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Detroit's JW Marriott staffs up for opening

The 601-room riverfront hotel has already booked more than 50 events.

News

Detroit&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="newest luxury hotel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/06/hotel-boom-events-conventions" data-vars-content-id="0d48d5d2-92b8-4cd6-b245-37f536d2c49b" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s JW Marriott staffs up for opening" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/05/06/hotel-boom-events-conventions" target="_self">newest luxury hotel</a> is staffing up ahead of its February opening.The latest: JW Marriott Detroit Water Square recently announced its executive leadership team, led by general manager Joleisha Bradley, who previously oversaw the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reopening of the Dearborn Inn" data-vars-click-url="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2025/03/19/dearborn-inn-reopens-after-renovations/82538817007/" data-vars-content-id="0d48d5d2-92b8-4cd6-b245-37f536d2c49b" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s JW Marriott staffs up for opening" 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/wayne/2025/03/19/dearborn-inn-reopens-after-renovations/82538817007/" target="_blank">reopening of the Dearborn Inn</a>.

Nonprofit pays people $15,000 to call Detroit home

The first Move Detroit grants are helping new and longtime residents move here or stay.

Politics

A new business-funded nonprofit that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="aims to grow Detroit&#x27;s population" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/06/coalition-incentives-attract-residents" data-vars-content-id="59e36ad1-2f50-46a9-9fd3-b0df125b859f" data-vars-headline="Nonprofit pays people $15,000 to call Detroit home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/06/coalition-incentives-attract-residents" target="_self">aims to grow Detroit&#x27;s population</a> is giving money to people who pledge to move to or stay in the city.The latest: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Move Detroit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.movedetroit.com/" data-vars-content-id="59e36ad1-2f50-46a9-9fd3-b0df125b859f" data-vars-headline="Nonprofit pays people $15,000 to call Detroit home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.movedetroit.com/" target="_blank">Move Detroit</a> announced the first 13 winners of its Make Detroit Home grants on Tuesday. They&#x27;ll get $15,000 each.

Girls flag football is a fast-growing high school sport

Participation has surged more than 550% nationally in the past four years.

Sports

Girls in Michigan and beyond have transformed flag football into one of the fastest-growing high school sports in the country. Why it matters: Few girls high school sports have moved from niche to mainstream so quickly, broadening athletic opportunities in the process.

1-minute voter guide: Michigan's Senate race

Compare Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers before Election Day.

Michigan&#x27;s nationally watched U.S. Senate race pits rising progressive <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Abdul El-Sayed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/31/el-sayed-rogers-piker-jewish-antisemitism" data-vars-content-id="397a5ff0-27c4-49cc-94cc-32985a0af279" data-vars-headline="1-minute voter guide: Michigan&#x27;s Senate race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/31/el-sayed-rogers-piker-jewish-antisemitism" target="_self">Abdul El-Sayed</a> against Republican <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mike Rogers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/22/mike-rogers-aipac-michigan-senate" data-vars-content-id="397a5ff0-27c4-49cc-94cc-32985a0af279" data-vars-headline="1-minute voter guide: Michigan&#x27;s Senate race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/22/mike-rogers-aipac-michigan-senate" target="_self">Mike Rogers</a>, a former congressman making his second straight Senate run.Why it matters: Michigan is one of a handful of battlegrounds that could determine control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="53-47 majority" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/08/2026-midterms-congress-house-senate-predictions" data-vars-content-id="397a5ff0-27c4-49cc-94cc-32985a0af279" data-vars-headline="1-minute voter guide: Michigan&#x27;s Senate race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/08/2026-midterms-congress-house-senate-predictions" target="_self">53-47 majority</a>.

Detroit City Chatter: Summertime crime drop

Detroit attributes the decrease to its Occupy the Summer program, and officials hope for new housing in North Corktown.

Welcome back to our regular roundup of city policy news.🚓 Summer crime down: Cities generally see more crime in the summer months, but Detroit managed to notably lower its rates this summer, officials touted Monday.

How Detroit's tax break background checks work

Owners and key executives can face background reviews covering the past five years.

Business

Owning 5% or more of a company seeking tax breaks for development in Detroit could now put someone&#x27;s history under a microscope.The big picture: Detroit started a new policy Sept. 14 to review tax break applicants&#x27; backgrounds for business integrity issues.

City Chatter: Hot conditions in Detroit detention center

Our local politics roundup includes the mayor's TV interview cancellation, hot detention conditions and more.

Welcome back to our roundup of city politics and policy news.🌡️ High temps: The Detroit Detention Center, which <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="holds arrested people" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/detroit-detention-center-transferred-city-after-12-years-state-control" data-vars-content-id="b86ad207-8a67-4d08-b26a-2bb51b394b37" data-vars-headline="City Chatter: Hot conditions in Detroit detention center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/detroit-detention-center-transferred-city-after-12-years-state-control" target="_blank">holds arrested people</a> before arraignment, has no AC. Council member Denzel McCampbell raised concerns with city police leadership, saying he&#x27;s heard about heat-related problems there.

U.S.-Canada tensions hit Metro Detroit tourism

Tourism organizations are scaling back advertising as Canadians travel elsewhere.

