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U-M wants to give freshmen a break from grades

A new pilot aims to ease the transition to college and encourage academic risk-taking.

News

Freshmen at the University of Michigan are getting a break from one of college&#x27;s biggest stressors: grades.Why it matters: The pilot program is intended to help &quot;curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals,&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the school says" data-vars-click-url="https://lsa.umich.edu/lsa/academics/lsa-first-semester-grade-covering-pilot-program.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="fb0c0ae8-796a-4b84-b41e-54f1ca3c6f45" data-vars-headline="U-M wants to give freshmen a break from grades" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lsa.umich.edu/lsa/academics/lsa-first-semester-grade-covering-pilot-program.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">the school says</a>.

University of Michigan Health ranks among U.S. best

U.S. News also ranked the Ann Arbor hospital No. 1 in Michigan.

Health

University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor is among the top 20 highest-rated hospitals in the country, according to the latest rankings from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. News &amp; World Report" data-vars-click-url="https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings" data-vars-content-id="e20d900e-6fdd-4a5c-b775-7a7344737bd8" data-vars-headline="University of Michigan Health ranks among U.S. best" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings" target="_blank">U.S. News &amp; World Report</a>.Why it matters: Patients often consult the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rigorous annual ranking system" data-vars-click-url="https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals" data-vars-content-id="e20d900e-6fdd-4a5c-b775-7a7344737bd8" data-vars-headline="University of Michigan Health ranks among U.S. best" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals" target="_blank">rigorous annual ranking system</a> when looking for the best care for their medical needs.

Michigan's share of Trump deportations: $6B

A new online tool estimates Michigan's share of federal deportation spending.

Immigration

Michigan taxpayers would pay nearly $1,800 each for President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="39acc1c7-aba7-483b-8eae-3bdc6c967d12" data-vars-headline="Michigan&#x27;s share of Trump deportations: $6B" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump&#x27;s</a> mass deportation push, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new calculator" data-vars-click-url="https://www.epi.org/deportation-calculator/" data-vars-content-id="39acc1c7-aba7-483b-8eae-3bdc6c967d12" data-vars-headline="Michigan&#x27;s share of Trump deportations: $6B" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.epi.org/deportation-calculator/" target="_blank">new calculator</a> from the Economic Policy Institute.Why it matters: The estimate fuels debate over whether billions of federal dollars devoted to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deportations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" data-vars-content-id="39acc1c7-aba7-483b-8eae-3bdc6c967d12" data-vars-headline="Michigan&#x27;s share of Trump deportations: $6B" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" target="_self">deportations</a> should instead fund other public priorities, such as health care or housing.

Things to do in Metro Detroit this weekend: Aug. 14-16

Art, Tigers baseball and the Woodward Dream Cruise are on tap.

Things to Do

🛞 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Woodward Dream Cruise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/" data-vars-content-id="9cd019ba-69e8-48c2-b60b-cff8a6e509b8" data-vars-headline="Things to do in Metro Detroit this weekend: Aug. 14-16" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/" target="_blank">Woodward Dream Cruise</a>: The summer tradition that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="everyone loves to hate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/woodward-dream-cruise/2025/08/10/nostalgic-or-a-nuisance-woodward-dream-cruise-turns-30/85508438007/" data-vars-content-id="9cd019ba-69e8-48c2-b60b-cff8a6e509b8" data-vars-headline="Things to do in Metro Detroit this weekend: Aug. 14-16" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/woodward-dream-cruise/2025/08/10/nostalgic-or-a-nuisance-woodward-dream-cruise-turns-30/85508438007/" target="_blank">everyone loves to hate</a> rolls up and down Woodward Avenue, from 8 Mile to Pontiac.<ul><li>The official cruise is Saturday, 9am-9pm, with community events along the route. Expect heavy traffic all weekend.</li></ul>

A bridge, a bear and unicycles: Biking the Gordie Howe on Day 1

An Axios reporter traversed the bridge on opening day, talking with locals.

Development

🚲 Annalise here. On Wednesday morning, two wheels <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="took me" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/08/04/gordie-howe-bridge-pathway-opens-what-to-know" data-vars-content-id="82732f90-2042-4f89-a66d-b08111e6c621" data-vars-headline="A bridge, a bear and unicycles: Biking the Gordie Howe on Day 1" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/08/04/gordie-howe-bridge-pathway-opens-what-to-know" target="_self">took me</a> to another country and back.Why it matters: Canadians and Americans marveled together while traversing the Gordie Howe International Bridge&#x27;s free, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="long-awaited" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/08/04/gordie-howe-bridge-pathway-opens-what-to-know" data-vars-content-id="82732f90-2042-4f89-a66d-b08111e6c621" data-vars-headline="A bridge, a bear and unicycles: Biking the Gordie Howe on Day 1" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/08/04/gordie-howe-bridge-pathway-opens-what-to-know" target="_self">long-awaited</a> pedestrian and cycling pathway for the first time.

