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Detroit's freight boom puts truck rules to the test

A terminal expansion could put Detroit's new truck restrictions to the test.

News

More trucks are expected at a major Southwest Detroit freight terminal as it expands — testing the city&#x27;s recent progress <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="keeping them off neighborhood streets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/10/02/truck-traffic-restrictions-southwest-ban" data-vars-content-id="1658d881-c715-437a-8152-156372eacd92" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s freight boom puts truck rules to the test" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/10/02/truck-traffic-restrictions-southwest-ban" target="_self">keeping them off neighborhood streets</a>.Why it matters: Southwest Detroit residents have endured decades of heavy truck traffic that brings noise, pollution and safety concerns to residential streets.

Dolly Parton's impact in Michigan and across the country

As tributes roll in, the performer's legacy stretches wide.

Culture

An outpouring of tributes from local musicians followed Dolly Parton&#x27;s death Tuesday at 80, including from Eminem, who shared a heartfelt <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="letter she wrote him" data-vars-click-url="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/people/2026/08/25/eminem-and-other-detroit-musicians-honor-dolly-parton-on-social-media/91465418007/" data-vars-content-id="8e340cb5-8fc9-4a71-a802-fc10ea239c37" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton&#x27;s impact in Michigan and across the country" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/people/2026/08/25/eminem-and-other-detroit-musicians-honor-dolly-parton-on-social-media/91465418007/" target="_blank">letter she wrote him</a>.

Solo travel takes off in Metro Detroit

Searches are soaring as travelers embrace freedom, spontaneity and new connections.

Google searches for &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="solo travel" data-vars-click-url="https://trends.google.com/explore?geo=505&amp;q=solo%2520travel&amp;date=all" data-vars-content-id="ab2f88e7-263a-49c8-b78a-49d9b7a1dfff" data-vars-headline="Solo travel takes off in Metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://trends.google.com/explore?geo=505&amp;q=solo%2520travel&amp;date=all" target="_blank">solo travel</a>&quot; hit a nationwide record high in 2026, including in Metro Detroit, where searches peaked in February.Why it matters: Solo travel is booming as more people embrace the freedom to go wherever they want, whenever they want — without waiting for someone else&#x27;s PTO to line up.

Banana coffee takes off in Metro Detroit

Banana is popping up in lattes and matcha across local coffee shops.

Food and Drink

Already the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most-eaten" data-vars-click-url="https://yougov.com/en-us/ratings/fruits" data-vars-content-id="4e4f59ee-c2f2-4e90-9216-3b07855549aa" data-vars-headline="Banana coffee takes off in Metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://yougov.com/en-us/ratings/fruits" target="_blank">most-eaten</a> fresh fruit in America, bananas are ripe for the beverage market beyond smoothies in Metro Detroit and across the country.By the numbers: Banana is the fastest-growing beverage ingredient flavor over the past year at restaurants, per Circana market data.

Wildfire smoke blankets Metro Detroit

Smoke remains at dangerous levels before a cold front brings cleaner air this weekend.

Canadian <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfire smoke" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/08/19/state-launches-new-wildfire-website" data-vars-content-id="aaeb0ef2-0be9-4a04-9e6b-314d2b353311" data-vars-headline="Wildfire smoke blankets Metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/08/19/state-launches-new-wildfire-website" target="_self">wildfire smoke</a> will continue blanketing Metro Detroit on Friday, though a weekend cold front is expected to finally bring relief.Why it matters: The smoke pushed the region&#x27;s air pollution to historically high levels Thursday.

Detroit winters are getting shorter

A new Climate Central analysis finds winter now starts later and/or ends earlier in Detroit.

Climate change has shaved more than a week off of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Detroit&#x27;s winters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/01/21/arctic-cold-snap-subzero-temperatures-weather" data-vars-content-id="581960a2-986f-48d2-9b59-fc7e148a5830" data-vars-headline="Detroit winters are getting shorter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/01/21/arctic-cold-snap-subzero-temperatures-weather" target="_self">Detroit&#x27;s winters</a> in recent years.The big picture: This winter has been brutally cold, snowy and icy for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="millions of Americans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/blizzard-warning-travel-ban-new-york-jersey" data-vars-content-id="581960a2-986f-48d2-9b59-fc7e148a5830" data-vars-headline="Detroit winters are getting shorter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/blizzard-warning-travel-ban-new-york-jersey" target="_self">millions of Americans</a> — yet winters are getting shorter across most U.S. cities.

