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Vote in the Axios Detroit burger bracket's Final Four

Sliders got far in the early rounds, and some of them continue toward victory.

Food and Drink

We&#x27;re down to the Final Four in our Metro Detroit burger battle.

Miller's and Mercury advance to burger bracket finals

The final showdown is here. Vote before 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The finals are set for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Metro Detroit&#x27;s best burger" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/06/22/vote-in-the-axios-detroit-burger-brackets-final-four" data-vars-content-id="28011680-a63d-47fa-8353-f6f8fae1d6c0" data-vars-headline="Miller&#x27;s and Mercury advance to burger bracket finals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/06/22/vote-in-the-axios-detroit-burger-brackets-final-four" target="_self">Metro Detroit&#x27;s best burger</a> — it&#x27;s Miller&#x27;s vs. Mercury.Between the lines: The final two caught us a little by surprise, but the storylines write themselves: an old-school suburban mainstay in Dearborn against a Corktown neighborhood favorite.

Michigan kids fall behind in new well-being report

New data shows worsening outcomes for children across the country.

Health

Children&#x27;s well-being has gotten worse in Michigan and dozens of other states in the last several years, according to a new report measuring economic, health and community data.Why it matters: Kids&#x27; ability to thrive affects future workforce participation and economic growth — a point Mayor Mary Sheffield <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recently made" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/29/sheffields-pro-business-case-on-poverty" data-vars-content-id="96bdcaa5-92ed-4664-8407-23692e7aea65" data-vars-headline="Michigan kids fall behind in new well-being report" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/29/sheffields-pro-business-case-on-poverty" target="_self">recently made</a> to Michigan business leaders to convince them to help alleviate childhood poverty.

Where to find World Cup watch parties around Detroit

A new, free database lists thousands of places to catch a match.

Sports

With the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/21/world-cup-detroit-host-city-bid" data-vars-content-id="55abb667-6df9-4184-ac17-c00d575ccaee" data-vars-headline="Where to find World Cup watch parties around Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/21/world-cup-detroit-host-city-bid" target="_self">World Cup</a> in full swing, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Watch Party Radar" data-vars-click-url="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=detroit" data-vars-content-id="55abb667-6df9-4184-ac17-c00d575ccaee" data-vars-headline="Where to find World Cup watch parties around Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=detroit" target="_blank">Watch Party Radar</a> shows you where to catch the latest match from anywhere in the world.Why it matters: The online database lists nearly 150 venues in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Detroit area" data-vars-click-url="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=detroit" data-vars-content-id="55abb667-6df9-4184-ac17-c00d575ccaee" data-vars-headline="Where to find World Cup watch parties around Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=detroit" target="_blank">Detroit area</a>, plus more than a dozen each in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ann Arbor" data-vars-click-url="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=ann-arbor" data-vars-content-id="55abb667-6df9-4184-ac17-c00d575ccaee" data-vars-headline="Where to find World Cup watch parties around Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=ann-arbor" target="_blank">Ann Arbor</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Grand Rapids" data-vars-click-url="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=grand-rapids" data-vars-content-id="55abb667-6df9-4184-ac17-c00d575ccaee" data-vars-headline="Where to find World Cup watch parties around Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=grand-rapids" target="_blank">Grand Rapids</a>.

Detroit unveils major road repair program

Pothole-plagued roads lead to car repairs, which are getting more costly.

News

Some of Detroit&#x27;s most pothole-marred roads are getting repaired this summer.Why it matters: It&#x27;s an affordability issue. The cost of owning and repairing a car <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is going up" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/06/02/car-ownership-costs-rising-loans-insurance-michigan" data-vars-content-id="cca896de-672c-4c14-bcc8-c828220fb140" data-vars-headline="Detroit unveils major road repair program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/06/02/car-ownership-costs-rising-loans-insurance-michigan" target="_self">is going up</a>, and our region&#x27;s poor road conditions directly contribute to that burden.

