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What Michigan primary voters need to know

Find early voting, absentee ballot and registration information before you vote.

News

It&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="primary season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/06/24/michigan-primary-election-absentee-ballot-voting" data-vars-content-id="8687e737-ed01-4090-b338-7f91a27a701b" data-vars-headline="What Michigan primary voters need to know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/06/24/michigan-primary-election-absentee-ballot-voting" target="_self">primary season</a> and voters only have a few weeks left before the election.Why it matters: The Aug. 4 primary will determine which Democratic and Republican candidates advance to November&#x27;s general election.

Detroit LGBTQ+ chamber expands statewide

The group plans to bring resources and advocacy to entrepreneurs across Michigan.

Business

The Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber has expanded statewide, becoming the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce" data-vars-click-url="https://mipridechamber.com/expands-statewide-as-the-michigan-pride-chamber-of-commerce/" data-vars-content-id="84e00872-31ce-4827-a9b3-5af10b4a8863" data-vars-headline="Detroit LGBTQ+ chamber expands statewide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mipridechamber.com/expands-statewide-as-the-michigan-pride-chamber-of-commerce/" target="_blank">Michigan Pride Chamber of Commerce</a>.Why it matters: The group&#x27;s leaders say that all across this <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="purple" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/18/midwest-2024-trump-election-battleground" data-vars-content-id="84e00872-31ce-4827-a9b3-5af10b4a8863" data-vars-headline="Detroit LGBTQ+ chamber expands statewide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/18/midwest-2024-trump-election-battleground" target="_self">purple</a> state, entrepreneurs need support to grow — whether they&#x27;re in metropolitan southeast Michigan, the west side of the state or rural country in the UP.

Metro Detroit bookstores thrive despite reading slump

Bookstores are reinventing themselves as community gathering places.

Fewer Americans are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reading books" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/08/ai-america-literacy" data-vars-content-id="a85a50f3-2e12-42b0-9868-ebb7ee96f51e" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit bookstores thrive despite reading slump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/08/ai-america-literacy" target="_self">reading books</a>, but here&#x27;s the plot twist: The bookstore is still staging a comeback.Why it matters: Once left for dead in the wake of Amazon&#x27;s rise and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="death of Borders" data-vars-click-url="https://www.annarbor.com/business-review/borders-liquidation-chapter-11-ann-arbor-bookstore-chain-borders-group-e-books/" data-vars-content-id="a85a50f3-2e12-42b0-9868-ebb7ee96f51e" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit bookstores thrive despite reading slump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.annarbor.com/business-review/borders-liquidation-chapter-11-ann-arbor-bookstore-chain-borders-group-e-books/" target="_blank">death of Borders</a>, Barnes &amp; Noble and independent booksellers have pulled off a stunning turnaround, opening new stores and reporting higher sales.

Gordie Howe bridge opens Monday after decades

The long-awaited border crossing opens at noon with lower tolls and faster routes.

The long-awaited <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gordie Howe International Bridge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/07/22/gordie-howe-bridge-canada-celebration-tariffs" data-vars-content-id="6e997112-b356-43d3-8968-6ca439c1474c" data-vars-headline="Gordie Howe bridge opens Monday after decades" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/07/22/gordie-howe-bridge-canada-celebration-tariffs" target="_self">Gordie Howe International Bridge</a> opens to traffic at noon Monday despite U.S.-Canada trade tensions that scrapped plans for a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony.Why it matters: After decades of planning, construction and political battles, the new Detroit-Windsor crossing provides an alternative to the Ambassador Bridge while adding another major gateway for trade and travel.

State asks residents to report gray fox sightings

Your sighting could help researchers track a rare species in Michigan.

Environment

The state wants your help spotting the elusive gray fox.Why it matters: The small animals, less common than the iconic red fox, are not well understood and their population is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="on the decline" data-vars-click-url="https://outdoor.wildlifeillinois.org/articles/understanding-gray-fox-distribution-throughout-southern-illinois-forests" data-vars-content-id="03bb685e-f94c-40e5-84e3-57fc5389ea6d" data-vars-headline="State asks residents to report gray fox sightings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://outdoor.wildlifeillinois.org/articles/understanding-gray-fox-distribution-throughout-southern-illinois-forests" target="_blank">on the decline</a> in the Midwest and Northeast, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

Michigan advocates want human composting legalized

Supporters see the practice as an environmentally friendly alternative to burial and cremation.

Green burial advocates want Michigan law to allow peoples&#x27; remains to be returned to the earth as usable soil.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The human composting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/21/human-composting" data-vars-content-id="0b40144b-8715-4d49-a50e-edc1557f3fdb" data-vars-headline="Michigan advocates want human composting legalized" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/21/human-composting" target="_self">The human composting</a> burial method is still illegal here, but gaining traction nationally.

