Daily Detroit

On today's show, we cover the funeral arrangements for former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, who died Friday at age 92. Dingell, a Dearborn Democrat, was the longest-serving member of the U.S. House, having served for 59 years when he stepped down at the end of 2014. And he left a huge impression on generations of Detroiters. Elsewhere, we delve into sportsball. Forbes says the Detroit Pistons fall one ranking to No. 26 for most valuable NBA teams (out of 30), despite increasing 15 percent to $1.27 billion. And Detroit City FC has released its schedule for the 2019 NPSL regular-season campaign, though it will release its schedule for its inaugural NPSL Founders Cup professional campaign, and four exhibition friendlies, at a later date. Also: The city of Detroit has an improved credit rating from Standards & Poor's, meaning it will cost less for borrowing money City officials in Royal Oak may have to eat an additional $877,000 in costs for a new parking deck under construction Summit Place Mall in Waterford has a date with the wrecking ball, at long last Comcast will begin airing Detroit Symphony Orchestra concerts this season Lyft has released the top restaurants, venues and cities for Valentine's Day in Detroit, using data from 2018 Detroit is once again on a list of most-unhealthy U.S. cities, and we discuss a few reasons why Thanks as always for listening. Tell a friend about Daily Detroit, and help spread the word about your favorite podcast.

Paul Riser has played trombone, wrote songs and arranged music with some of the biggest names in popular music. As a member of the fabled "Funk Brothers," the mostly anonymous house band for Motown Records during its heyday, he worked with the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, The Supremes and Smokey Robinson. Riser will appear at the Detroit Institute of Music Education on Friday, Feb. 8 from 1-3 p.m., 1265 Griswold, for a "Paul Riser Masterclass" on lessons learned from his incredible 50-year career in music. In today's episode, Riser talks about how he started with the Funk Brothers, what he learned from playing with them in the studio, and what it's like playing with Stevie Wonder. I also ask him what the drastic changes in the music industry mean for those trying to make a living on music, and who he likes from the current crop of pop musicians. We also hear from DIME President Kevin Nixon ("which makes me President Nixon," he quipped to me before we recorded the conversation), himself an industry veteran, on what makes Riser unique. Whether you're a music lover like me, or just love hearing about Detroit's history, you won't want to miss this episode.

Paul Ajegba, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's nominee to head the Michigan Department of Transportation, faced a grilling in a state Senate committee on Tuesday. And he let slip a rather interesting tidbit, saying that MDOT likely needs another $1.5 billion in funding just to fix state roads. And that doesn't account for the needs of counties, cities and villages. On today's show, we break down the particulars, including why that $1.2 billion roads package lawmakers passed back in 2015 won't cut it. We also run down: GM's planned layoffs of 1,300 salaried employees at the Warren Tech Center, coming on the same day the automaker reported earning $8.1 billion for 2018 A Detroit police commander who retired after being charged with impaired driving and possessing a firearm while under the influence Former Clinton Township Trustee Dean Reynolds, who was sentenced to 17 years in a federal prison in a wide-ranging Macomb County corruption scandal, detailed by The Detroit News Former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, 92, has entered hospice care And the Downtown Detroit Partnership releases its annual report, featuring some interesting data points Thanks as always for listening. If you like our show, tell a friend, or consider supporting Daily Detroit on Patreon.

Busy show for you podcast listeners today. Ford is laying off 1,000 employees at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant, but offering them positions in other Ford plants, with about half expected to take jobs at the Livonia Transmission plant. Meanwhile, GM is adding 1,000 jobs at Flint Assembly to make heavy-duty Chevy and GMC trucks. Those jobs will be offered first to workers affected by the looming closure of four plants in the U.S., including two here in the Detroit area. Elsewhere, Ferndale is doubling rates for all downtown metered parking starting April 1. That's to help pay for the dot, the new $28 million mixed-use parking deck that just broke ground. We talked about that project recently with Ferndale's assistant city manager, Joe Gacioch. The Ambassador Bridge will slash toll fares by $2, from $4.60 to $2.60, in both directions starting Feb. 18 Turning to buses, the suburban SMART bus system is proposing a new fare system that would eliminate transfers and bring fares in line with the Detroit Department of Transportation. You can email your feedback to [email protected], or attend one of the following meetings: Wednesday, February 6Dearborn Transit Center, 21201 Michigan Ave., 5:30 p.m. SMART downtown offices, 535 Griswold Street, Suite 600, Detroit, 12 p.m. Thursday, February 7 Royal Oak Transit Center, 202 Sherman Drive, 5:30 p.m. Lots more in the show, and be safe out there with the ice tonight. Find Daily Detroit wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

It was an especially bad start to the week for many salaried employees at General Motors, as the automaker started handing out pink slip in a bid to eliminate 4,000 white-collar employees over the next two weeks. It's part of plans GM announced in November and discussed on our podcast to slash 14,000 jobs and save $6 billion by 2020. In other news, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shakes up state government, restructuring and renaming the Department of Environmental Quality as the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. She also signed two other measures to address the public's fears about drinking water in the wake of the Flint water crisis and widespread PFAS contamination. We also rundown: The city of Detroit has pushed back the date for appealing new property tax assessments Detroit Restaurant Week kicks off later this month Shake Shack is unveiling sous vide "Chick'n Bites" Google crunches the numbers and finds Detroit is the nation's top pizza-eating market; MSN offers some unconventional entries for Motown's top Detroit-style pizza joints The Anna Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle will have limited weekend hours this month due to construction work And last but certainly not least, we wade into the talk of the town, the new sculpture in Sterling Heights that some are calling the Golden Butthole of Macomb County Comments? Questions? Tips? [email protected] And if you're interested in our Patreon, that link is here: http://www.dailydetroit.com/patreon