Gas prices ease in Metro Detroit

Transit

Metro Detroiters are seeing a slight dip from last month&#x27;s gas price spike, though prices remain elevated.The latest: The region&#x27;s average regular unleaded gas price was about $4.30 as of Tuesday morning, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="GasBuddy data" data-vars-click-url="https://fuelinsights.gasbuddy.com/#Home/US/MI/Detroit" data-vars-content-id="dcd7e730-1f73-44f7-963b-08fe18f40f40" data-vars-headline="Gas prices ease in Metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://fuelinsights.gasbuddy.com/#Home/US/MI/Detroit" target="_blank">GasBuddy data</a>.

Michigan drivers face soaring car costs

Higher loan payments and insurance costs are straining drivers.

Even if you put aside <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gas prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/05/metro-detroit-gas-prices-average-iran" data-vars-content-id="34b6ee1c-d91b-4d4a-857b-7aff95841926" data-vars-headline="Michigan drivers face soaring car costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/05/metro-detroit-gas-prices-average-iran" target="_self">gas prices</a>, car ownership has gotten a lot more expensive in recent years.Why it matters: Though Detroit and the region have sought to improve public transit options, many people still rely on cars, making rising ownership costs hard to avoid.

Sheffield's pro-business case on poverty

The mayor argues anti-poverty policy is key to the economic futures of Detroit and Michigan.

Politics

Mayor Mary Sheffield made the business case for lifting Detroit&#x27;s most impoverished residents Thursday at the Mackinac Policy Conference.Why it matters: Fighting poverty is an economic growth strategy in the best interest of corporations and the state at large, Sheffield argued in a keynote speech on Mackinac Island.

Detroit City Chatter: Cash-handling concerns and AI updates

Our regular roundup of Detroit politics and policy.

Welcome back to our regular roundup of Detroit politics and policy.🏦 Check-handling: Detroit&#x27;s auditor general office found serious &quot;weaknesses&quot; in how the city Health Department&#x27;s food safety unit handles money, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="May 1 memo" data-vars-click-url="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QgEOvICRptuRFPqyV65l91jn7xKKNzJZ/view?usp=sharing" data-vars-content-id="91f62736-8041-43bb-b880-c0e433a0736d" data-vars-headline="Detroit City Chatter: Cash-handling concerns and AI updates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QgEOvICRptuRFPqyV65l91jn7xKKNzJZ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">May 1 memo</a>.

Mapped: How Metro Detroit electric bills stack up

Energy costs are climbing, with gas prices and rate hikes adding pressure on households.

Money

Wayne County residents spend an estimated average of $131 per month on their home electric bills, per an Axios analysis of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://electricity.heatmap.news/" data-vars-content-id="22d7916e-9b84-4895-933e-ae16b13349e8" data-vars-headline="Mapped: How Metro Detroit electric bills stack up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://electricity.heatmap.news/" target="_blank">data</a> collected and shared by climate newsroom Heatmap News.Why it matters: Tensions over rising energy bills and power-hungry AI data centers are emerging as a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="key political issue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/05/data-centers-midterms-state-bans-bills-ai" data-vars-content-id="22d7916e-9b84-4895-933e-ae16b13349e8" data-vars-headline="Mapped: How Metro Detroit electric bills stack up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/05/data-centers-midterms-state-bans-bills-ai" target="_self">key political issue</a> nationwide and should be a potent force in this year&#x27;s midterms.

Sheffield unveils budget with youth, wages as priorities

She wants added transit funding, youth programs and living wages for Detroit city employees.

Alleviating poverty and helping youth took top billing in Mayor Mary Sheffield&#x27;s first proposed budget, released Monday.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1.6 billion general fund budget" data-vars-click-url="https://detroitmi.gov/departments/office-chief-financial-officer/ocfo-divisions/office-budget" data-vars-content-id="18cbe8ba-cf65-4dda-a0db-0ec151acd97c" data-vars-headline="Sheffield unveils budget with youth, wages as priorities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://detroitmi.gov/departments/office-chief-financial-officer/ocfo-divisions/office-budget" target="_blank">$1.6 billion general fund budget</a> proposal — $3 billion across all funding sources — is an early indicator of how Sheffield could use city resources to turn <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="campaign" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/11/05/mary-sheffield-detroit-mayor-election-2025" data-vars-content-id="18cbe8ba-cf65-4dda-a0db-0ec151acd97c" data-vars-headline="Sheffield unveils budget with youth, wages as priorities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/11/05/mary-sheffield-detroit-mayor-election-2025" target="_self">campaign</a> promises into action.

