News

The city's new $100 million scholarship program is a little different than others — it offers job training for Detroiters who aren't going to college.

• The program is for people who struggle with reading, don't have a high school diploma, need a job or want a better-paying position.

The U.S. Department of Justice is continuing to look into riders' experiences using Detroit's oft-criticized paratransit services.

Driving the news: A DOJ civil rights investigator is trying to contact users of the city's transit program for the elderly and those with disabilities who have complained about inadequate service for "one-on-one interviews," Richard Clay of the National Federation of the Blind's Detroit chapter tells Axios.

Michigan's Legislative Black Caucus said yesterday that it wants to see lawmakers pass police reform bills following the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man​ who died days after Memphis police severely beat him.

Driving the news: A number of bipartisan proposals were introduced last session following the death of Patrick Lyoya in Grand Rapids, but never made it to a vote.

A wealthy entrepreneur who purchased an entire east side neighborhood with the help of the city in order to establish a tree farm is facing fresh scrutiny after largely abandoning the project.

Driving the news: A decade after acquiring thousands of parcels of land for less than half of a million dollars by making lofty promises, John Hantz has offloaded a fraction of the properties for more than $9.5 million, BridgeDetroit reports.

A new public-private partnership is forming to raise money for the Joe Louis Greenway's construction and future operation.

Why it matters: Of the $200 million needed to finish the 27.5-mile recreational pathway, $150 million has already been earmarked or obtained.

The controversy over whether to end cashless businesses has reached Detroit's lawmakers.

Why it matters: Black Detroiters are disproportionately likely to use cash and not have access to cards, making this an issue of equal access to the economy, says council member Angela Whitfield Calloway.

An increase to Michigan's minimum wage has been thwarted — for now.

Driving the news: A Court of Appeals panel ruled last Thursday that the Legislature's controversial adopt-and-amend tactic is constitutional.

The response from Detroit Metro airport to our request for vehicle theft data culminated like many others — with a ridiculous $666 fee.

Yes, but: Unwilling to pay so much, we negotiated with the Wayne County Airport Authority's Freedom of Information Act coordinator to avoid the fee and still get some of the information.