Well, it's cold out. Anyone noticed? If you're like us, you no doubt noticed the emergency push alert sent to your mobile device Wednesday night, asking you to dial back your thermostats as the temperatures outside were heading to record subzero lows. On today's show, we talk about what happened to precipitate that push alert — a fire at a Consumers Energy natural gas storage and compression plant in Macomb County, its largest — and how it illustrates how vulnerable our infrastructure is to climate change. We suspect things will only get worse, if the forecasts for a big thaw by this weekend prove true. Staying with infrastructure, because we're nerds like that, we run down a new proposal from a bipartisan group of former politicians to raise Michigan's gas tax to help fund road repairs. Our interview today is with Alexandra Schmidt, public engagement director with the Center for Michigan and a reporter at Bridge Magazine. She tells us about the "think-and-do" tank's new report, "Michigan's Moment of Truth." It reflects the recommendations gleaned from more than 170 meetings across the state with residents about what they want to see out of our new crop of elected leaders (hint: roads are a big topic). Thanks for listening, tell a friend about us, and have a pleasant weekend. Of course, if you have comments, tips or questions, email us at [email protected]

You may have seen that Daily Detroit recently made its Detroit Public Television debut with a profile of Rivian, the electric vehicle maker that caught the automotive world by surprise last fall when it unveiled its high-powered, battery-electric pickup truck and SUV. For today's episode, we're following up on our promise to give you more from our visit to Rivian's Plymouth Township headquarters. We have more from my interview with the company's founder and CEO, R.J. Scaringe, including how the company is founded and why he's confident they can clear the hurdles and start manufacturing their vehicles. Rivian is now taking orders on both the R1T pickup, which is slated for delivery to customers in late 2020, and the R1S SUV, which delivers in 2021. The former starts at $69,000, or $61,500 after federal electric-vehicle tax credits, while the latter starts at $72,500 ($65,000). In the meantime, enjoy the photos from our visit. Like what we're doing? Then leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. And consider supporting our work through our Patreon campaign. If you have questions or story ideas, hit us up! [email protected]

A new polar vortex is bearing down on Michigan and the upper Midwest, forcing widespread school closures, forcing Wayne State University and Michigan State University to cancel classes and the Detroit Zoo to close. On today's episode, we run down some of the knock-on effects of the dangerously cold weather, which is expected to produce subzero temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills. Jer speaks with Gary Brown, director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, about the risks to the city's aging infrastructure. DTE Energy also has a list of warming centers that will be open around the Detroit region. In other news, we discuss a report that the Trump administration will not set drinking water limits for PFAS, a dangerous group of chemicals that have turned up in public water systems across the country and Michigan. This as the U.S. Air Force thumbs its nose at the state of Michigan's request to expand cleanup of PFAS contamination at a former air base near Oscoda. Other news: GM's vice president of urban mobility and Maven, its car-sharing program, is out. Two DMC hospitals face the threat of losing federal funding for Medicare and Medicaid after failing inspections. And Third Man Records has opened an analog and digital mastering studio to its Cass Corridor retail empire Also, it's our 200th episode!!! We couldn't have gotten this far without the support of readers and listeners like you. Please consider becoming a supporter through our new Patreon campaign.

Greetings, fellow snow-bound Detroiters. We didn't let the weather interfere with our podcast plans today and delivered this show from the Royal Oak studio of Podcast Detroit. On today's show, newly Detroit-based Chemical Bank is merging with Minnesota-based TCF Bank in an all-stock merger of equals. The deal will see TCF vacate its suburban Minneapolis headquarters and join Chemical in being based in downtown Detroit, where employee head count will eventually reach 500. The Chemical name will go away in favor of TCF, which stands for Twin City Federal Savings and Loan Association. In other news, attendance at this year's Detroit auto show saw a small dip in the show's final wintertime appearance before it moves to June in 2020. And former Detroit Tigers legend Kirk Gibson has a new title with the team. He'll be a special assistant to General Manager Al Avila in addition to his duties in the TV broadcast booth alternating with Jack Morris. Then we run down a bunch of food news: Royal Oak craft beer bar Ale Mary's debuts cannabidiol-flavored cocktails Corktown deli Mudgie's offers a new program to provide hot meals to those who could really use one Troy's Camp Ticonderoga wins some national acclaim for its coziness The Drive Table Tennis Social Club in downtown Detroit has closed but is reportedly looking for a new location And, Little Caesars has a new pretzel crust pizza. With cheddar cheese sauce. It's apparently a thing lots of people asked to come back. Find Daily Detroit wherever you get your favorite podcasts. And don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

A bonus pod this Friday, January 25, 2018. Despite its new owner's promises to build a brewery, office space, a hotel and more, Detroit's infamous Packard Plant is once again subject to foreclosure by Wayne County in 2019, according to notices published in the Detroit Legal News last month. That's due, at least in part, to unpaid bills to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. But the amount shows up as tax liability. Although we haven't been able to confirm the total owed for the water and sewage bills, adding up records found on Loveland's property website shows that Arte Express owes $302,434 as of August 2018. That's across a variety of properties that make up the north and south sides of the sprawling Packard facility. The Detroit Water And Sewerage Department said they wouldn't be able to confirm the total amount owed across the numerous properties that make up the plant by the end of today. We've identified 42 parcels owned by Arte Express at the Packard Plant, with 41 subject to foreclosure on March 31, 2019. This includes the administration building that the pedestrian bridge fell from earlier this week at 1580 East Grand Boulevard. That parcel is listed as owing $5,587.99. Peruvian developer Fernando Palazuelo and his Arte Express company purchased the complex out of foreclosure in 2013 for $405,000. More: http://www.dailydetroit.com/2019/01/25/detroits-packard-plant-is-on-wayne-countys-2019-foreclosure-list/

On Wednesday, the Packard Plant's bridge collapsed onto East Grand Boulevard. On today's show, we talk about that and what we know about why it happened. And we use it as a jumping-off point to discuss the plant's colorful past and ambitious — some might say quixotic — future plans. In its heyday, the Packard Plant was the largest automotive factory in the world, built for an automobile company known for its engineering and innovations like the 12-cylinder engine and the modern steering wheel. We also speak with John Lauter, a former tenant and current Packard historian, who fills us in on the plant's post-Packard years starting in the late '50s, including its use for film storage, then later on for illegal rave parties. Not to mention, there's a dose of city hall intrigue at the turn of the millenium.

