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Democrats scrutinize Moroun's Trump access

House Democrats are seeking records on Matthew Moroun's contacts with Trump officials about the Gordie Howe bridge.

News

Congressional Democrats are investigating whether <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Matthew Moroun" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/02/22/riverside-park-moroun-approved-detroit-citycouncil" data-vars-content-id="ece61150-f952-4200-a8d8-72ae403a7dde" data-vars-headline="Democrats scrutinize Moroun&#x27;s Trump access" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/02/22/riverside-park-moroun-approved-detroit-citycouncil" target="_self">Matthew Moroun</a> used his access to President Trump to protect his company&#x27;s toll revenues — and whether the Trump administration acted on Moroun&#x27;s lobbying.Why it matters: Trump&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recent threat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/02/10/trump-threat-gordie-howe-bridge-michigan-economy" data-vars-content-id="ece61150-f952-4200-a8d8-72ae403a7dde" data-vars-headline="Democrats scrutinize Moroun&#x27;s Trump access" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/02/10/trump-threat-gordie-howe-bridge-michigan-economy" target="_self">recent threat</a> to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge&#x27;s opening drew condemnation from leaders in Michigan and Canada and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="predictions of dire economic consequences" data-vars-click-url="https://bridgemi.com/business-watch/report-michigan-canada-bridge-delay-could-cost-up-to-7m-per-week/" data-vars-content-id="ece61150-f952-4200-a8d8-72ae403a7dde" data-vars-headline="Democrats scrutinize Moroun&#x27;s Trump access" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bridgemi.com/business-watch/report-michigan-canada-bridge-delay-could-cost-up-to-7m-per-week/" target="_blank">predictions of dire economic consequences</a>.

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.

At 43, Verlander returns to Tigers as baseball's Tom Brady

Verlander spent his first 13 seasons in Detroit and returns to a competitive roster.

Sports

Justin Verlander has long hoped to be the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tom Brady of baseball" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26314010/justin-verlander-wants-tom-brady-baseball" data-vars-content-id="d7cf12d0-a7af-4860-bff4-377b26047cd3" data-vars-headline="At 43, Verlander returns to Tigers as baseball&#x27;s Tom Brady" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26314010/justin-verlander-wants-tom-brady-baseball" target="_blank">Tom Brady of baseball</a> and pitch at a high-caliber level well into his 40s.Why it matters: His return to Comerica Park gives the Detroit Tigers legend a chance to keep that dream going.

First sip: Good old strangeness at The Dovetail in Warren

Axios Detroit is visiting coffee shops around the region to find our faves.

Food and Drink

👋 Annalise here! Joe and I will be trying out coffee shops across the region to see which have the best flavors, ambiance and conditions for remote work.First up, my visit to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Dovetail" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/thedovetaildetroit/" data-vars-content-id="0e693b86-ae1b-461a-8bf0-0d371e0963ca" data-vars-headline="First sip: Good old strangeness at The Dovetail in Warren" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/thedovetaildetroit/" target="_blank">The Dovetail</a>, a very chill, very odd cafe in Warren.

Fish fries kick off across metro Detroit

Local churches and halls start Friday fish fries for Lent this week.

Fish fry season is back! Ash Wednesday marked the start of Lent, when many Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays.The big picture: Most fish fries start this week and continue each Friday through either March 27 or Good Friday on April 3.

New wood-fired sauna retreat opens on east side

The Detroit outdoor sauna club transforms 4.5 acres along an old rail corridor.

A 4.5-acre stretch of woods on Detroit&#x27;s east side is now home to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Islandview Sauna Club" data-vars-click-url="https://www.islandviewsauna.com/" data-vars-content-id="62af7268-899f-4d8d-90dd-79f4156f9e8e" data-vars-headline="New wood-fired sauna retreat opens on east side" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.islandviewsauna.com/" target="_blank">Islandview Sauna Club</a> — a wood-fired outdoor retreat that feels more like a Northern Michigan basecamp than a city spa.Why it matters: The club taps into a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationwide sauna trend" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/08/indoor-pool-sauna-hot-tub-rental" data-vars-content-id="62af7268-899f-4d8d-90dd-79f4156f9e8e" data-vars-headline="New wood-fired sauna retreat opens on east side" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/08/indoor-pool-sauna-hot-tub-rental" target="_self">nationwide sauna trend</a> while turning an industrial pocket of Islandview into an outdoor gathering space.

Frame Work: "Friendly Fire" delves into police narratives

The Irwin House exhibition looks at the past, present and future of law enforcement.

Culture

A new photo exhibition at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Irwin House Gallery" data-vars-click-url="https://irwinhousegallery.org/" data-vars-content-id="8b8e15d2-c367-4ee7-b53c-75809ec6a950" data-vars-headline="Frame Work: &quot;Friendly Fire&quot; delves into police narratives" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://irwinhousegallery.org/" target="_blank">Irwin House Gallery</a> examines decades of Detroit policing through the perspective of a former detective who learned difficult truths about the criminal justice system.State of play: &quot;Friendly Fire,&quot; from Detroit native artist <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Khary Mason" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kharymasonstudio.com/" data-vars-content-id="8b8e15d2-c367-4ee7-b53c-75809ec6a950" data-vars-headline="Frame Work: &quot;Friendly Fire&quot; delves into police narratives" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kharymasonstudio.com/" target="_blank">Khary Mason</a>, reflects his experiences on both sides of the law.

Volunteers needed to track frogs in Rouge wetlands

Residents can train Feb. 21 to help monitor frog and toad calls through July.

