Cover Story
Illegal document purge in Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office blocks freedom for the wrongfully convicted
Wayne County illegally destroyed troves of criminal files allegedly when Mayor Mike Duggan was the elected prosecutor, creating a staggering obstacle for wrongfully convicted inmates seeking to prove their innocence, Metro Times has learned. Between 2001 and 2004, while Duggan was prosecutor, most if not all misdemeanor and felony records from 1995 and earlier were…
Ann Arbor planted 10,000 trees six years ahead of goal
The City of Ann Arbor has reached a major milestone in its A2ZERO carbon neutrality plan, completing the goal of planting 10,000 trees on private property six years ahead of schedule. The achievement is one of over 40 actions outlined in the A2ZERO plan, which aims to make the city carbon neutral by 2030. A…
Sepia Coffee Project opens in former Gathering Coffee Co. space
The space at 2831 E. Grand Blvd. in Detroit wasn’t empty for long. Just a few weeks after Gathering Coffee Co.’s final day on Sept. 8, a new coffee shop is set to take its place. Highland Park-based Sepia Coffee Project, a roasting company founded by Martell Mason in 2021, will open its first sit-down…
Limited-time Detroit Coney Chicago-style pizza at Uno Pizzeria supports local foster children
To celebrate National Pizza Month in October, Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Farmington Hills is serving up a Detroit Coney Chicago-style pizza, a unique creation combining Detroit’s beloved coney dog and Uno’s famous Chicago deep-dish pizza. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of the limited-edition delicacy will be donated to the Oakland County…
Detroit rapper Lom Rudy on surviving three shootings, and his new album
The hip-hop artist known as Lom Rudy is sitting inside of Royal Oak’s Northside Audio studio texting, returning calls, and preparing to hop behind the mic. Dressed in all black and a pair of white Nike Air Force 1s, he’s talking to the studio engineer about a verse for a feature he wants to record…
Dirty Shake bar to open in Detroit’s Midtown this fall
For its latest bar, the team behind upscale spots Freya, Dragonfly, and Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails in Detroit and The Oakland in Ferndale are trying something a little different. Planned to open at 4642 Second Ave. in Detroit’s Midtown this fall, Dirty Shake is intended to be more of a “no frills” neighborhood bar. “Dirty…
Michigan State Police troopers accused of racial profiling, mocking Black motorist in false DUI arrest
A motorist is suing Michigan State Police after troopers arrested him on false claims that he was intoxicated when they pulled him over in Benton Harbor shortly after 3 a.m. on April 10. Dakarai Larriett, who is Black, claims he was racially profiled when troopers pulled over his Cadillac SUV, mocked his name, and suggested…
Leni Sinclair invited to sign Detroit’s Scarab Club beams
Rock ’n’ roll photographer Leni Sinclair is set to autograph the beams of Detroit’s Scarab Club, signing an exclusive guestbook of sorts that includes artists like LeRoy Foster, Diego Rivera, Marcel Duchamp, and Isamu Noguchi, among others. Sinclair will sign the beams during the opening reception for Detroit Leni: a Leni Sinclair Retrospective from 1-5…
Tesla, Subaru drivers the worst in Michigan, according to new report
Michigan’s tech bros and lesbians apparently have one thing in common: they’re bad at driving. According to the recent “2024 Michigan Driver Report” by Lending Tree, Tesla and Subaru drivers top the list for traffic incidents in the state. With 23.4 incidents per 1,000 drivers, these trending brands outrank Ram, BMW, and Infiniti for accidents…
Detroit, come on down! ‘The Price is Right Live’ is coming to the Fox Theatre
Detroiters have a chance to spin the Big Wheel. The Price is Right Live, the traveling stage version of the popular, long-running TV game show of the same name, is heading to Detroit’s Fox Theatre at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 at 10…
Lapointe: Detroit sports fans finally high on their own, local supply
During Saturday’s long rain delay at soggy and foggy Comerica Park, the big scoreboard in left field showed glimpses of the Michigan Wolverines down the road in misty Ann Arbor, defending their national college football championship. Despite that visual stimulation, the baseball fans chanted “Let’s go, Tigers!” although the tarp remained on the field and…
Downtown tax incentives are exacerbating the ‘two Detroits’ problem: report
Tax incentives for Dan Gilbert and other downtown Detroit developers aren’t providing promised benefits that Mayor Mike Duggan and allied business leaders said would spill over to the rest of the city’s residents, a new report finds. That has created a situation in which the wealthiest residents are largely the beneficiaries of the city’s controversial…
Election deniers pose a significant threat to Michigan’s presidential election, watchdog group warns
A nonprofit watchdog group is raising alarms about the potential for election deniers to disrupt Michigan’s upcoming presidential election, warning that some local officials may try to subvert election processes and perpetuate false narratives about voter fraud. Informing Democracy published a report Friday that highlights concerns that election deniers, including county clerks and members of…
Detroit City Distillery announces absinthe and Halloween pop-up
A Halloween pop-up and a rare absinthe are coming soon to Detroit City Distillery, perfectly kicking off the spooky season. On Oct. 4, Dead City Distillery will take over DCD’s Tasting Room on Riopelle Street in Eastern Market. Alongside the festivities, the distillery is introducing Absinthe Supérieure Isabella, a 136-proof spirit that’s as mysterious as…
Lake Michigan temps are breaking records
This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WBEZ and Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for WBEZ newsletters to get local news you can trust. On a sunny, mid-September afternoon, Olu Demuren took a running start off the concrete ledge…
A Delicious Farewell to a Season of Fun and Adventure!