Metro Detroit gas prices surge after Iran strikes

Metro Detroit drivers are now paying more than $3 per gallon on average.

Gasoline prices are jumping in Detroit and elsewhere as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="oil prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/oil-prices-iran-trump-rubio-mitigate-costs" data-vars-content-id="b9f476d2-9744-4621-bdbd-3e7626c072e8" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit gas prices surge after Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/oil-prices-iran-trump-rubio-mitigate-costs" target="_self">oil prices</a> spike following the U.S. and Israel <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="strikes on Iran" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" data-vars-content-id="b9f476d2-9744-4621-bdbd-3e7626c072e8" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit gas prices surge after Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" target="_self">strikes on Iran</a>, reflecting market fears of extended geopolitical upheaval.Why it matters: Americans use about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="370 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=23&amp;t=10" data-vars-content-id="b9f476d2-9744-4621-bdbd-3e7626c072e8" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit gas prices surge after Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=23&amp;t=10" target="_blank">370 million</a> gallons of gas <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&amp;s=mgfupus2&amp;f=m" data-vars-content-id="b9f476d2-9744-4621-bdbd-3e7626c072e8" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit gas prices surge after Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&amp;s=mgfupus2&amp;f=m" target="_blank">per day</a>, so price increases have an immediate effect on their pocketbooks and mood about the economy.

Michigan businesses face uncertainty on tariff refunds

Importers may need to sue to recover billions collected under the rejected trade law.

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court declared a large swath of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump&#x27;s tariffs illegal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-illegal" data-vars-content-id="16ce12e7-9ee2-47c6-85cd-47f671a163e0" data-vars-headline="Michigan businesses face uncertainty on tariff refunds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-illegal" target="_self">President Trump&#x27;s tariffs illegal</a>, the question is whether businesses — or everyday Americans — will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="get refunds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-states-refunds" data-vars-content-id="16ce12e7-9ee2-47c6-85cd-47f671a163e0" data-vars-headline="Michigan businesses face uncertainty on tariff refunds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-states-refunds" target="_self">get refunds</a>.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trade Partnership Worldwide" data-vars-click-url="https://tradepartnership.com/" data-vars-content-id="16ce12e7-9ee2-47c6-85cd-47f671a163e0" data-vars-headline="Michigan businesses face uncertainty on tariff refunds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tradepartnership.com/" target="_blank">Trade Partnership Worldwide</a> estimates $126 billion is at stake.

Rx Kids opens cash aid for new Detroit mothers

The program provides monthly cash to mothers during pregnancy and families with newborns.

Applications opened Monday for a unique local program giving new mothers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cash assistance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/10/29/detroit-mayor-cash-plans-families" data-vars-content-id="f81f47ab-e2de-40d4-b673-ebe81d3385ee" data-vars-headline="Rx Kids opens cash aid for new Detroit mothers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/10/29/detroit-mayor-cash-plans-families" target="_self">cash assistance</a> without strings attached.Why it matters: Bringing Rx Kids to Detroit is an early move in new Mayor Mary Sheffield&#x27;s goal to make <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="progress on childhood poverty" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/01/28/luke-shaefer-anti-poverty-program-city" data-vars-content-id="f81f47ab-e2de-40d4-b673-ebe81d3385ee" data-vars-headline="Rx Kids opens cash aid for new Detroit mothers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/01/28/luke-shaefer-anti-poverty-program-city" target="_self">progress on childhood poverty</a>.

A line chart that tracks average monthly regular unleaded gas prices in Metro Detroit and nationally from June 2025 to June 2026. Detroit ranges from $2.85 in December 2025 to $4.687 in May 2026. National prices range from $2.821 in January 2026 to $4.479 in May 2026.