Daily Detroit News Byte

Episode 900! W00t! As we do on our Friday episodes, we open talking about our cocktail for the show. Jer has the Showshoe Grog, and Devon has a quintessentially Detroit drink, the Hummer (he prefers London Chop over the Bayview version; Jer disagrees). 03:42 We discuss the new Detroit Police Department stats for 2021. Some of it is a bit encouraging, especially around speeding and drifitng. 08:54 An opinionated discussion on the heels of learning that the Woodward Loop around Downtown Pontiac is going to be deleted. Here's the original article from earlier this week: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2022/01/02/state-unwind-woodward-loop-pontiac-leaders-say-strangles-city/9057673002/ 13:10 Jer went out to Michigan's first BonChon in Farmington Hills. What were his throughts? 15:56 Slow's gets Doordash in Westland and surrounding area. We talk about ghost kitchens, and that leads us into..... (original story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/01/06/slows-offers

Eric Trytko joins us to run down some automotive news. The Silverado EV has been revealed. He has some initial thoughts, plus we talk about GM’s electric lineup. Chrysler / Stellantis reveal the Airflow concept. Harkening back to a name from the 1930s, the vehicle is trying to make a splash in EV. And, will American car buyers go for a more European style of buying a car? Meaning, would you be willing to wait a few weeks to get exactly what you want, instead of driving off the dealer lot the same day?

On today's show: 00:43 Peter Szatmary from Lake Superior State University joins us to talk about their annual banished words list. Do you use some of these? I know I do: https://www.lssu.edu/traditions/banishedwords/ 11:00 Thanks to Fusion Marketing for sponsoring today's episode of Daily Detroit. https://tryfusionmarketing.com/ 11:30 Congressional district changes mean that lots of incumbents need to find new places to run, or will have to primary. Rashida Tlaib is going to run in a far less progressive 12th District that now includes Livonia and Westland; Shri Thanedar is looking at running in the 12th that's more moderate with the addition of the Grosse Pointes and lots of downriver; Plus, an Oakland County fight between two Democratic incumbents. And Brenda Lawrence just isn't gonna run in 2022. 13:20 A related issue is the question of state and other districts in Detroit and how they were drawn. A lawsuit has been filed by some Detroit elected officials and others that the new districts don't represent t

Today: COVID infections soar in the city and region. Detroit’s test positivity rate is now 40%, and cases regionally are higher than they’ve ever been. Shianne Nocerini shares about restaurant news around town including a new name for a popular Birmingham restaurant; a new CB2 is coming to the region; HopCat is opening back up in Royal Oak; and a number of restaurants in the city are closed temporarily for time off or remodeling. Be sure to call ahead or check the social media of your favorite place before you go. hanks to our newest member, Kevin. You can join him at http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit Also our newsletter is https://dailydetroit.substack.com/  

Today we finish our local bowl coverage. Whether it's looking at Central Michigan University's success, MSU's win or U of M's hard loss, Fletcher Sharpe has you covered. We get into some other topics like setting the expectations on where the Big Ten is competitively vs. the SEC; and the concept of some fans feeling like they own players. Then, Detroit City FC. They're the only USL Championship team to not make some signing news up to now, and they need to get moving ahead of the season starting in March. Plus, we get into the changes to the USL Championship schedule that mean more teams from out west - and some old rivalries - will come back to town. If you have Detroit City FC questions for Fletcher in the offseason, get in touch - dailydetroit at gmail dot com. Thanks to our Patreon members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit Our full team comes back tomorrow, and we're looking forward to it. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for top stories and headlines in your inbox: https://dailydetroit.subs

On a bonus show, Fletcher Sharpe wraps up the Quick Lane Bowl we were at on Monday plus previews the Central Michigan’s move to the Arizona Bowl; MSU; and Michigan’s College Football Playoff game against Georgia. This is a bonus because this is only the second time all of Michigan’s top division football schools have been in bowl games. Kind of notable and worth talking about.  We’ll be back on the air with regular shows and sending out regular newsletters next week. If you didn't know we have a newsletter, go here: https://dailydetroit.substack.com/ Thank you for support and see you in 2022!

Big show for you today. MDHSS says avoid emergency rooms unless it's life-threatening. We very quickly discuss. Devon tried three new places this week. The Statler, The Lobster Pot, and Dave's Hot Chicken. What were his thoughts? Then we both talk about our trending predictions, such as they are, for dining and going out in 2022. And, we share our favorite restaurants that we end up going to more than we write or talk about on the show. Whether we have good memories with them, or, as it's the holidays, give us a taste of home. 

