BridgeDetroit

35 candidates are competing for five open seats on the Detroit school board, including three incumbents and several former board members. The election could reshape the Detroit Public Schools Community District, according to the superintendent, who emphasized the need for continued progress.

Detroit City Council opposes unregulated water use by AI data centers, citing environmental and infrastructure risks. The council approved a resolution requiring safeguards for water consumption and environmental impact, as the city drafts regulations for data center development.

Detroit has paid an average of $36,000 per site to remove and replace contaminated backfill dirt at over 100 demolition sites, linked to a contractor under federal investigation. The city has approved a $3.5 million contract increase with environmental consultants to address the issue, and over 450 additional properties remain to be tested.

Early in-person voting for the August 4 primary election begins Saturday in Detroit. The election will determine party nominations for Congress, state Legislature, and governor, as well as decide transit and education proposals. Detroit officials emphasized election security and readiness amid federal monitoring concerns.

Detroit school board chair LaTrice McClendon and vice chair Corletta Vaughn will not seek reelection in November due to disqualification over unpaid late fees, creating a potential power shift in the district's governance. Five of seven board seats are up for election, with three other members also leaving their terms.

Michigan voters who cast absentee ballots in the August primary can cancel (spoil) their ballots if their candidate dropped out, such as Mallory McMorrow and Mike Cox. Voters must request a replacement ballot by July 24 if already submitted, or surrender the ballot in person if unsubmitted.

Unemployment recipients in Michigan must now report three work search activities weekly, starting July 19, under new rules part of bipartisan legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The change phases in based on certification schedules, and failing to meet the requirement results in lost benefits. Maximum weekly unemployment benefits will also increase from $530 to $614 starting January 1.

A study reveals varying protocols across U.S. cities for transporting injured police officers to hospitals, with examples from Houston, Philadelphia, and Chicago showing differences in EMS use. Analysis of 335 cases found similar mortality rates (10.6% via police vehicles, 11.3% via ambulance) despite differing methods.

Detroit's BSEED denied Aevitas Specialty Services Corp.'s special land-use approval to expand its oil recycling facility due to insufficient evidence supporting the requested use. The decision follows years of air quality complaints, regulatory violations, and a finding that the facility operated illegally as an oil recycler when zoned as a warehouse.

Detroit City Council and a police oversight board are demanding Detroit Police Department (DPD) provide internal temperature records and a cooling system plan for the Detroit Detention Center, citing reports of excessive heat and hazardous air quality. Council Member Denzel Anton McCampbell and oversight board members have raised concerns about detainees' health, including seizures linked to high temperatures, and are seeking details on cooling measures and protocols.

Detroit officials advise residents to stay indoors and wear masks due to hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke. Outdoor city events are canceled, and N-95 masks are distributed at recreation centers. The air quality index reached 'very unhealthy' levels, prompting health warnings and increased respiratory complaints.

President Donald Trump reiterated claims about election vulnerabilities, foreign interference, and fraud in a primetime speech, referencing China's voter data attempts and noncitizen voter rolls. Election officials and experts dismissed his assertions as repackaged, unbacked claims. The speech preceded a planned event at Mount Rushmore and highlighted Trump's push for the SAVE America Act.

Michigan lawmakers have proposed a three-bill package to study reparations and racial disparities, focusing on housing, education, and economic inequities. Critics question the costs and feasibility, while supporters argue it addresses long-standing issues like homeownership gaps between white and Black residents.

Detroit plans to repair 9,000 residential sewer connections for free by 2030 using $184 million from a federal grant to reduce sewage backups and alley issues. The program, starting in October 2024, aims to address aging infrastructure and prevent property damage without cost to residents.

Detroit is distributing free masks and providing respite locations to protect residents from hazardous air quality caused by Canadian wildfires. The city urges residents to limit outdoor activity and offers resources like closed windows, indoor activities, and mask usage. Outdoor programming has been canceled due to poor air conditions.

The Joe Louis Greenway, a $300 million urban development project in Detroit, aims to boost economic vitality and connectivity across Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, and Dearborn. While some residents, like Ryan Marie Davis and Justin Davis, see benefits such as increased home values and walkability, others worry about rising costs and displacement of long-term, low-income residents.

Jocelyn Benson, a gubernatorial candidate in Michigan, faces scrutiny over her husband's role at a company involved in a data center project in the state. She denies family profits from data centers and proposes regulations requiring public hearings and environmental safeguards for developers.

Detroit City Council approved a settlement with real estate firm Detroit International Holding LLC and Munoz Realty Inc., requiring owner Gaston Munoz to rehabilitate 299 properties in exchange for halving $460K in blight fines. Critics argued the deal incentivizes poor behavior, while city officials defended it as a step toward compliance.

Detroit City Council approved a $5.8 million settlement for Aaron Salter, who spent 15 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office cited mistaken identity as the cause of his 2003 conviction, which was later voided. This follows a similar $4 million settlement approved for LaVone Hill, another wrongfully convicted individual.

Mayor Mary Sheffield has appointed Addofio Addo, a former Bedrock executive, as Detroit’s new director of retail attraction to recruit national and local businesses to neighborhood commercial corridors. Addo, who previously helped bring Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty boutique and Apple programming to Detroit, will earn $125,000 annually and collaborate with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation to enhance business development.