Holly, MI – September 27th – September 29th, 2024 – Calling all dessert lovers and festival enthusiasts! The Michigan Renaissance Festival is gearing up for its final weekend, and it promises to be a “Sweet Ending” to an unforgettable season. This is your last chance to step into the enchanting Valley and experience the magic,…
Whistleblower alleges unsanitary conditions, contaminated equipment at 2 DMC hospitals in Detroit
A former employee of the housekeeping and environmental services company contracted to clean Detroit’s Harper-Hutzel Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Michigan has filed a lawsuit, alleging he was fired and discriminated against in retaliation for blowing the whistle on unsanitary conditions in operating rooms, patient areas, and baby delivery rooms. The lawsuit was filed last…
Viral Facebook post shows decline of a Detroit block — but that’s not the full story
A social media post showing the dramatic deterioration of a Detroit block is making the rounds on Facebook, garnering hundreds of shares and comments. The photos show nicely manicured properties in 2009 that have become overgrown with weeds and damaged by fire by 2013 — a stunning downfall in just a five-year span. The comments…
Art Fair Detroit is happening this weekend – here’s what to know
Art lovers, get ready! Over 180 artists, most of them from Detroit, will be showcasing and selling their work at five different locations across the city during Art Fair Detroit, running this weekend from Sept. 27-29. The event is being organized by ArtClvb, a new platform revolutionizing how artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts connect within…
Detroit’s Puma restaurant draws inspiration from Argentina, South America, and beyond
Puma does Argentina without the beef. Well, not quite, but there’s not the focus on cow meat you might expect from an Argentinian chef: Javier Bardauil, whose upscale Barda, just a block away, was a James Beard Foundation finalist for best new restaurant in 2022. The dearth of beef is not a complaint. Instead, Puma…
Viral ‘Walmart yodeler’ Mason Ramsey brings coming of age tour to Detroit
Mason Ramsey, who first captured the world’s attention at just 11 years old when a video of him yodeling “Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams in an Illinois Walmart went viral, is all grown up. Now 17, the rising country star is celebrating the release of his album, I’ll See You In My Dreams. As the…
Opinion: Hyde harms us here in Michigan. It’s time for Hyde to go.
Historically and currently, the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health care (SRH) is embedded in a fabric of colonialism, racial capitalism, carcerality, white supremacy, and cis-heteropatriarchy. As a growing community organizer who aims to center abolition and reproductive justice through the praxis of Black Queer Feminist Theory and as a family medicine physician who provides…
Detroit’s ‘Bridgerton Ball’ slammed as a scam
A Bridgerton-themed ball held at Detroit’s Harmonie Club on Sunday turned into a massive disappointment, with many attendees calling it a scam. The event, based on the hit Netflix TV show, was organized by Uncle & Me Event Management and left guests frustrated with allegations of poor organization, minimal staff, nowhere to sit, and vendors…
Free Will Astrology (Sept. 25-Oct. 1)
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Here comes the Hating and Mating Season. I want to help you minimize the “hating” part and maximize the “mating” part, so I will offer useful suggestions. 1. To the degree that you can, dissolve grudges and declare amnesty for intimate allies who have bugged you. 2. Ask your partners to…
