Daily Detroit

The Pistons' playoff run ends in heartbreak. A teen takeover shooting in downtown Detroit forces hard conversations about blame and perspective — as well as holding multiple thngs to be true at the same time. Plus, the Business of Food Summit reveals how Metro Detroit's food scene really works. And we ask the question - what counts as metro Detroit? When it comes to dining out, in reality, it's a...

In this episode, Jer and Norris sit down with Ian John Solomon, better known as Ian Outside, an outdoor reporter, artist, and one of the Midwest's most powerful voices for environmental storytelling. Ian has become a champion for Black outdoor recreation in Detroit and MIchigan through his work, involved in everything from policy to organization to journalism — on top of a great social media prese...

Detroit has posted population gains for the third consecutive year, adding more than 5,000 residents and leading the entire state in growth. Two city residents and a former resident discuss the Census Bureau data showing Detroit now has nearly 650,000 people.  The conversation explores what's driving the comeback — from intentional investments in housing and small businesses to the city's unique c...

A black bear near Flat Rock, a massive water main break in northern Oakland County, and one of Detroit's most talked‑about restaurants changing course all add up to a busy epsiode. We start with Norris History Month updates and a few fun picks, from Deluxx Fluxx and SPKRBOX to a Mother's Day dinner at Bar Pigalle in Brush Park. Then we dig into reports of a possible black bear sighting in southern...

Ferndale Pride executive director Julia Music joins us to preview this year's mile-long joyous celebration on West Nine Mile – from a new creamsicle Pride beer to drag, street waffles, stages, and a sensory-friendly zone.  Find out where all the fun and connections are for this free festival on 5/30/26. And be sure to say hey at our Pride arch and get a special edition sticker! More: https://fernd...

Lifelong Detroiter Jerrylyn Cope Howard joins us to share what it's really been like to grow up, raise a family, and stay rooted in the city for decades. From Hudson's and Kresge's ice cream waffle sandwiches to the 1967 uprising, STRESS and the Big Four, legendary nightclubs, Gantos at Northland Mall, and today's rooftop bars, she traces how Detroit has changed — and why she still loves it. We ge...

Jer and Devon are back at the table, kicking things off with Devon's recent trip to Pittsburgh and what Detroit can learn from its dense, walkable core, lively riverfront, and reuse of historic buildings. Then they swing back home as Jer heads up to the rooftop at The Godfrey to check in on the views, vibes, and espresso martini trees lighting up the night crowd. Devon pushes back on the idea that...

Today on Daily Detroit, we're back into our series of candidate discussions as Dr. Abdul El‑Sayed, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Michigan joins me. We get into why he's getting back into the political arena, his case for Medicare for All (and his case to people who worry they'll lose their current benefits), and what he thinks a U.S. Senator can really do on healthcare with a Republica...

Detroit is having a week full of newness — and we've got all of it. PWHL Detroit is officially happening: the city's new Professional Women's Hockey League franchise will play at Little Caesar's Arena starting in the 2026–2027 season, in black, silver, and a hint of Red Wings red. The PWHL Awards and entry draft are coming to Detroit on June 16th and 17th, and roster building kicks off May 28th. N...

Filmmaker Hannah Fahoome of Now Listen Here Young Lady LLC joins Jer Staes and Norris Howard to talk about Arab Film Fest After Dark — an interactive afterparty she's been building around the Arab Film Festival for over three years. The Arab Film Festival runs Tuesday, May 5th through Sunday, May 10th at the Arab American National Museum in East Dearborn. It's been going for over 20 years and feat...

Gas is suddenly a lot more expensive in Michigan — and Spirit Airlines just shut down for good. Jer talks with GasBuddy head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan about Great Lakes refinery outages, record diesel and jet fuel prices, how a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is pushing costs higher, and why that fuel shock helped finish off Metro Detroit–founded Spirit Airlines. After, Jer digs into...

We break down fresh polling data from the Detroit Regional Chamber and Glengariff on Michigan's August 2026 primaries. With 36% of Democratic voters still undecided in the Senate race, this election is anyone's game. Plus, we get into the Republican and Democratic primary landscapes, examining Donald Trump's 85.9% favorability among GOP voters, Jocelyn Benson's commanding 58-point lead in the Demo...

