Daily Detroit

Norris Howard and I are back at the studio breaking down where key Michigan races and statewide ballot proposals stand as we head into the home stretch of the 2026 election season. We took into account your feedback to cover some more topics. What We Cover in This Episode: The U.S. Senate Race: We dive into the latest polling averages from Decision Desk HQ showing Abdul El-Sayed building a lead ov...

Food and fun today on your Daily Detroit! Norris tried the new brick and mortar Waka in Eastern Market; Jer stopped by Cafe Noir's second location that's new in downtown Detroit by the Huntington Place convention center. Plus, Little Ghost is opening a second spot in the Pointes, plus we get into some other favs of ours. Plus, Detroit City won their final home game while a man down, bringing a pla...

With less than a month to go before Election Day, the Daily Detroit panel dives into Michigan's key debate matchups and the changing political dynamics across the state. Jer, Norris, and Devon break down the first head-to-head general election debates for Michigan Governor and U.S. Senate hosted in Grand Rapids. The crew discusses the contrast in styles, the lack of concrete policy proposals on bi...

Jer is alive after judging a Malört cocktail contest at the Old Miami. Norris joins in, and on the heels of Grandma Bob's opening a West Village location... says that Detroit is the Pizza Capitol of America. The Rundown: 00:58 - Malort Madness: The Best Malort Cocktail In Michigan, as tasted at the Old Miami 06:19  - MoveDetroit makes grants to support growing the city's population, and claims ear...

The Rundown: 01:04 - Favorite Halloween costumes 03:54 - The Lions were bad, the Wings feel dead, but there is a second-place Detroit sports team to get on the bandwagon for  09:00 - It's Michigan Debate Week: Governor, Senate candidates square off Tuesday, Thursday 20:31 -  New Affordable Housing project near Eastern Market 23:44 - A little Old Miami love.. and yes, I'm gonna drink Malort Feedbac...

On today's episode, fall is in the air! From where to go to the news you need to know, we have you covered. The Rundown: Fall Outings in Metro Detroit - Devon makes the case for why you should take your family to the Heritage Park Petting Farm in Taylor, and Jer talks about his sneek peek of Elmwood Alight, a sensory light-mapping and art installation inside Detroit's historic Elmwood Cemetery.  ...

Detroit development, better bus stops, and a major manufacturing push lead today's show. Waka by Baobab Fare is now open in Eastern Market! Ferndale Pride moves to August 7, 2027, as West Nine Mile in Downton Ferndale gets resurfaced. Lee Plaza's first phase is on track for year-end completion, working on 117 affordable apartments to West Grand Boulevard. Arcterra, the 288-unit downtown apartment...

Detroit's budget picture continues to improve. But what does that mean for residents, city services, and the big redevelopment projects now under discussion? I sat down with expert Steve Watson of Watson & Yates to talk through the current situation and the financial logic behind why Detroit needs growth. We look into the proposed Renaissance Center redevelopment we talked about on the show last w...

Big show to wrap up the week. Today we are on location at Jabal Coffee House on Mason Street in West Dearborn to kick off Dearborn Coffee Week! Norris, and Devon join me around the table to taste-test Yemeni lattes, Sanani coffee, and tasty cakes while talking about what to know and where to go in Metro Detroit. Topics: Dearborn Coffee Capital: How coffee shops have officially taken over as Metro...

What do you do with 5.3 million square feet of concrete and glass when the world it was built for no longer exists? Built in the 1970s as a corporate fortress to keep the city out, the Renaissance Center in Detroit stands today as a monument to a mid-century urban planning thesis that has completely collapsed. RenCen office occupancy sits under 10%, construction costs are up 55% over the last deca...

We brought the mobile studio out to the Detroit Sandwich Party to talk with you about all things between two slices of bread. In this episode, we tackle the big questions. Matt from Detroit shares his grilled cheese mayo trick and explains why a sandwich needs to be a stable delivery system. Terry stops by to show some love for fried bologna and sweet tea.  Lauren breaks down her favorite New York...

Hey friends, we're back in the studio talking through a big batch of local news today. First up, Comerica Park has been renamed "Fifth Third Park." Norris and I break down why this rebrand feels so flat, what it says about corporate naming rights, and why Detroiters are probably just going to keep calling it what they want anyway. Plus, there's already a Fifth Third Park in Spartanburg. Then, we j...