Greetings from Detroit, which today looks like a snowglobe-turned-dismal outdoor slushie amid a brief thaw. On today's show, we discuss a new report from the Michigan State University College of Education that finds tht funding for Michigan's public schools has dropped more severely than in any other state over the past quarter-century. We're now dead last among states for total education revenue growth. The report deliberately looks at the effects of Proposal A, the 1994 state law that drastically changed public education funding in Michigan. It shifted funding from local property taxes to state property taxes, limiting the ability of local residents to determine funding levels for their own local schools. We had an in-depth interview last year about Michigan's K-12 woes with Ron French of Bridge magazine. You can listen to it here. Elsewhere, we discuss a new initiative to redesign the streets around the Detroit Institute of Arts. The public is invited to come to the DIA and provide their feedback on plans offered by three different firms. Also covered today: Peppa Pig's World of Play is coming to the Detroit area Eminem is starring in a virtual-reality documentary set in Detroit And the restaurant and winery chain Cooper's Hawk is eyeing Troy as the location of its second restaurant in Michigan. And finally, our interview feature is with Detroit entrepreneur Jennyfer Crawford about her new venture. The founder of the popular All Things Detroit market has launched All Things Ticketing. Her aim is to make throwing an event simpler.

On today's episode, we speak with Diane Cross, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Transportation, about the still-unfolding transportation apocalypse on northbound I-75 in Oakland County. There, potholes have proliferated since Monday, damaging cars, forcing the closure of the freeway and creating massive traffic snarls. Cross says it's a textbook example of Michigan's chronic under-investment in its road infrastructure, and emergency road repairs are likely to continue until a planned, multimillion-dollar road reconstruction project kicks off in the spring. UGH! Elsewhere, we dive into new property values released by the city of Detroit that show rising property values in a little over half of the city's neighborhoods. That cool building current with the giant rainbow mural? That's going to become Chroma Detroit. An old school built in 1922 will get a new chapter as a INDUSTRY DETROIT. And yesterday the Element Hotel in the historic Metropolitan Building opened. In food news, San Morello, the new restaurant in the shiny new Shinola Hotel was featured on the Today Show. We have confirmation that Buddy's Pizza is in fact expanding to Grand Rapids. And we shout out The Daily podcast for their profile on the a new U.S. Democratic House representative, Rashida Tlaib. Here's a link to that. Like our show? Here are our back episodes and links to listen on your favorite podcast app: http://www.dailydetroit.com/podcast Thanks to today's episode sponsors, Bamboo Detroit and Milo Digital. Have questions? Tips? Ideas? Hit us up. [email protected].

We thought when we went into the office today, it'd be a short day. We were wrong. Here's what to know around town: I-75 is crumbling. Both the Northbound and Southbound lanes have major emergency repairs underway. A highly dispiriting for Martin Luther King Jr. Day - The Detroit News reports that a former political aide to Warren Mayor Jim Fouts says the mayor called former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick the N-word on election night in 2007. More: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2019/01/21/warren-mayor-jim-fouts-called-kwame-kilpatrick-n-word-ex-aide-says/2636161002/ According to PropertyShark, the difference between the median home sale prices in Detroit's neighborhoods and downtown is one of the largest in the nation. But we dig deeper into just how odd Detroit's real estate market is, with 15x less mortgages than the national average per 100,000 people. https://www.propertyshark.com/Real-Estate-Reports/2019/01/14/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-american-downtown-a-look-into-the-home-price-evolution-of-the-nations-urban-cores-in-the-decade-since-the-downturn/ A newly released court memo in the bribery case of Troy's former city manager argues that Brian Kischnick had a "god complex" and ran a pay-to-play operation rivaling that of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2019/01/21/troy-city-manager-bribery-case/2632999002/ Henry Ford Health System plans to convert a vacant commercial building near its anchor hospital into an arts destination focused on offering youth and family programming and highlighting the talent of local artists. It'll be called ArtBlock. Michigan's new Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, has filed a legal brief that seeks to settle a lawsuit challenging the Republican-drawn legislative and congressional districts. That could lead to new maps drawn for the 2020 election. Last month we told you about Lincoln's plan to make a limited number of Continental sedans fitted with suicide doors. Today, the company said all 80 models sold out within two days, despite a price tag north of $110,000. Grammy-nominated rapper Nas will perform with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on March 5th. Could Buddy's Pizza be expanding to Grand Rapids? In more food news… Ann Arbor based Seva has been named one of the best Vegetarian and Vegan restaurants in the country by Thrillist. A longtime Detroit watering hole, The Detroiter Bar, will not be serving alcohol for 21 days. And, the founder of Olga's Kitchen, Olga Laizon, has passed away. If you have questions or feedback for the show, hit us up at [email protected].

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected] Former Governor John Engler is indeed out as interim president of Michigan State University. Replacing him will be Satish Udpa. The United Auto Workers says it plans to stage a candlelight vigil outside the North American International Auto Show tomorrow night during the Charity Preview event. A giant golden ring has been installed in Sterling Heights on Hall Road near Schoenherr as part of a beautification project. Detroit's oldest drinking establishment got some national love today. The Two Way Inn on Mt. Elliott in Detroit was just named the Best Dive Bar in the country for the 2019 Nightclub & Bar Awards. One of Detroit's Tiki Bars, Lost River, has taken a top spot nationally in Yelp's ranking of the kitschy (but fun) genre. This weekend kicks off the first Michigan Central Station Winter Festival. It will run Friday, January 18 until Sunday, January 27. If you're looking for something fun to do that will have a positive impact on projects in Detroit….. you really need to get to Detroit SOUP this Sunday night. Also happening Sunday is Back Alley Bikes' 7th annual Bike the Blizzard bike-a-thon fundraiser. It runs from midnight to midnight. It's going to be cold this weekend!

First, huge news from East Lansing, where former Gov. John Engler is expected to resign as interim president of Michigan State University in the wake of comments he made about victims of the Larry Nassar sexual-assault scandal. Engler, you'll recall, was brought in to clean up the mess after former President Lou Ann Simon resigned over her handling of the Nassar affair. But Engler last week told The Detroit News that some victims were "enjoying the spotlight." It was the latest in a long line of controversial moves and comments he made about the scandal, and we talk about why we believe he was the wrong man for the job from the outset. Elsewhere, more than 60 unlicensed medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed to temporarily reopen amid a marijuana shortage. There's also big news in Ferndale, where Baker College wants to open a flagship urban campus in 2020, a move that could give the city an economic jolt. Also hoped to deliver an economic jolt is a new partnership between Microsoft and Wayne State University. It targets developing skills for in-demand high-tech jobs. Staying on the jobs theme, Pontiac-based mortgage lender United Shore is looking to hire 800 people this year. And going back to Wayne State, researchers there will study fatbergs after winning an $80,000 grant. There's more for your listening pleasure in the episode above. And don't miss our guide for how to score tickets to see the acclaimed musical "Hamilton" when it comes to the Fisher Theater.