Visit Detroit, the region&#x27;s tourism bureau, isn&#x27;t advertising to Canadian tourists as renewed U.S.-Canada <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="trade tensions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/22/us-canada-tariffs-trade-trump-carney" data-vars-content-id="86a6a429-3657-4743-8c3d-4482b63d01dd" data-vars-headline="U.S.-Canada tensions hit Metro Detroit tourism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/22/us-canada-tariffs-trade-trump-carney" target="_self">trade tensions</a> continue to lead visitors to other destinations. Why it matters: Last year&#x27;s tariff dispute, and the current one, greatly impact <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Metro Detroit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/04/17/detroit-sees-drop-in-visitors-from-canada" data-vars-content-id="86a6a429-3657-4743-8c3d-4482b63d01dd" data-vars-headline="U.S.-Canada tensions hit Metro Detroit tourism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/04/17/detroit-sees-drop-in-visitors-from-canada" target="_self">Metro Detroit</a>. Tourism from Canada is significant here, considering our busy Detroit-Windsor crossings.

Michigan voters to weigh utility political spending

The November proposal would limit contributions and require more ad disclosure.

Utilities have long been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major political players" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/03/01/pressure-mounts-dte-consumers-outages-michigan" data-vars-content-id="c151aeaa-bd13-46f7-9f0b-29fa0d44066b" data-vars-headline="Michigan voters to weigh utility political spending" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/03/01/pressure-mounts-dte-consumers-outages-michigan" target="_self">major political players</a> in Michigan. This fall, voters will decide whether to rein in some of that influence.Why it matters: The proposal would limit how some of Michigan&#x27;s most powerful companies can spend money in politics and require more disclosure about who&#x27;s paying for political ads.

Michigan confronts AI election deepfakes

A patchwork of state laws means voters face different rules for political deepfakes.

AI-generated attack ads and campaign content are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rampant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/16/ai-deepfake-ads-campaigns-midterms" data-vars-content-id="cfc7a484-967e-4c48-94c2-18a30f4563d2" data-vars-headline="Michigan confronts AI election deepfakes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/16/ai-deepfake-ads-campaigns-midterms" target="_self">rampant</a> leading up to the midterms.Why it matters: More use of AI makes it harder for voters to determine fact from fiction, per the state <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Department of Attorney General" data-vars-click-url="https://www.michigan.gov/ag/consumer-protection/election-protection-2026/protecting-michigan-voters-from-ai-generated-election-misinformation" data-vars-content-id="cfc7a484-967e-4c48-94c2-18a30f4563d2" data-vars-headline="Michigan confronts AI election deepfakes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.michigan.gov/ag/consumer-protection/election-protection-2026/protecting-michigan-voters-from-ai-generated-election-misinformation" target="_blank">Department of Attorney General</a>.

Harris endorses Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate

The endorsement comes as Democrats unite after a bruising Michigan primary.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan&#x27;s U.S. Senate seat.The big picture: El-Sayed is taking on Republican Mike Rogers in the nationally high-profile race that&#x27;ll be a sprint to November after Michigan&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tuesday primary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/michigan-elections-dsa-wfp-uaw-progressives-win" data-vars-content-id="5ab32b8f-c4b9-477e-b8a3-6d1880b7f2e1" data-vars-headline="Harris endorses Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/michigan-elections-dsa-wfp-uaw-progressives-win" target="_self">Tuesday primary</a>.

Thanedar loses to socialist in Democratic primary for congress

Progressive McKinney won in the heavily Democratic district.

Politics & Policy

State Rep. Donavan McKinney bested two-term incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar in Tuesday&#x27;s Democratic primary to represent Michigan&#x27;s 13th Congressional District.Why it matters: The lifelong Detroiter&#x27;s win likely returns Detroit to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Black representation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2022/08/04/shri-voters-didnt-care-racial-politics-detroit" data-vars-content-id="afce33fe-0a17-4e5a-af5c-35ea913120cb" data-vars-headline="Thanedar loses to socialist in Democratic primary for congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2022/08/04/shri-voters-didnt-care-racial-politics-detroit" target="_self">Black representation</a> in Congress, which ended with Thanedar&#x27;s 2022 victory.

Gordie Howe bridge finally opens

The new border crossing opened Monday at noon without any big backups.

Transit

After a long and controversial <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wind-up" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/07/24/gordie-howe-bridge-opens-monday" data-vars-content-id="b3cb7ae8-e767-4ec9-981f-02e71e45073a" data-vars-headline="Gordie Howe bridge finally opens" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/07/24/gordie-howe-bridge-opens-monday" target="_self">wind-up</a>, the Gordie Howe International Bridge opened Monday without big backups.Why it matters: There are now three ways to get through North America&#x27;s biggest trade crossing by vehicle: the tunnel downtown, the Ambassador Bridge and Gordie Howe.

Politics 🇺🇸

Nonprofit pays people $15,000 to call Detroit home

Detroit City Chatter: Summertime crime drop

How Detroit's tax break background checks work

City Chatter: Hot conditions in Detroit detention center

U.S.-Canada tensions hit Metro Detroit tourism