Today's show is in three parts: First, Rene Palileo from the Ford Foundation joins us to talk about a new autonomous shuttle that's doing food delivery for seniors in Detroit. Second, Fletcher Sharpe is in to talk about Omicron and the impact on sports. It clearly is better at breakthrough infections, and that's having an impact on games. Plus, the province of Ontario is going to half-capacity at venues and the rest of Canada is expected to follow suit. Could we see that here?  Third, we do an in-depth preview of Saturday's Lending Tree Bowl between the Eastern Michigan University Eagles and the Liberty Flames. Because why not celebrate Michigan team's success, especially those so close in Ypsilanti.

Our conversation today is with Robert McCann, he's the Executive Director of the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, serving many public school districts in Metro Detroit. Yes, the city of Detroit gets a lot of attention, but the reality is the entire region and state are facing some serious headwinds when it comes to schools and education. And any parent knows that the last year and a half has been anything but ordinary. Some of the topics we hit on: What's ahead for 2022? Why are we in the spot we're in, with teachers and staff in short supply? What impact, and opportunity, does the COVID-19 pandemic present education in Michigan? What decisions were made to get here? And then, of course, some possible solutions including how you can get involved to make change. The K-12 Alliance online: https://www.k12michigan.org/ Report referenced in the conversation: https://www.fundmischools.org/ Did you know we have a newsletter? Per listener request, we're sending it out more often. Check it out here, it's free to sign up:

Today’s show is mostly focused on development and covers four things: The University of Michigan has announced their plans for their Detroit Innovation Center. We discuss. Also in Maize and Blue news, the Rackham Memorial Education center is getting a facelift, an under appreciated architectural jewel (at least on the outside). It’ll mean the university consolidates their footprint. The Lexus Velodrome has deflated. And finally, Linda Little who heads up the Neighborhood Service Organizations joins us to talk about their new healthy housing center that’s going in to support homeless people who need a place to recover after a hospital visit or procedure. Devon O’Reilly joined us for a special Monday pod since he had to dip out on Friday. He’ll be back on Friday, too.

Khary Frazier is the founder of the (now) non-profit community group Detroit is Different and he’s our feature conversation today. Started in 2014 and based on Clements street on Detroit’s West Side, Detroit is Different - and Khary, the engine behind it - has been on the ground making things happen. This year he had a successful “A Lot of Studio” project, but as anyone who has actually done things knows, the groundwork for success was laid over a long time. Whether it’s in media, local agriculture, or myriad other ways, Khary is not only bringing the community together, but showing one way grassroots projects can take hold. More: https://detroitisdifferent.com/  

There has been a lot of investment energy around hotels, meeting spaces, restaurants, convention facilities and more in Detroit before the pandemic hit. So as we’re still in it and emerge from it, what are the trends we’re seeing in business and leisure travel? Will we need to adjust our plans? Morning Consult Travel and leisure analyst Lindsay Roeschke joins me to talk about two recent surveys and what’s ahead. More reading: https://morningconsult.com/2021/11/18/business-travel-return-normal-pandemic/ https://morningconsult.com/2021/12/02/holiday-travel-spending/  

The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation just announced a huge infusion of resources in Detroit’s arts and culture scene. $200 million, and endowments to ensure 11 organizations future - as well as opportunities for smaller organizations. Our feature conversation is with Justin Remington from The Remington Group joins me to help sort it all out. What it means and why it matters. Then some stories to know around town: An update on *waves arms at all the Oakland County schools that closed today* Michigan’s getting another COVID-19 response team and there’s new data on vaccinated vs. unvaccinated in hospitals. And finally, the beautifully simple and retro Water Winter Wonderland license plate is back. Thanks to our supporters on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit  

Today: The 15-year old suspect in the Oxford High School shooting is named and charged. There are also more details about what happened before and during the terrible incident Tuesday. Author Kristin Meekhof joins us to talk about how to deal with trauma and warning signs with kids, as well as some tips for yourself. You can find out more about her here: https://www.kristinmeekhof.com/ Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index gives Detroit and Ferndale high marks, along with a couple other Michigan cities. But some local municipalities don’t do as well. And the Winterblast is not happening in the city of Detroit in 2022. But it might happen somewhere else in southeast Michigan next year. If you don't already, don't forget to follow us on your podcast app of choice.  Thanks to our supporters on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit  

Today’s show is shorter than most, but I figured with the topic we needed to cover the main thing and then a couple quick things around town. The shooting that has as of this recording left three teenagers dead, 8 wounded (including a teacher) has rocked Southeast Michigan. And when the alleged shooter is 15 years old? Oof. But here are the details we know as of 8 p.m. on Tuesday night. We’ll have different angles going forward, but I thought I’d focus on this and not put too much next to it. Also, I hit on a couple quick stories around town before I let you go.