For today's Daily Detroit, we talk everything North American International Auto Show with our Sven Gustafson who spent a couple days on the floor at Cobo Center. Topics covered include the general feel of the show, plans for next year's show that will be held in June, the Toyota Supra reveal, the new Ford Explorer, the power of the Mustang brand, the Kia Telluride, a new Ram Heavy Duty pickup with insane torque numbers, Cadillac vs. Lincoln and Ford's new partnership with Volkswagen. We also share the details on what you need to know to go to the public show later this month.

A major water main break in Detroit is causing havoc for residents, nearly a hundred thousand downtown Detroit office workers…. and auto show attendees staying at hotels. Then, a local ice cream shop is getting a new flavor when it comes to their decor. Hopcat has a new name for their fries. And finally, I went out to Dearborn to check out historic artifacts from Michigan Central Station and give you the details on how you'll be able to see them for yourself.

On today's show we focus on everyone's favorite suburb, Funky/Fabulous/Fashionable Ferndale. There, the city is preparing to break ground on a $28 million mixed-use parking structure adorably named "the dot" — short for "development on Troy" Street. It's a major development for the city, nearly tripling parking capacity on the site, adding four stories plus one underground level of parking, adding more than 11,000 square feet of new retail space and, possibly, new office space and housing. But it also means taking downtown Ferndale's busiest parking lot offline for more than a year, adding to parking woes and stresses for local businesses. We speak with Ferndale Assistant City Manager Joseph Gacioch about the project and how a parking structure fits in with the city's vision for placemaking and a more vibrant downtown for business owners. More renderings are below. The city's website for all things the dot is here. Like the show? Monthly membership makes the world go round. Support us on Patreon.

A single-family home, leaning to the one side, swallowed up by the ground on Christmas Eve. It's a visual people won't forget. And it made national news. Today on Daily Detroit, we're digging into what officials now believe caused a major sinkhole in the Macomb County suburb of Fraser back in 2016. Then we look into the wider topic of Southeast Michigan's infrastructure, both above and below ground. Like much of the country, it's been mostly neglected for decades. And the bill is coming due. By the way, you can be part of this story. Become a monthly member through Patreon http://www.dailydetroit.com/patreon.

Happy Tuesday, automatons! Today your Daily Detroit gets wonky and talks all about bike lanes and trail projects with Todd Scott of the Detroit Greenways Coalition. He put together an interesting (and lengthy!) list of bike and trail projects due to see action in 2019. They include groundbreaking at the long-delayed Uniroyal site near the bridge to Belle Isle, movement on the long-planned Joe Louis Greenway (formerly known as the Inner Circle Greenway) and new protected bike lanes on Grand River Avenue in northwest Detroit. As Scott says, it's remarkable how far the city has come with its bicycling and greenways infrastructure in just the last few years. And it's remarkable that it's all happening here in the Motor City, a place that's been indelibly built and shaped by the automobile — and not always for the better. If you're a fan of Jane Jacobs and urbanism, you don't want to miss this show. And if you like what we're doing, considering supporting us through our Patreon campaign. Have feedback for the show? Email us at dailydetroit at gmail.com.

On today's episode, we check in with soccer correspondent Fletcher Sharpe about Detroit City FC's new coach, Trevor James, and what it means for the club as it prepares for its first (semi) season of professional soccer. Elsewhere, I-696 has now been almost fully reopened after the long delay following a labor dispute and problems encountered by cold and wet winter weather. In Warren, construction has apparently loosed a plague of rats on Jim Fouts' fair city. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer traveled to the Affirmations community center in Ferndale today to sign her executive order prohibiting discrimination against gay and transgender state employees. Her directive goes farther than a similar order signed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder during his waning days in office last month. Greta Van Fleet, the pride of Frankenmuth, will headline Saturday Night Live on Jan. 19. And we catch up on some key restaurant/bar openings and closings. Among them: Shimmy Shack is gearing up to open its brick-and-mortar eatery in Plymouth Township later this month. (Facebook) The Royal Oak nightclub Luna has closed its doors after 19 years of getting people really drunk. (Facebook) There's a new Biggby Coffee on Livernois in Detroit (Daily Detroit) In Birmingham, Hunter House might be demolished for a five-story mixed-use development. (Hometown Life) And Woodbridge's latest eatery is Japanese izakaya Katsu Detroit, with tatami-style tables up in front. (Eater Detroit) And in our "reads" section, check out this piece by Robin Runyan in Curbed Detroit about a Detroiter that's rehabbing their childhood home they found on the Land Bank auction site. Thanks for listening! If you like our work, here a couple ways to support the show. One, be sure to tell a friend via social media! And secondly, please consider supporting us via Patreon.

A ritual of regional togetherness is no more. The annual "Big Four" gathering of the Detroit Mayor and the three county executives from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb will not happen this year around the North American International Auto Show. (Oakland Press) The Seller-Lehrer Family Foundation, founded by Detroit native and Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller and his partner Josh Lehrer, has given the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit a $1 million grant. It'll fund their Summer Camp and Mosaic Experience Empowerment Program. Yesterday we brought you the bizarre tale of a 48-year-old Novi resident arrested in Russia on accusations of spying. Today there's word that Paul Whelan has been indicted on espionage charges. A couple bits of news from General Motors. On Thursday, the automaker named Mark Reuss its new president to oversee autonomous and electric vehicle development. Also, GM has hit a milestone of 200,000 cumulative electric vehicles sold. That's the threshold where a 75-hundred-dollar federal tax credit for purchasing EVs starts to phase out. The credit will drop to $3,750 starting in April, to $1,875 in October and then disappear completely by April 2020. Embattled Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland may face a recall effort. And... Legendary counterculture figure and marijuana advocate John Sinclair has opened a new coffee shop in Detroit. Have questions? Tips? Ideas? Email us at [email protected]. Really like what we're doing? Become a monthly supporter on Patreon.