Ferndale is bucking the trend. While most of Detroit's inner-ring suburbs are losing people, Ferndale has grown 1.3% since 2020 — outpacing every municipality that touches Detroit's city limits.  We dig into new population data highlighted by the Detroit Free Press and ask what makes Ferndale different: walkable neighborhoods, a real downtown at Woodward and Nine Mile, a strong LGBTQ community, an...

In this two-parter, we start with Detroit's birds and end with Detroiters eating dessert. Science and snacks, basically. First up, we talk with University of Michigan alum and Defenders of Wildlife science and policy analyst Natalie Madden about a new meta-analysis on how urban noise affects birds. They get into what a "study of studies" actually is, why everyday city sounds can mess with bird com...

Detroit's Friday crew is back! We kick things off a hidden "speakeasy of coffee" called Sml Wrld Cafe on Gratiot in Detroit, and why now is the time to get your yard and urban garden in order. Plus, the historic Detroit Boat Club is on getting on track for a major revival into a public-facing hub with restaurants, events, and rowing education. Jer also checked out the new Cadillac Arts Center near...

Detroit's downtown housing study is back, and the headline is clear: there's still a lot of runway to grow. Norris and I dig into what so many potential new units really means and how incentives, red tape, and construction costs shape what actually gets built. Then we get into lessons from Ann Arbor's plan to turn a parking lot into a library-and-housing hub, and what real urban density could look...

Eastern Market is best known as a Saturday tradition and Flower Day selfie spot. But it's also one of the beating hearts of Michigan's food system. In this episode, I sit down with Eastern Market Partnership president and CEO Katy Trudeau at TechTown to unpack how this 120-year-old market is adapting for 2026 and beyond. Katy explains how the historic sheds anchor a 24/7 neighborhood where live an...

On today's Daily Detroit, we dig into a fresh Emerson College poll that shakes up the Michigan U.S. Senate race. If their numbers are right, the Democratic primary is suddenly a two-person contest, with Abdul El‑Sayed and Mallory McMorrow tied at the top and Haley Stevens slipping into third, even as more than a third of voters are still undecided. We talk through the big generational split drivin...

On today's Daily Detroit, we unpack Detroit's new $3 billion city budget that was just approved and what it actually means for people who live, work, and play in the city. I'm joined by Civic Life reporter Briana Rice from Outlier Media and public finance expert Steve Watson of Watson & Yates to walk through where the money's going, what got reshuffled, and what that means on your block. We get in...

Today's show comes to you from the Ford Experience Center in Dearborn, as Jer catches up with Devon O'Reilly at the city's first‑ever Dearborn Development Day. They dig into the future of the former Hyatt hotel at Fairlane — now moving forward as a Hilton‑flagged property — with plans for 168 residential units, a mix of restaurants and entertainment, and a revived rotating bar at the top. From the...

On today's Daily Detroit, Jer sits down with developer and Greatwater Homes co-founder Matt Temkin to unpack what it really takes to build brand-new single-family houses inside the city limits. After all, there were only 19 permits pulled in 2024 in Detroit. We dig into the brutal math behind new construction: why a typical unit can cost $250,000–$400,000 to build, how the "1% rent rule" prices ma...

On today's Daily Detroit, a fast-moving, food-and-development-heavy episode rooted in what's changing on the ground in metro Detroit.  Jer is joined by Devon O'Reilly and Norris Howard for a full-table conversation that spans ballparks, the best places to eat, and big bets on Dearborn's future. The crew starts with Opening Day, as Norris recounts one of the most beautiful Tigers home openers he's...

On today's Daily Detroit, I'm joined by the Prince of Brightmoor himself, Norris Howard, for a conversation about what kind of city and community we actually want to build. We start with the University of Michigan men's basketball national championship, how a starting five of transfers signals a new era in college hoops, and why I'm choosing some hope for the Detroit Pistons. From there, we dive i...

Today I'm at the table at TechTown with Life Remodeled president and CEO Diallo Smith, along with Norris Howard.  We get into how this Detroit‑based nonprofit is transforming vacant school buildings into "opportunity hubs" that connect entire families to education, jobs, and essential services in their own neighborhoods. Diallo walks us through the rebirth of Durfee Intermediate as the Durfee Inno...

Detroit is finally seeing population growth and net positive migration — and a new coalition called  Move Detroit wants to keep that momentum going.  Our guest is Hilary Doe, president and CEO of MoveDetroit, to unpack a new incentive fund paid for by a number of partners, the Make Detroit Home program, and a neighborhood ambassador effort designed to keep and attract residents, entrepreneurs, and...