Detroit braces for subzero temps, dangerous windchills

Windchills could drop to -20 this weekend as Arctic air sweeps through the region.

Arctic chills are hitting us hard this week with potentially record-breaking <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="subzero temps" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/18/polar-vortex-arctic-outbreak-record-cold-weather" data-vars-content-id="cbbde83d-e9be-4375-9336-898b1fd95197" data-vars-headline="Detroit braces for subzero temps, dangerous windchills" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/18/polar-vortex-arctic-outbreak-record-cold-weather" target="_self">subzero temps</a>.The big picture: Tuesday&#x27;s single-digit lows were a preview for more snow Wednesday and an even colder weekend.

Detroit avoids flash floods while storms batter other cities

Metro Detroit avoids the worst as severe floods strike other U.S. cities

Climate

Storms sweeping through the U.S. this summer have dumped intense rain on cities across the country, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="severe flash floods" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/07/15/texas-hill-country-memorializes-flood-victims" data-vars-content-id="bdd1bd5d-1d49-44a4-927f-4105a8e5bfe0" data-vars-headline="Detroit avoids flash floods while storms batter other cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/07/15/texas-hill-country-memorializes-flood-victims" target="_self">severe flash floods</a> have mostly missed Metro Detroit.The big picture: Scientists who <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spoke to Axios" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/06/climate-texas-tragedy-future" data-vars-content-id="bdd1bd5d-1d49-44a4-927f-4105a8e5bfe0" data-vars-headline="Detroit avoids flash floods while storms batter other cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/06/climate-texas-tragedy-future" target="_self">spoke to Axios</a> say the deadly floods in Texas that killed more than 130 people underscores the risk that climate change can worsen extreme rainfall events.

Detroit summer nights are heating up

New data shows Detroit's summer nights are much warmer, intensifying health and energy concerns.

Steamy summer days are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in full effect" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/05/28/mapped-summer-heat" data-vars-content-id="2ebd5d0b-bd10-4756-9671-48a8b1ed3734" data-vars-headline="Detroit summer nights are heating up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/05/28/mapped-summer-heat" target="_self">in full effect</a> across — and hotter nighttime temps are offering Detroiters less respite.Why it matters: Higher overnight temperatures can have health consequences for vulnerable groups, as well as increase demand for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="air conditioning" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/14/cooling-the-earth-without-cooking-it" data-vars-content-id="2ebd5d0b-bd10-4756-9671-48a8b1ed3734" data-vars-headline="Detroit summer nights are heating up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/14/cooling-the-earth-without-cooking-it" target="_self">air conditioning</a>.

Mapped: Michigan's climate worries

Ann Arbor-area residents are among the most worried.

Ann Arbor-area residents are among the most worried about climate change in the country, according to a new analysis of survey data.State of play: About 63.3% of U.S. adults overall are &quot;somewhat&quot; or &quot;very&quot; worried about global warming as of 2024, per Yale Program on Climate Change Communication <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="estimates" data-vars-click-url="https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us-2024/" data-vars-content-id="515a2383-571a-4a0b-8c9d-a9ac9a6940ab" data-vars-headline="Mapped: Michigan&#x27;s climate worries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us-2024/" target="_blank">estimates</a> based on survey data.

Detroit's rainstorms keep intensifying

Rainstorms are getting more intense amid human-driven climate change.

Rainstorms are getting more intense in many U.S. cities amid human-driven climate change, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: More intense precipitation events can cause <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="flash-flooding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/10/climate-change-flood-risk-standards?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top#_ga=2.69504912.1480472593.1743380506-1048801489.1711300392" data-vars-content-id="f8916031-71d4-49b7-a95b-fd535492c9c9" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s rainstorms keep intensifying" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/10/climate-change-flood-risk-standards?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top#_ga=2.69504912.1480472593.1743380506-1048801489.1711300392" target="_self">flash-flooding</a>, landslides, dangerous driving conditions and other potentially deadly hazards.