Happy New Year! We've made it to season 2! On to the stories: Detroit Police James Craig told the Detroit News on Tuesday there were 261 criminal homicides in 2018. That's down six from last year and the lowest number since 1966. But for now, we're going to put an asterisk on this statistic. We talk about why. We don't often wade into U.S.-Russia relations on Daily Detroit, but we are today. That's because Russia's Federal Security Service says it has arrested a man from Novi who's being accused of espionage. Russian authorities arrested Paul Whelan December 28th in Moscow, where he had reportedly planned to attend a wedding. Whelan is an ex-Marine who works as director of global security for the auto supplier BorgWarner in Auburn Hills. The city of Detroit is cracking down on six types of businesses in the city. Used tire sales and storage Used auto sales Scrap iron and metal processors Junk dealers Auto dismantling and wrecking New major and minor auto repair places And our guest today is Emily Lawler. She's MLive's Lansing reporter and she talks about what actually came out of the frenetic lame duck session in Lansing, her recent piece examining outgoing Governor Rick Snyder and looks ahead to what's next for new Governor Gretchen Whitmer. You can follow her on Twitter here.

The end of the year is fast approaching, and Daily Detroit is starting to look back at this crazy year, which was an eventful one for the city. On today's episode, our Man About Town, Devon O'Reilly, joins us in the studio to discuss his favorite bars and restaurants that swung open their doors in 2018. We talk about new bars like the Keisling and Lost River, plus restaurants including Empire, Urban Ramen and Bakersfield. We run down a few places that closed down in 2018, and we also look forward to what's coming in 2019.

The Empowerment Plan is a great nonprofit organization that provides jobs to homeless women making coats that double as sleeping bags and are distributed to other homeless people. The women, in turn, get a chance to find permanent housing and a new start on life. Now, the program is expanding. Daily Detroit's Shianne Nocerini went down to Empowerment Plan's Islandview headquarters to speak with founder Veronika Scott. Elsewhere, we discuss the news of layoffs at General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant. Two old, long-abandoned apartment buildings in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood are getting renovated (pictures here). And if you were hoping to catch the D Drop in Detroit on NYE, you better make different plans. The event is canceled for this year. We also discuss an interesting story about what could become the state's next big cash crop: industrial hemp. MLive has the full story.

Developers on Monday took the wraps off the redeveloped Metropolitan Building, which will re-open soon as the 110-room Element Hotel by Westin after four decades of abandonment. As Dan Austin of HistoricDetroit.org tells us, she's a "real looker" of a building, with a triangle-shaped footprint and terra cotta tiles adorning its impressive facade. But the Metropolitan survived several scrapes with demolition over the years — plus an effort to decontaminate it of radioactive elements back in the '90s. Also joining us to discuss the project and some of the redevelopment challenges is David Di Rita, founder and principal of Detroit-based Roxbury Group. Along with Detroit's Means Group, they steered the $33 million renovation projection, which is quickly nearing completion. Di Rita takes us on a virtual auditory tour of the refurbished interior. He also goes into detail about the forthcoming rooftop bar (!!!). And while you're at it, consider supporting Daily Detroit on Patreon. If you have questions about the show, email us at dailydetroit -at- gmail.com.

It's Monday, Dec. 17 in the mystical land known as Detroit. Here's what you get when you listen to your beloved Daily Detroit podcast today: Lincoln has made good on its pledge to reintroduce suicide doors on the Continental luxury sedan. The 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition is an homage to the first Continental introduced in 1939 and to the center-opening doors that graced the car during the 1960s. Just 80 examples will be made for 2019. Elsewhere, unpredictable winter weather continues to defy MDOT's ability to predict when I-696 construction will wrap in Macomb County. The QLine is offering free rides for the holiday shopping season, and Detroit's historic Grande Ballroom, home to many a legendary show from the MC5, The Stooges, The Who and others, lands on the National Register of Historic Places. We cover two bits of business news: High-end clothier The Broadway will close down for good after 43 years in business in downtown Detroit so its owner can retire. Over in Corktown, Cork and Gabel will open this week, bringing a mix of locally sourced Irish, German and Italian fare to the neighborhood. More info is at Eater Detroit. Lastly, Daily Detroit correspondent Shianne Nocerini joins us to talk about Drag Queen Storytime, which has managed to attract controversy from the usual quarters. And a little P.S. - there's a show at Otus Supply on Wednesday night you might want to check out if you're into rock and roll. More here: https://www.facebook.com/events/215150699406826/

It's Monday, Dec. 17 in the mystical land known as Detroit. Here's what you get when you listen to your beloved Daily Detroit podcast today: Lincoln has made good on its pledge to reintroduce suicide doors on the Continental luxury sedan. The 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition is an homage to the first Continental introduced in 1939 and to the center-opening doors that graced the car during the 1960s. Just 80 examples will be made for 2019. Elsewhere, unpredictable winter weather continues to defy MDOT's ability to predict when I-696 construction will wrap in Macomb County. The QLine is offering free rides for the holiday shopping season, and Detroit's historic Grande Ballroom, home to many a legendary show from the MC5, The Stooges, The Who and others, lands on the National Register of Historic Places. We cover two bits of business news: High-end clothier The Broadway will close down for good after 43 years in business in downtown Detroit so its owner can retire. Over in Corktown, Cork and Gabel will open this week, bringing a mix of locally sourced Irish, German and Italian fare to the neighborhood. More info is at Eater Detroit. Lastly, Daily Detroit correspondent Shianne Nocerini joins us to talk about Drag Queen Storytime, which has managed to attract controversy from the usual quarters. And a little P.S. - there's a show at Otus Supply on Wednesday night you might want to check out if you're into rock and roll. More here: https://www.facebook.com/events/215150699406826/

The big news around Detroit today is the groundbreaking on the Monroe Block. That's the two-block site adjacent to Campus Martius where Dan Gilbert and Bedrock plan an $830 million development to add 1.4 million square feet of housing, office, retail and public space. On today's podcast, we discuss the Monroe Block's colorful history as a theater district, its mostly moribund present and its potentially very exciting future. Gilbert, through Bedrock Detroit, plans to build two new towers — a 35-story office tower, and a 17-story residential building — with a more than 1-acre central courtyard featuring landscaping, seating areas, a catwalk and retail and food amenities. It will incorporate Farmer Street, which bisects the Monroe Block, but close it off to vehicle traffic. The architects were asked to adhere closely to good urban-design principles. The result is an attempt to connect different downtown districts, bring in a mix of uses and create vibrant open spaces. It's something that a lot of downtown Detroit still lacks, frankly. Think of the relatively lifeless west side of downtown. Or the sea of surface parking lots that still comprise much of the CBD.

