Michigan's rate of babies born preterm has steadily increased over the past decade, and Detroit has the highest rate of any major U.S. city, per an annual report from March of Dimes.

Why it matters: The report underscores where the biggest gaps persist in equity, access and maternal care.

• It should be a "wake-up call" that change is needed across the U.S., says Michael Warren, the chief medical and health officer of March of Dimes, a nonprofit focused on ending preventable preterm birth and infant death.

Context: Preterm babies — those born before 37 weeks of pregnancy — may not be fully developed at birth, leading to more health problems like breathing issues, difficulty maintaining body temperature, and risk of developmental delays later, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

By the numbers: Michigan's rate in 2024 was 10.7%, amounting to more than 10,000 babies born preterm and earning the state a D+ report card from March of Dimes.

• That's up about 1 percent from a decade ago and was slightly higher than the national rate of 10.4%, per CDC data cited in the report.
• Detroit's preterm birth rate was 16.6%, the highest rate of all 100 U.S. cities with the greatest number of live births.

Yes, but: Michigan is implementing five of six health initiatives identified by the March of Dimes to improve maternal and infant health — including a maternal mortality review committee, postpartum screenings, Medicaid expansion and more.

Between the lines: There are major infant health discrepancies when it comes to race, Warren tells Axios.

• 9.5% of babies born to white mothers were preemies.
• 14.7% of babies born to non-Hispanic Black mothers were preemies.

What we're hearing: "There's no biological reason" for the major state and racial differences in preterm-birth rate, Warren says.

• Instead, factors like poverty, housing stability and discrimination influence these health outcomes, he says.

Zoom in: "I think that we don't take into account economic [factors], and how that stress really leans into [complications during pregnancy]," Tamika Jackson of Detroit-based advocacy organization Mothering Justice, told Michigan Public.

• "It's also the experience of going into the hospital and really feeling like they're on a conveyor belt … A lot of what I hear from the moms is, 'I knew something was wrong, but they wouldn't listen."

What we're watching: Whether funding cuts from President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" lead to more maternity-care deserts across the country.

Detroit's RoboCop statue reported for duty last week at Eastern Market, and early impressions are positive.

Why it matters: The statue's saga began nearly 15 years ago when the idea was suggested as an answer to Philadelphia's Rocky statue, but then-Mayor Dave Bing dismissed the idea on Twitter.

• A viral fundraising campaign followed, raising $67,000 from more than 2,700 donors worldwide, per the AP.

Flashback: Released in 1987, "RoboCop" stars Peter Weller as the crime-fighting cyborg in a dystopian, crime-ridden Detroit.

State of play: The 11-foot-tall, 3,500-pound bronze statue was erected Wednesday at 3434 Russell St., across from Frank's Deli & Grill.

• Detroit sculptor Giorgio Gikas finished the statue in 2017, but finding a home for it wasn't easy.
• The Michigan Science Center, citing the pandemic, canceled plans to host it in 2021.

About three years ago, Jim Toscano, co-owner of the FREE AGE film production company, bought a building in Eastern Market and agreed to put it up outside.

• "It's too unusual, too unique, too cool not to do," Toscano told the AP.

We visited it yesterday and passersby couldn't help but stop and marvel at the crime-fighting cyborg.

What they're saying: Keisha Richard was leaving Marybelles Caché nearby when the statue caught her eye. She had to stop and take some pictures.

• "I grew up watching this — 'RoboCop' was my thing," Richard told Axios. "I think the statue is beautiful … I thought it would be more chrome-ish, but I like it."

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💰 A wholesale tax of 24% on Michigan marijuana will still go into effect next month after a judge declined to block it. Industry groups had sued to stop the tax, which is central to the state's road funding plan. (Bridge Michigan)

⛳ The Rocket Classic, the city's annual PGA Tour event, will be under former Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis' leadership as part of a shakeup to rejuvenate the tournament, which has no contract past 2026. (Detroit News)

🤝 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and President Trump have created a surprisingly positive relationship, with a White House official saying Whitmer is the Democrat "who we have spent the most time with, who has reached out to us the most, who has wanted to work with us." (Politico)

Anything can become a work of art, including something as simple as a hard hat.

The big picture: Local artists designed construction hat art pieces that are being auctioned off to support youth skilled trades programming.

• Hard Hats for Detroit is construction company Sachse's philanthropic endeavor to draw attention to creativity in trades.

Zoom in: Each design pairs an artist with a sponsor company, benefitting a local workforce development provider:

⚒️ Bo Shepherd of salvage-centered design studio Woodward Throwbacks created a vintage hard hat lamp with Milwaukee Tool, benefitting Focus: HOPE.

🪟 April Wagner of glassblowing business Epiphany Studios built a hard hat of molten glass with LuxWall, benefitting EcoWorks.

🪙 Josh Welton of metal art studio Brown Dog Welding fashioned a welded metal hard hat with Carhartt, benefitting Randolph Career & Technical Center.

What's next: The auction closes tomorrow at 3pm.

• Bids as of yesterday afternoon were over $2,000 each.