Detroit hands solar projects to DTE

The transfer prevents further delays, but also presents a costly and controversial change.

Detroit City Council approved a plan to transfer three neighborhood <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="solar projects" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/07/10/detroit-city-council-considers-neighborhood-solar-fields" data-vars-content-id="2713fa34-62bc-466f-9606-8d3c61ef8341" data-vars-headline="Detroit hands solar projects to DTE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/07/10/detroit-city-council-considers-neighborhood-solar-fields" target="_self">solar projects</a> to DTE Energy&#x27;s purview.The big picture: The switch away from Boston-based contractor Lightstar Renewables is needed so the solar developments can move forward without further delay, city officials say.

Detroit neighborhood solar projects seek shift to DTE

The switch could raise costs, but help avoid more delays.

Detroit plans to transfer three neighborhood <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="solar projects" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/07/10/detroit-city-council-considers-neighborhood-solar-fields" data-vars-content-id="fe1c4028-fc9f-4759-98f6-7e7acbbbb730" data-vars-headline="Detroit neighborhood solar projects seek shift to DTE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/07/10/detroit-city-council-considers-neighborhood-solar-fields" target="_self">solar projects</a> to DTE Energy after its original Boston-based contractor exited solar development following a private-equity acquisition.Why it matters: The switch from Lightstar Renewables will likely involve higher costs, though a final price tag isn&#x27;t known yet.

Detroit River gets $10M cleanup boost

The money targets one of the river's last major pollution hurdles.

The Detroit River is getting $10 million from the federal and state governments to fix one of its last big environmental concerns.Why it matters: The river, long polluted by industry, waste and stormwater runoff, has undergone extensive remediation work since being declared an &quot;area of concern&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in 1987" data-vars-click-url="https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/detroit-river-aoc_.html" data-vars-content-id="32e05a63-bdee-453a-bb0b-d80afc159ce6" data-vars-headline="Detroit River gets $10M cleanup boost" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/detroit-river-aoc_.html" target="_blank">in 1987</a>.

Detroit air quality ranks among worst in U.S.

A new report finds high particle pollution levels that can worsen asthma and heart disease.

Detroit failed every <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pollution test" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/04/25/detroit-particle-pollution-ranking" data-vars-content-id="c68944c1-0fde-4119-b5fd-c6d4abe48494" data-vars-headline="Detroit air quality ranks among worst in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/04/25/detroit-particle-pollution-ranking" target="_self">pollution test</a> from the American Lung Association this year and is among the country&#x27;s worst areas for short-term and year-round particle pollution.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Particle pollution" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lung.org/research/sota/health-risks" data-vars-content-id="c68944c1-0fde-4119-b5fd-c6d4abe48494" data-vars-headline="Detroit air quality ranks among worst in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lung.org/research/sota/health-risks" target="_blank">Particle pollution</a> — often from motor vehicles, factories and power plants — can make asthma worse and contribute to diabetes, strokes, heart attacks and lung cancer.

Earth Day events around Metro Detroit

Crafts for kids, Belle Isle cleanup and more.

Earth Day is Wednesday and there are plenty of ways to honor mother nature around town this week.<ul><li>A few options:</li></ul>

How native plants can make your yard wildlife-friendly

Local experts give advice on supporting native plants in Metro Detroit for Native Plant Month.

Calling all hummingbird fans! If you want plants that attract them to your yard, look no further than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Native Plant Month" data-vars-click-url="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2026/04/01/april-2026-native-plant-month" data-vars-content-id="fe7a833c-7cf5-4803-9069-c79629ee75a2" data-vars-headline="How native plants can make your yard wildlife-friendly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2026/04/01/april-2026-native-plant-month" target="_blank">Native Plant Month</a>.Why it matters: It&#x27;s easy to agree with the idea of planting native — it provides the best food for local wildlife and conserves our habitats.

Spring gardening season starts in Metro Detroit

Gardeners are prepping soil and starting seeds as spring planting season gets underway.

Whether you&#x27;re a green gardener or an old hand with well-worn raised beds, it&#x27;s time to rejoice and get started — planting season is here.Why it matters: Anyone who&#x27;s watched their herbs fade from green to brown knows gardening is a fickle hobby, and timing is of the essence.

Tiny ambush bug photo lands global contest spot

A macro photo taken in a Ferndale yard is a finalist in a global wildlife contest.

The natural world&#x27;s beauty can be found anywhere, even in the front yard of a suburban Detroit photographer.Why it matters: Joseph Ferraro, of Ferndale, is among 24 finalists for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wildlife Photographer of the Year People&#x27;s Choice Award" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/peoples-choice" data-vars-content-id="572321c1-9c61-427b-9531-b3e4b9c4a327" data-vars-headline="Tiny ambush bug photo lands global contest spot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/peoples-choice" target="_blank">Wildlife Photographer of the Year People&#x27;s Choice Award</a>.