On today's show: In Michigan, drug overdoses kill more people than traffic and gun deaths combined. Nearly 2,700 people died from overdoses in 2017, and more than 1,900 of those deaths were because of opioids. But there's a new coalition that's been put together fund treating this problem. Michigan is beating Ohio.. this time for getting a headquarters of a company to move here. In downtown Detroit, the Green Room Salad Bar says it's found a new home after being evicted from the Ford Building on Congress back in the spring. Ferndale restaurant The Conserva says it's planning to close after two years in business. The House of Vans pop-up festival is coming to Detroit for a four-day stretch January 24th through the 27th. Listeners to this show know that Detroit's food and booze scene has been growing like crazy as of late. So much so, it now has its own awards. That's the Golden Jigger, a creation of Nick Britsky of Nick Drinks. The winners are a who's who of hospitality around town. We talk with Nick Britsky and Booze Bunny about it. A complete list of winners: http://www.nickdrinks.com/2018/12/10/golden-jigger-awards-2018-recap/

It's a sad day for Detroiters who were fan of the TV show of the same name. Comedy Central today opted against bringing the buddy comedy "Detroiters" back for a third season, co-star Sam Richardson announced via Twitter. On today's show, we wax nostalgic about the beloved but short-lived show. Jer speaks with David Demuth, president and CEO of Southfield-based Doner, the real-life ad agency that was the arch-nemesis of the show's fictional Cramblin Duvet advertising firm. How'd the show settle on Doner as its foil? Elsewhere, we report on the other news that has Detroit talking — that HopCat is doing away with its popular Crack Fries out of deference to the reality that crack is a horribly addictive drug that has devastated families and whole neighborhoods in places like Detroit. The actual fries and recipe will remain, however. Which leads us to talk about our favorite fries. Yes, our show today gets absurd, fast. Elsewhere, we run down: A new snow-plowing protocol in the notoriously under-plowed city of Detroit A planned expansion of Oakland Community College's downtown Royal Oak campus (the Daily Tribune has the full story) The Detroit auto show inks a seven-year deal keeping it at Cobo through 2026 And some holiday fun including Santa Claus, beer tasting and classic arcade video games are coming to the Fisher Building lobby on Saturday. Like the show? Tell a friend! Really like the show? You can chip in on our Patreon. Your monthly support helps keep this grassroots project going. http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Happy Monday, worker drones! On today's show: Detroit's Strategic Neighborhood Fund gets a $35 million infusion from seven companies in what's said to be the largest corporate donation to Detroit neighborhoods, ever. The city will splash the cash in seven new east- and westside neighborhoods to strengthen housing and commercial districts. It's part of Mayor Duggan's "20-minute neighborhoods" initiative, which aims to redevelop neighborhoods into places where residents can walk or bike to do their errands, get to transit and visit a park within 20 minutes. Elsewhere, downtown Royal Oak is getting a new taco joint. Columbus, Ohio-based Condado Tacos aims to open next spring. And last but not least, we speak with Rick Sperling, who has announced his retirement after what will be nearly 27 years leading Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit. Sperling talks about how the nonprofit arts and youth-development outfit has evolved from when he founded it in 1992 and what he's most proud of. Find Daily Detroit wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

On the show: Michigan is the first state in the midwest and the tenth nationally to legalize recreational marijuana. The ballot measure passed last month with almost 56 percent of the vote, and it became official law today. There are few key things you need to know before you roll. Detroit's Town Pump - a long-standing drinking establishment - is moving across the street. Their "one last pump" party is this January. Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2216700125236311/ This one is just breaking as we record the show... the Detroit News is reporting that Fiat Chrysler will activate the old Mack Avenue Engine II plant in the city of Detroit. More, with info on the car being built that wasn't available when we recorded: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/chrysler/2018/12/06/fiat-chrysler-open-new-assembly-plant-detroit/2225735002/ The rent is high! A new report says that our very own Motor City has seen the highest rent increases of any U.S. city. Also, it costs 47% of the average Detroiter's income just on rent. For the first time in nearly two decades, the city of Detroit is back to borrowing on its own credit. The city sold $135 million in bonds with the aim of using it to purchase land around the city for eventual development. The new Fort Street Galley food hall concept opens its doors to the public on Friday in downtown Detroit. The Lions make their best pickup of the year: Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame as a possible fan. Love the show? Support us! It's you who make the show possible via our recently launched Patreon. Become a member: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

There are a lot of people doing good work in Detroit. Folks that put their shoulder to the wheel and are making things happen and making the community better. But often, those folks don't get as much recognition. That's why Ryan Landau and Re:Purpose, a Detroit-based firm, started the Purpose Awards. Ryan joins us on the show to to talk about them, why he's doing it, and who should apply (there are also some great prizes, too. Who wouldn't want a stay at the Foundation Hotel?) If you want to get in on the action and nominate yourself, a friend or a coworker, visit: https://repurpose.co/michigan-purpose-awards

On today's show: Jer was back at Michigan Central Station today and checked in on the progress of the restoration and renovation as phase one kicks off. The Michigan Legislature is taking up a set of controversial bills, most with the aim of blunting the voice of voters, watering down successful ballot initiatives and taking power away from the incoming Democrats. The Fillmore is getting a new marquee and it's the talk of the town, and maybe for not the right reasons. Sven adds history and context. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/acronymofficial/posts/1924719857564493 Ridesharing service Lyft has released the most popular destinations in Detroit. We break them down. Remember we're wherever your favorite podcasts are found. If you love the show and want to support us as a business or an individual, join our Patreon!

