Alleviating poverty and helping youth took top billing in Mayor Mary Sheffield's first proposed budget, released yesterday.

Why it matters: The $1.6 billion general fund budget proposal — $3 billion across all funding sources — is an early indicator of how Sheffield could use city resources to turn campaign promises into action.

State of play: Sheffield's presentation to City Council represented a flip in perspective after 12 years spent as a council member listening to former Mayor Mike Duggan's proposals.

• Several council members praised the effort, with President James Tate telling Sheffield, "It's very clear you've been listening to the residents."

Our top takeaways:

🎒 Kid focus: The mayor has no jurisdiction over schools, but she aims to strengthen how the city supports youth in other ways.

• She wants new city positions to build relationships with public and charter schools, along with increased funding for after-school programs, summer programs and extended summer rec center hours.
• The proposed budget includes plans for a new office of early education, as well as letting public school students ride city buses free year-round.

💭 New-build housing: It's prohibitively expensive to build single-family houses on Detroit's large swaths of vacant land. Sheffield's administration wants to set aside federal dollars to determine innovative solutions, like modular or even 3D-printed homes.

💰 Living wage example: Sheffield says that to encourage private employers to increase residents' wages — which lag far behind those of nonresidents working here — the city needs to lead by example.

• Starting July 1, per her plan, all city employees will be paid at least $44,616 annually, the state-determined living wage in Wayne County. The change would affect around 900 employees and cost the city $7.9 million in added payroll.
• Sheffield is also calling for a $30 million increase in the Department of Transportation budget, chiefly for raising driver and engineer wages.

Another notable proposal involves a small decrease in residents' property taxes of 1 mill.

What's next: City Council will analyze and adjust the budget ahead of an early April vote.

College hoops fans get a taste of March Madness this week with the Big Ten men's basketball tournament in Chicago.

Why it matters: It's a chance for U-M and Michigan State — both locks for the NCAA Tournament — to build momentum for a deep postseason run.

🔮 Title hopes: The Wolverines are projected to earn a No. 1 seed as a top contender to win the national championship. Michigan State is widely viewed as a potential Final Four team.

Catch up quick: U-M beat Michigan State 90-80 on Sunday at Crisler Center, sweeping the season series.

🏆 The women's Big Ten tournament wrapped Sunday with No. 1 seed UCLA routing Iowa 96-45 for the title.

State of play: The men's tournament tips off today for lower-seeded teams.

• Michigan and Michigan State earned triple byes and won't play until Friday. The Wolverines tip at 11am; the Spartans play in the evening, about 25 minutes after the 5:30pm game ends.

How to watch: First round and early Wednesday games stream on Peacock.

• Big Ten Network airs Wednesday's late session and all games Thursday and Friday.
• CBS and Paramount+ carry Saturday's semifinals and Sunday's championship.

🏢 A flurry of Eastern Market property deals are in the works since 21 properties in the city's bustling market district went up for sale six months ago. Ten properties are under contract and one deal has closed. (Crain's 🔒)

🚨 Detroit's ShotSpotter contract is up for renewal in June. The gunshot detection system's performance data has raised questions about whether it's worth the cost — $7 million over the last three years. (Michigan Advance)

🦁 The Lions filled a pressing need on their offensive line, signing former Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays to a three-year, $25 million contract. (Pride of Detroit)

• Linebacker Alex Anzalone, meanwhile, is leaving Detroit after signing a two-year deal with Tampa Bay. (Free Press)

👋 Annalise here, with the latest installment of our series visiting cute Metro Detroit coffee shops.

Dig in: Decent Detroit opened in 2024 on the edge of Grosse Pointe Park near the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood.

Vibes: Clean and sparse, but not devoid of personality, with wall art that draws the eye. While I worked there on a Thursday morning, tables were mostly full and several regulars filed in and out.

Flavors: The Swedish-inspired shop sells baked goods from local shops Bev's Bagels, Crispelli's and Death by Pastry. Its other offerings include the usual coffee, plus specials like a salted maple latte, smoothies and sandwiches around $8.

• I got a medium latte ($6) and a stellar bun ($6) that smacked me in the face with its cardamom flavor (in a good way).

Workability: Unusually plentiful outlets, solid Wi-Fi and a decent number of tables. Both chairs at my table were distractingly wobbly, but other tables had different types of seating.

If you go: 7am-4pm Monday-Saturday, 8am-1pm Sunday.

• 14834 Kercheval Ave., Detroit.

A Boeing 737 loaded with some of the country's most precious founding documents will stop in Metro Detroit this summer during a multicity exhibition tour marking America's 250th birthday.

• 🛬 The Freedom Plane is landing in Dearborn; Kansas City; Atlanta; L.A.; Houston; Denver; Miami; and Seattle between now and mid-August.

📜 Zoom in: The documents will be at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation from July 9-26.

Monica Crowley, U.S. chief of protocol, tells CNN: "This initiative is all about bringing our history to life, capturing the national mood of celebration, and sending America's big birthday party from the nation's capital to the very heart of America."