Areas that could suffer without FEMA include Detroit

Trump signed an executive order to shift disaster readiness to state and local governments.

Some of the most disaster-prone areas could face the greatest financial burdens in a world with less federal relief assistance, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: President Trump earlier this year <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="floated" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-getting-rid-of-fema-visits-north-carolina-california/" data-vars-content-id="0af02a28-dff2-455c-8e36-665da089583a" data-vars-headline="Areas that could suffer without FEMA include Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-getting-rid-of-fema-visits-north-carolina-california/" target="_blank">floated</a> &quot;fundamentally overhauling or reforming&quot; FEMA or &quot;maybe getting rid&quot; of it entirely — fueling concerns that U.S. disaster relief could be thrown into chaos.

Detroit's spring weather is warming faster than in most cities

Detroit warmed 3.5°F across 55 years of data.

Spring is getting warmer overall and featuring more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unusually hot days" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/02/climate-change-heat-wave-hot-spots" data-vars-content-id="016c3ef5-8b45-4009-afa4-7963678735ec" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s spring weather is warming faster than in most cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/02/climate-change-heat-wave-hot-spots" target="_self">unusually hot days</a> in most U.S. cities, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: Warmer springs can cause <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="early snowmelt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/30/climate-southwest-drought-wildfires" data-vars-content-id="016c3ef5-8b45-4009-afa4-7963678735ec" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s spring weather is warming faster than in most cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/30/climate-southwest-drought-wildfires" target="_self">early snowmelt</a>, which can imperil summer water resources and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heighten wildfire risks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" data-vars-content-id="016c3ef5-8b45-4009-afa4-7963678735ec" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s spring weather is warming faster than in most cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" target="_self">heighten wildfire risks</a>.

Detroit City Council greenlights more solar fields

City leaders wanted the proposal to pass quickly before Trump comes into office.

Detroit City Council greenlit the second phase of the city&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="neighborhood solar field proposal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/01/13/clawbacks-solar-proposal-passed-trump-federak" data-vars-content-id="4e572913-6d6f-4ee5-9e4a-7fdd949ffffa" data-vars-headline="Detroit City Council greenlights more solar fields" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/01/13/clawbacks-solar-proposal-passed-trump-federak" target="_self">neighborhood solar field proposal</a> Tuesday.Why it matters: The approval came quickly, after Mayor Mike Duggan&#x27;s administration cautioned council that federal solar funding could be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="clawed back" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/01/13/clawbacks-solar-proposal-passed-trump-federak" data-vars-content-id="4e572913-6d6f-4ee5-9e4a-7fdd949ffffa" data-vars-headline="Detroit City Council greenlights more solar fields" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/01/13/clawbacks-solar-proposal-passed-trump-federak" target="_self">clawed back</a> under Trump if the plan wasn&#x27;t approved before he takes office on Jan. 20.

Axios What's Next

A U.S. map showing the change in average length of consecutive winter days from 1970-1997 to 1998-2025. 15 metro areas experienced 20 fewer days of winter, including Juneau, Alaska with 62 fewer days. Only metros experienced 20 more days: Eureka, California (50) and Monterey (46).

Change in the average length of winter

Data: Climate Central; Note: Winter temperature threshold based on the coldest 90-day window; Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios

A choropleth map showing Flash flood warnings issued in 2025 by U.S. county. Overall, more than 3,000 warnings have been issued as of July 16. High numbers of warnings form a rough curve across the country, extending from Southern California in the southwest through Oklahoma, the Ozarks, Appalachia, and into Pennsylvania in the northeast.

Climate 🌿

Wildfire smoke blankets Metro Detroit

Detroit winters are getting shorter

Detroit braces for subzero temps, dangerous windchills

Detroit avoids flash floods while storms batter other cities

Detroit summer nights are heating up