In a very special episode of the podcast recorded on Noel Night at the Podcast Detroit studios in the Detroit Shipping Company, we run down the Detroit contributions to the L.A. Auto Show and an electric car company that emerged from obscurity to being the focus of all the buzz. Jeep made a major splash with their new Gladiator, Rivian turned heads with their vehicles and Sven, Nuri, Randy and the team break down some of the major changes ahead for the economy due to electrification, including the elimination of things like oil changes. Like the show? You can support us in two ways! One: Tell a friend! Word of mouth is the best way to grow the show. Two: Want to help ensure the show is here for years to come? Join our Patreon. The monthly contribution helps keep the lights on, and we're glad to give you a shout out on the show. http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Big fancy towers downtown get all the press, but today we take you to Detroit's North End neighborhood and check out a revitalization project on John R between Kenilworth and Westminster. There was $100,000 of exterior work on the building they are in and the streetscape they're located on. The before and after pictures are in one word, unbelievable. We have those photos up on the Daily Detroit website. If you like what we're doing, consider supporting our work. http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

On today's show, we talk about the news that Hard Rock closed. Also, the bike share service MoGo shared a new report of ridership and usage. The Winter Blast is expanding and has a new sponsor. Shianne has all the details. And, two Detroit area restaurants get nods from Esquire magazine for being among the best new restaurants in America. Congrats to Voyager and Lady of the House. This show was recorded on November 28, 2018. Reminder: Our live show is on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Detroit Shipping Company. Come by and have a drink!

On today's show: President Trump is taking aim at GM's electric car incentives that were going to sunset anyway Ford's incentives for their $740 million Corktown campus are approved Shield's is opening in Midtown - https://www.metrotimes.com/table-and-bar/archives/2018/11/26/detroit-style-pizza-maker-shields-is-opening-a-midtown-location The historic building that until recently was home to Cheli's Chili Bar was sold to the Ilitches Detroit's getting a new Welcome Center And Shianne Nocerini gives you her picks for Noel Night, that's now expanded into daytime. This show was recorded on November 27, 2018. Two things before I let you go. One, we have an event on December 1st. A live podcast at 5pm at the Detroit Shipping Company. More on FB here: https://www.facebook.com/events/292222641404385/ Second, if you enjoy our work, we've started up a Patreon. Any support is always appreciated. http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

General Motors dropped a bomb on Monday, saying it will likely close three assembly plants including Detroit-Hamtramck in a pre-emptive move to cut costs and headcount ahead of an expected downturn. The moves mean the elimination of as many as 14,000 jobs — including 1,500 at Detroit-Hamtramck — and the elimination of slow-selling sedans like the Chevrolet Volt and Impala and the Buick LaCrosse. A transmission plant in Warren could also close. It's a particularly dubious cap to the saga of the Poletown plant, which rose during the 1980s after the two cities it straddles worked with GM to condemn and raze a working-class neighborhood of the same name. On today's episode, we speak with Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski, who tells us the closure leaves a city defined by the auto industry without any actual auto manufacturing. It also leaves Detroit without an open auto-assembly plant. In fact, here's Mayor Mike Duggan statement about it: "This morning I spoke to Mary Barra and she advised me for the first time of the situation at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant. The news is troubling. I have spoken to UAW President Gary Jones and the city's economic development team. They are working together to come up with a solution that works for GM and the employees. We all know there is strong demand for manufacturing space in Detroit and we are willing to work with GM to fill all the available manufacturing space at Poletown with either GM-related entities or other companies." You can also read the UAW's statement here. We also speak with auto analyst Michelle Krebs of Autotrader to learn about the business rationale behind the move. And finally, tech guru Nuri Gocay joins us to shed some light on where General Motors is actually adding jobs (hint: It ain't in Detroit). Enjoy today's episode in the player above, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. And if you like what we're doing and want to support us, check us out at Patreon.

Detroit will get a professional soccer team, but in a different way than many expected. No, Major League Soccer isn't coming to Detroit — not yet anyway — despite the efforts of Dan Gilbert and Pistons owner Tom Gores. Instead, the popular semi-pro club Detroit City FC has announced it will join a new pro league called the NPSL Founders Cup. What does that mean for the team? The players? And what exactly is happening? To sort that out, soccer journalist and Daily Detroit contributor Fletcher Sharpe joins Sven Gustafson for an interesting conversation. And then we unpack the soccer landscape and talk about some key differences between the U.S. and the rest of the world when it comes to pro soccer. Like the show? We're wherever fine podcasts are found. Would you like to support the show? Check out our Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Dan Gilbert made headlines this week when he issued an ultimatum to state lawmakers: Find a fix for Michigan's broken no-fault auto insurance system by mid-2019 or I'll bankroll an effort to put a proposal on the statewide ballot in 2020. On today's show, Jer interviews Jared Fleisher, vice president of government relations for the Quicken Loans Family of Companies, about why Gilbert and Quicken are jumping into the fray. Fleisher, who is running point for Gilbert's push to overhaul no-fault, says Quicken has 17,000 employees working in the city and has invested $3.5 billion to date in Detroit. He calls auto insurance reform "the single biggest but also most solvable barrier to the growth of the city." He also draws a comparison between Michigan's no-fault auto insurance system and the much-criticized Obamacare health overhaul. Fleisher says that while the Affordable Care Act requires people to buy insurance, it offers them a choice of benefit levels to pay for. Michigan's auto insurance law similarly requires that every driver be covered, but it essentially forces everyone to buy the top-tier "platinum" level of benefits. We spoke last month on the pod with attorney Steve Gursten, the head of Michigan Auto Law, all about Michigan's no-fault auto insurance system and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's recent federal lawsuit accusing it of being unconstitutional. Gursten argues that Duggan's suit has a real chance of prevailing, but he says it's tough to know how to fix the law without more transparency into insurance company practices. Many previous efforts to reform Michigan's no-fault system have run into a brick wall, but now it seems no-fault may be on a collision course with the forces of change. Daily Detroit is powered by people like you. We appreciate our advertisers, but we also believe that projects serving the community should be funded by the community. That's why we've set up our Patreon. We have some cool rewards, too. http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

There's a lot of competition between Metro Detroit area downtowns lately. Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak and others are aiming for shoppers, diners and residents as urban centers and more dense living and shopping are now the hot thing not just here but across America. For a time, Royal Oak was one of few downtown destinations in our area. Now, they've launched an ad and marketing campaign to get their share. That campaign is by Factory, an ad agency headed by Mark Lantz in downtown Detroit. Sven Gustafson talked with Lantz - who has some pretty impressive credentials with the Pure Michigan campaign, among others - about bringing folks into downtown Royal Oak to shop at their many restaurants and stores, as well as one of the most common debates in car-crazy metro Detroit, where to park. You can find Factory here: http://factorydetroit.com And Downtown Royal Oak here: https://www.romi.gov/101/Downtown Thanks for listening. Love the show? Tell a friend.