Detroit police released 19 detainees to ICE by May

New figures obtained by Axios show transfers approaching last year's total by early May.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Detroit police" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/03/30/how-detroit-police-limits-working-with-ice" data-vars-content-id="1022bb69-8bde-49b8-bb29-1c84b3eeb971" data-vars-headline="Detroit police released 19 detainees to ICE by May" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/03/30/how-detroit-police-limits-working-with-ice" target="_self">Detroit police</a> released 19 detainees to federal immigration authorities&#x27; custody this year through early May, per figures obtained by Axios from a FOIA request.Why it matters: That&#x27;s nearly two-thirds of the total released during all of 2025.

Reported hunger strike renewed at Michigan ICE detention center

An advocacy group says hundreds of detainees were participating as of April 22.

Advocates say some detainees at a Michigan immigration detention center — ICE&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biggest in the Midwest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.michiganpublic.org/news/2026-01-27/inside-the-midwests-largest-immigration-detention-center-with-a-retired-pastor" data-vars-content-id="fe142f9a-bb56-4d8d-814a-0c02a1093c2e" data-vars-headline="Reported hunger strike renewed at Michigan ICE detention center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/news/2026-01-27/inside-the-midwests-largest-immigration-detention-center-with-a-retired-pastor" target="_blank">biggest in the Midwest</a> — decided Saturday to reignite a major hunger strike that began early last week.Why it matters: Unsafe conditions, intimidation, medical neglect and delays in legal assistance prompted the protest among hundreds of the detainees at North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, per advocacy group <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="No Detention Centers in Michigan" data-vars-click-url="https://nodetentioncentersmi.org/blog-feed/" data-vars-content-id="fe142f9a-bb56-4d8d-814a-0c02a1093c2e" data-vars-headline="Reported hunger strike renewed at Michigan ICE detention center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nodetentioncentersmi.org/blog-feed/" target="_blank">No Detention Centers in Michigan</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="multiple" data-vars-click-url="https://michiganadvance.com/2026/04/23/detainee-speaks-out-as-hunger-strike-continues-at-michigans-largest-ice-detention-center/" data-vars-content-id="fe142f9a-bb56-4d8d-814a-0c02a1093c2e" data-vars-headline="Reported hunger strike renewed at Michigan ICE detention center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2026/04/23/detainee-speaks-out-as-hunger-strike-continues-at-michigans-largest-ice-detention-center/" target="_blank">multiple</a> news <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="outlets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/04/23/ice-detainees-refusing-food-to-protest-conditions-advocates-say/89749732007/" data-vars-content-id="fe142f9a-bb56-4d8d-814a-0c02a1093c2e" data-vars-headline="Reported hunger strike renewed at Michigan ICE detention center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/04/23/ice-detainees-refusing-food-to-protest-conditions-advocates-say/89749732007/" target="_blank">outlets</a>.

How Detroit police limits working with ICE

Memos show how police interact with federal immigration authorities and where limits lie.

Detroit police leaders say the department isn&#x27;t in the &quot;immigration business&quot; and mostly isn&#x27;t communicating with ICE.Why it matters: As immigration enforcement ramps up nationwide, some cities are navigating growing pressure from President Trump&#x27;s administration threatening funding cuts and legal action on those who publicly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="limit cooperation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/president-trump-delivers-remarks-to-the-detroit-economic-club/" data-vars-content-id="2df4d4fc-3d4e-4a49-808c-0b7cfa4510c7" data-vars-headline="How Detroit police limits working with ICE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/president-trump-delivers-remarks-to-the-detroit-economic-club/" target="_blank">limit cooperation</a> with ICE.

Officers suspended over Border Patrol calls

Two officers faced discipline after contacting federal immigration agents.

DPD Sgt. Denise Wallet and officer James Corsi were <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="suspended" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/detroit-sergeant-officer-suspended-without-pay-contacting-border-patrol-during-traffic-stop" data-vars-content-id="9a28a5f4-6165-4783-a020-59c05b232c67" data-vars-headline="Officers suspended over Border Patrol calls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/detroit-sergeant-officer-suspended-without-pay-contacting-border-patrol-during-traffic-stop" target="_blank">suspended</a> in February for calling Customs and Border Protection for assistance during traffic stops, in apparent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="violation of DPD policy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/03/30/how-detroit-police-limits-working-with-ice" data-vars-content-id="9a28a5f4-6165-4783-a020-59c05b232c67" data-vars-headline="Officers suspended over Border Patrol calls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/03/30/how-detroit-police-limits-working-with-ice" target="_self">violation of DPD policy</a> against coordinating with federal immigration officials.State of play: The two incidents led to the potential deportation of two people, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Free Press" data-vars-click-url="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2026/02/13/detroit-police-suspended-immigration-officials-cbp-ice-customs-border-protection/88665857007/" data-vars-content-id="9a28a5f4-6165-4783-a020-59c05b232c67" data-vars-headline="Officers suspended over Border Patrol calls" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2026/02/13/detroit-police-suspended-immigration-officials-cbp-ice-customs-border-protection/88665857007/" target="_blank">the Free Press</a>.

A choropleth map showing the estimated cost per taxpayer for federal immigrant deportation and detention funding across the U.S. states. The average cost is $2.4k. Washington, D.C., has the highest load, at $3.9k.