We're breaking down what's happening around Metro Detroit. From local lunch spots to rooftop reservation changes to a Midtown coffee shop closure, skyrocketing gas prices, and a debate on the future of our local sports franchises. Here's today's rundown: 01:33 — Where we've been: Uncs for Lunch. Devon checks out Uncs for lunch and breaks down the space, menu, and midday vibe. 05:19 — Pine Hall now...

The Michelin Guide is bringing its Great Lakes ceremony to Detroit next April, and people have a lot of questions. What does a Michelin presence actually mean for our local food scene? How do diners, chefs, and journalists navigate the hype? To break it down, Detroit News restaurant critic Melody Baetens stopped by the TechTown studio. We talk about what those stars actually represent, what inspec...

Norris and I sit down with Edmund Gray, CEO of Kissmet Music Group, for a conversation that I found completely fascinating in the context of today's fast-changing world.  Edmund is the creator behind Zhaion, an AI-hybrid R&B project grounded right here in Detroit, complete with a promotion online, free-to-play 8-bit game based on driving The Lodge. Rather than hiding the tech behind a curtain, Edm...

A proposed Wayne and Oakland county millage could reshape access and provide ongoing sustainability to two of Metro Detroit's cornerstone historic institutions.  Jer Staes and Norris Howard are joined by Elana Rugh, president and CEO of the Detroit Historical Society, and Neil Barclay, president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The proposal would support free ad...

On today's show, Norris Howard and I dig into SMART's new Route 500, which restores service to Hamtramck for the first time in more than a decade. It's a new bus connection between downtown Detroit, the DMC, Hamtramck, the North End, and the Bel Air Center.  It matters for a city like Hamtramck where about one in five households does not have a vehicle, and it also gives fans another way to get to...

Ahead of the weekend, Devon and I break down my visit to Cosm Detroit, the new high-tech venue in downtown that's gotten a ton of buzz. The tech and immersive dome are very impressive, but dynamic pricing means ticket costs can jump in a hurry depending on what you're seeing. We debate - is dynamic pricing the way to go?  Plus, we also dive into some great local news with Cass Cafe returning to Mi...

After severe storms and a tornado swept through Detroit over the Labor Day weekend, leaving many across the region without electricity for days (including yours truly for a second holiday weekend this year, totaling nearly two weeks without power), Norris Howard and I break down the Detroit City Council's unanimous vote to explore alternatives to DTE Energy. We discuss the council's decision, look...

Before we get started, apologies as this episode is about a day behind. My neighborhood was the one in Detroit that was hit by an EF2 tornado, bringing 115 mph winds, downed trees, and damage. Apologies, and we'll talk more about what happened next week. Main show: As it's Labor Day weekend, we thought we'd bring the fun. Devon O'Reilly joins me as we review Ray's Hometown Bar, the retro-inspired,...

Today, we're learning about the massive capital investments heading to Detroit's East Side — specifically around Gratiot, 7 Mile, and Denby-Whittier.  To do it, Norris Howard and I sit down at our TechTown studio with Kala Gibson, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer for Fifth Third Bank.  Kala shares his personal story growing up in Detroit, how a neighborhood bank closing shaped his career, an...

We're kicking off September with our ultimate preview of what's happening and what we're keeping our eyes on across Metro Detroit this month. Norris Howard joins me to talk about the most interesting events on the calendar, including the month-long Detroit Month of Design, Labor Day festival traditions like the Detroit Jazz Fest and much more. We also break down the major local stories and trends...

While major downtown developments often capture the headlines, neighborhood parks across the city of Detroit's 139 square miles are getting critical investments driven directly by community feedback, with funding support from the philanthropic community. In this episode, I sit down at our TechTown studio with JJ Vélez, Senior Director of Public Space for the Gilbert Family Foundation. We dig into...

Norris Howard and I tackle a packed Wednesday edition of Daily Detroit. We break down the mounting tensions in the U.S.-Canada trade dispute and respond to political rhetoric proposing to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America." Plus, we pay tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton. Then it's a recap of our weekend trip to see Detroit City FC win over Tampa Bay with one of the best keeper saves we've...

The Detroit Sandwich Party is back and bigger than ever, doubling its footprint at Eastern Market on September 6th with 50 vendors, kid-friendly games, and even... carbonated pickle juice. Organizer and sandwich lover Carlos Parisi joins the show to walk us through this year's massive expansion into the Shed 5 parking lot, share pro tips for getting the most out of the event, and we tease some of...