan’s cannabis community, is proud to announce the return of two signature charitable events this holiday season: the Annual Joint Efforts Thanksgiving Turkey Drive and the Canned Food Drive. These initiatives reflect House of Dank’s commitment to giving back to Michigan communities, ensuring…
Sexism and disillusionment drove Trump’s win in Michigan
Donald Trump, a fear-mongering, convicted felon accused of sexually assaulting numerous women and inciting a violent insurrection in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in Michigan, a key battleground state where he had lost by more than 154,000 votes four years ago. Trump went on to win the…
Free Will Astrology (Nov. 6-12)
ARIES (March 21-April 19): I rarely recommend acquisitive behavior. But my analysis of the astrological omens tells me you now have cosmic authorization to indulge in a sublime version of voracity. We might also refer to it as a license to practice a spiritually correct variety of greed. Here’s the fine print: You should NOT…