Devon O'Reilly, international man of intrigue, is Daily Detroit's Man About Town. He joins us today for a week-ending episode devoted to the things that truly matter: Where to eat, what to drink and where are the best place around town to broadcast your every waking moment to the world on Instagram. O'Reilly gives us the lowdown on Besa, one of Detroit's newest restaurants. It just opened for business inside the refurbished Vinton Building, with a killer wine list, a raw bar and a dish that fuses scallops and a sauce made of — get this — white chocolate. Elsewhere, we discuss his list of favorite and least-favorite glassware, including why in God's name any bar would serve a mixed drink in a footed Irish coffee mug. And last but not least, the holiday season is upon us, ready or not. That means lots of twinkly lights, mistletoe, garland and beaucoup opportunities to Instagram your smiling mug, personal brand or current status to the whole wide world. Where are the best places in Detroit to set an Instagram pic? We offer our suggestions. Find Daily Detroit wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Tell your friends and family about us, and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Your show for November 14, 2018: Greektown Casino will be sold to Penn National. Dan Gilbert's going to take the cash and invest in more Detroit properties. Two popular art pieces - one by Shepard Fairey, the other How & Nosm - on the side of a downtown building will be covered as part of an expansion. The iconic Cadieux Cafe changes hands. We hear there still will be featherbowling. Al Ameer gets Eater's nod again as one of the best restaurants in America, and the only Michigan entrant Atwater Brewery is launching a new stout that's aged for a year in an oak barrel. Like the show? Tell a friend. And don't forget to subscribe wherever you download podcasts.

Today we do a deep dive into a corner of Detroit. One that's making board games. Jer's guest is Nemo Rathwald. He's the designer and creator of the board game Overworld, a recently successfully funded and delivered Kickstarter project. What does it take to get your project successfully crowdfunded? What are some tips Nemo has for Kickstarter? And why is Michigan great ground to make board games? Enjoy the interview. Links: Overworld Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/magicmeeplegames/overworld-16-bit-tile-placement-and-exploration-bo Game page: https://www.magicmeeplegames.com/overworld.html#overworld-form

Welcome to the work week, automatons! Here's what to know: 1. We talk about the report Moody's Investors Services released on Detroit, which essentially asks where's the love (and money) for the neighborhoods. 2. Some development news: In Ferndale, craft beer retailer 8 Degrees Plato says it will close it store on Nine Mile by the end of the year. The beer will continue to flow at the Cass Corridor location, however. 3. In Northville, there's a battle brewing over the proposed demolition of a historic mid-century modern school. 4. That internet prank we told you about involving the Google results for Wyandotte Police Department? It's been fixed, but we solicit Downriver denizen and tech wizard/vlogger Tom Lawrence to try and get to the bottom of it. And where to go: 1. Shianne Nocerini fills us in on the new sculpture "Divergence" by artist Adriana Ohar. You can see it at New Center Park. 2. We have deets on this year's big Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which takes place Friday at Campus Martius, with concurrent activities taking place over at Beacon Park on the other side of downtown Detroit. THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR and all that. 3. Lastly, Sven interviews Dannis Mitchell of Barton Malow about the "Ready. Set. Build" workforce expo that takes place Wednesday at Cobo Center. It's all about helping to connect people with jobs in the skilled trades, where developers are also seeing a shortage of qualified employees. Find Daily Detroit wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

On November 8, 2018: Ford made news today by buying Spin, an e-scooter mobility company. Jer head to the Ford World Headquarters to talk with the VP of Ford X, Sunny Madra, about the purchase and what they plan to do with the service. And, it's beginning service in Detroit. Plum Market is opening in downtown Detroit (More here). Karen Dybis talk with Sven about the Knight Arts Challenge Grants. She's a winner for her project to chronicle Detroit's vanishing Delray neighborhood. Then, we chat about what's happening around town, including a signage cleanup at Bakers, an infamous motel known for being dirty getting remodeled and rebranded, and what's happening at the old Diablo's space in downtown Royal Oak (there are more in-depth details here). Thanks for listening! Don't forget to tell a friend about the Daily Detroit podcast.

It was a big Election Day here in Michigan, where the much-discussed "blue wave" helped sweep Democrats — all of them women — into the top statewide elected offices. A fourth, Debbie Stabenow, survived a closer-than-expected battle to win re-election to the U.S. Senate. We're devoting today's episode 100 percent to post-election results and analysis. Occasional host and Daily Detroit spirits advisor Nuri Gocay joins Jer and I to break down the results. He also talks about his experience shuttling people to and from the polls as a volunteer with the Detroit Bus Company. Later, I speak with Oakland University political science professor David Dulio. He helps provide context for Gretchen Whitmer's comfortable win over Republican Bill Schuette, the importance of suburban voters and the prospects for divided state government, with the state House and Senate remaining under GOP control. We also break down the three ballot proposals, which all sailed to approval, including the Proposal 2 anti-gerrymandering initiative and Proposal 3, which will make it easier to vote. I interview medical marijuana expert and attorney Denise Pollicella about Proposal 1, which will make recreational marijuana legal in Michigan. Pollicella says the licensing of medical marijuana dispensaries has been an overly complicated mess in Michigan, but she credits the drafters of Prop 1 for restricting the state's ability to interfere in the new recreational cannabis industry. Still, she says the first recreational marijuana dispensaries aren't likely to open their doors before spring 2020. Don't forget to subscribe to Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. -Sven