Things to Do

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Friends of the Rouge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/05/09/rouge-river-nonprofit-federal-cuts" data-vars-content-id="3b0e96a9-9b1d-4eb2-af13-c6c16b8c5e66" data-vars-headline="Volunteers needed to track frogs in Rouge wetlands" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/05/09/rouge-river-nonprofit-federal-cuts" target="_self">Friends of the Rouge</a> is seeking volunteers to help survey local wetlands for toads and frogs.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The annual study" data-vars-click-url="https://therouge.org/frog-toad-survey-training-workshops/" data-vars-content-id="3b0e96a9-9b1d-4eb2-af13-c6c16b8c5e66" data-vars-headline="Volunteers needed to track frogs in Rouge wetlands" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://therouge.org/frog-toad-survey-training-workshops/" target="_blank">The annual study</a> gets the community involved in collecting data about the health of Rouge River wetlands.

Things to do in Metro Detroit this weekend: Feb. 13-15

Ideas for Valentine's Day, an "In Bed By 10" dance party, movie night and more.

🗓️ Celebrate Lunar New Year this weekend, including <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at Valade Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.detroitriverfront.org/events/calendar/2026/02/14/lunar-new-year-celebration" data-vars-content-id="1de1e431-c430-44b6-813a-5f1403a86b37" data-vars-headline="Things to do in Metro Detroit this weekend: Feb. 13-15" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.detroitriverfront.org/events/calendar/2026/02/14/lunar-new-year-celebration" target="_blank">at Valade Park</a> with a festive parade, lion and dragon dances, music performances and crafts.<ul><li>Noon-6pm Saturday. Free!</li></ul>

Affordable Valentine's Day ideas in Metro Detroit

What to do to keep things a little romantic while not shelling out too much cash.

Valentine&#x27;s and Galentine&#x27;s Day celebrations can be cute, but in 2026, many of us don&#x27;t want to drain our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="already strained" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/consumer-confidence-conference-board-gdp" data-vars-content-id="d13779f4-6caf-4ec7-b65a-c216e6d30e84" data-vars-headline="Affordable Valentine&#x27;s Day ideas in Metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/consumer-confidence-conference-board-gdp" target="_self">already strained</a> wallets.The big picture: Romance isn&#x27;t dead! But according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="WalletHub survey" data-vars-click-url="https://wallethub.com/blog/valentines-day-survey/57387" data-vars-content-id="d13779f4-6caf-4ec7-b65a-c216e6d30e84" data-vars-headline="Affordable Valentine&#x27;s Day ideas in Metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wallethub.com/blog/valentines-day-survey/57387" target="_blank">WalletHub survey</a>, two in five people say the Feb. 14 holiday is unaffordable.

Things to do this weekend in Metro Detroit: Feb. 6-8

Dinosaurs, Pistons-Knicks, "Kinky Boots" and more.

🦕 Dinosaur Adventure, a family-friendly exhibit with life-sized dinosaurs, is at Huntington Place downtown 9am-8pm Saturday and 9am-7pm Sunday.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tickets: $43 for children, $32 for adults" data-vars-click-url="https://www.universe.com/events/dinosaur-adventure-detroit-mi-tickets-VBQ2KW" data-vars-content-id="0eca54bd-3338-492c-bf16-c22322662719" data-vars-headline="Things to do this weekend in Metro Detroit: Feb. 6-8" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.universe.com/events/dinosaur-adventure-detroit-mi-tickets-VBQ2KW" target="_blank">Tickets: $43 for children, $32 for adults</a>.</li></ul>

Dirty soda finally bubbles up in Metro Detroit

Utah's dirty soda trend is gaining traction in with shops and pop-ups.

Social media has exploded in the last couple of years with a drink trend long favored by the Latter-day Saint community: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dirty soda" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/pro/retail-deals/2022/11/23/dirty-soda-swig-nicole-tanner-private-equity" data-vars-content-id="18703504-9246-4f1d-94c8-eb9bff3923af" data-vars-headline="Dirty soda finally bubbles up in Metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/retail-deals/2022/11/23/dirty-soda-swig-nicole-tanner-private-equity" target="_self">dirty soda</a>.State of play: Michigan has been slow to absorb the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dirty soda movement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eater.com/23041658/dirty-soda-trend-tiktok-coffee-mate-creamer" data-vars-content-id="18703504-9246-4f1d-94c8-eb9bff3923af" data-vars-headline="Dirty soda finally bubbles up in Metro Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eater.com/23041658/dirty-soda-trend-tiktok-coffee-mate-creamer" target="_blank">dirty soda movement</a>, with few options available until recently.

100 years of Black History Month: Metro Detroit events to know

Museums, libraries and chefs across the metro are marking the month with special events.

Cultural and public institutions across Metro Detroit have events planned to observe key figures, themes and times in Black American history.Why it matters: 2026 marks the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="100th anniversary" data-vars-click-url="https://asalh.org/black-history-month/about/" data-vars-content-id="49eb9802-ead1-48db-9e98-d630c7f0eb64" data-vars-headline="100 years of Black History Month: Metro Detroit events to know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://asalh.org/black-history-month/about/" target="_blank">100th anniversary</a> of Black History Month celebration and recognition in the U.S.

Things to Do 🗓

First sip: Good old strangeness at The Dovetail in Warren

Fish fries kick off across metro Detroit

New wood-fired sauna retreat opens on east side

Frame Work: "Friendly Fire" delves into police narratives

Volunteers needed to track frogs in Rouge wetlands