U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee has proposed freezing migrant farmworker wages in Michigan at $15.37 an hour.

The federal minimum wage for workers who hold H2-A visas increases annually — 12.8% this year. Immigrant advocates have vowed to battle any wage freeze in court.

https://www.michiganradio.org/economy/2023-08-24/michigan-congressman-pushes-rollback-on-migrant-worker-wages-to-aid-ailing-farmers #flint #immigration #labor #michigan #newsDET

Limits to PFAS chemicals in Michigan’s drinking water could be eliminated if a state appeals court ruling stands.

The court ruled in favor of 3M’s appeal in its lawsuit against the state, filed after the state began regulating the chemical. PFAS exposure has been linked to birth defects.

EGLE, the state’s environmental regulation agency, has the option to appeal. It released a statement denouncing the ruling.

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/appeals-court-nixes-michigan-pfas-water-limits-ruling-3m #environment #michigan #newsDET

Residents in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood enjoy living near the water, but not all of them can afford to protect their homes against frequent flooding.

As the city hesitates to invest in flood prevention improvements, some worry that longtime and low-income residents will be displaced.

https://planetdetroit.org/2023/08/climate-costs-imperils-detroits-unique-diverse-jefferson-chalmers-neighborhood/ @BrianAllnutt #climate #housing #newsDET

Gigi’s, one of Detroit’s oldest gay bars, is celebrating its 50th year in business.

https://www.onedetroitpbs.org/history/detroits-oldest-gay-bar-gigis-celebrates-50-years-as-haven-for-citys-lgbtq-community/ #detroit #gay #newsDET

Metro Detroiters are less likely to do recreational activities due to significant barriers.

One community-driven effort is countering that by leading a parade of volunteers through the city to pick up litter and distribute resources for healthy living.

https://planetdetroit.org/2023/06/new-era-detroits-hood-2-hood-program-aims-to-reach-youth-with-outdoor-recreation-opportunities/ #detroit #outdoors #newsDET

Michigan’s first school with an AP African American Studies class — Cass Technical High School — finished its first year teaching the course.

The students from were honored at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

“This is one of the first and many ways of how I'm going to make history.”

http://www.detroitdialogue.com/article/2023/05/cass-ap-african-american-studies-class #detroit #education #newsDET

About 100 Detroit public school staff may be laid off after this school year when pandemic relief funds run out. The district has sent out layoff notices.

Students, staff and parents have protested the school board.

“If you get rid of them, my babies will be affected.”

https://detroit.chalkbeat.org/2023/4/20/23692093/detroit-public-schools-dpscd-budget-cuts-paraeducators-advisers-facilitators #education #newsDET

The president of Wayne State University praised students for respecting freedom of speech when protesting an anti-Muslim demonstration, and when protesting an anti-transgender professor.

A student senator said his statement is insensitive to students’ demands for safety from discrimination.

“All we are asking from him is protection on our own campus like other groups have received.”

https://www.thesouthend.wayne.edu/article_b3211dc0-e48d-11ed-a527-dbee60829c29.html #education #michigan #newsDET

Detroit military veterans in a 150-unit supportive housing complex say it is in poor condition.

It has been damaged from flooding — multiple times by several accounts — and some social services promised by owner Southwest Solutions are no longer on-site.

“This building, to me, is a regular apartment building (now).”

https://wdet.org/2023/04/25/detroits-veteran-housing-residents-we-deserve-better-than-this/ #housing #newsDET

Wayne County has halted property tax foreclosures for owner-occupied homes through March 2024.

Before the annoucement, about 3,400 homes were at risk of foreclosure. A similar moratorium on foreclosures expired at the end of March.

https://www.bridgedetroit.com/wayne-county-treasurer-halts-owner-occupied-foreclosures/ #housing #newsDET #WayneCounty

The I-375 highway was built in the 1960s after Detroit razed Black Bottom, a Black neighborhood.

Now the city and state want to replace it with a boulevard to free $50 million of land. A project meeting to gather feedback from nearby residents drew mostly white attendees.

“They have to get Black people and Black businesses involved. If not, this project will just be a continuation of the deletion of our history.”

https://www.bridgedetroit.com/mdots-i-375-project-faces-design-and-diversity-challenges/ #infrastructure #newsDET #urbanism

The chess team at Detroit Renaissance High School are national champions. It finished first in its section at the U.S. Chess Federation National High School Championships.

“Chess is a great hobby to get into. … It’s not just a game. It teaches you life.”

https://detroit.chalkbeat.org/2023/4/4/23670039/renaissance-high-school-chess-team-federation-competition-champion-coach-robert-taliaferro #chess #detroit #newsDET

About 12% of households in a water affordability program for low-income Detroiters are falling behind on payments.

“If they’re facing challenges making one payment, they are definitely facing challenges making other payments.”

The water department has proposed unenrolling participating households that are 90 days late on payments.

https://www.bridgedetroit.com/hundreds-of-detroiters-fall-behind-on-bills-in-new-affordability-plan/ #environment #newsDET

Two in five registered nurses in Michigan plan to quit within the next year, according to a 2022 survey.

Inadequate staffing was a key reason given by nurses who plan to quit.

However, the hospital industry disputes the researchers’ conclusion that the state should mandate safe staffing levels.

https://www.michiganradio.org/2023-04-06/nearly-40-of-michigan-nurses-plan-to-quit-within-a-year-study-finds #health #labor #michigan #newsDET #umich

Michigan cities like Grand Rapids and Lansing have ordinances to regulate truck traffic.

Detroit does not, and trucks frequently drive through neighborhood streets. Southwest Detroit residents continue to advocate for a trucking ordinance to mitigate the pollution they experience.

“We need solutions because people are breathing this stuff in every day, and their kids have asthma.”

https://planetdetroit.org/2023/04/southwest-detroiters-want-a-truck-route-ordinance-now-city-officials-tell-them-to-wait-on-another-study/ by @BrianAllnutt #detroit #environment #michigan #newsDET

Wayne County bailiffs violently removed people who defended a Detroit resident from being evicted.

The bailiffs punched, pulled and kicked people who stood between movers and the home.

The resident, who has a terminal illness, says her landlord is evicting her out of retaliation.

https://www.metrotimes.com/news/bailiffs-violently-clash-with-housing-activists-in-detroit-to-evict-a-terminally-ill-woman-32784178 #detroit #housing #michigan #police #newsDET

Several Audubon chapters in Michigan are keeping their names — for now.

This follows the National Audubon Society’s decision to keep the name of slaveowner John James Audubon. Birdwatchers of color have criticized the society’s move.

“(It’s) a big middle finger to people of color,” said April Campbell, BIPOC Birders of Michigan founder.

https://planetdetroit.org/2023/03/detroit-audubon-grapples-with-movng-forward-after-national-audubon-society-retains-name-of-enslaver-and-eugenicist/ #birds #environment #michigan #newsDET

Medicaid dental coverage for adult Michiganders is changing and will cover five more dental operations, including crowns and deep teeth cleaning.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2023/04/03/mdhhs-redesigns-expands-dental-benefits-for-adult-medicaid-beneficiaries/ #health #michigan #newsDET

Toxic waste from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment was set to be disposed at a facility in Romulus, Michigan. The Republic Services facility violated environmental standards last year.

Now, state regulators have reopened public comment for the facility’s permit renewal.

https://www.michiganradio.org/environment-climate-change/2023-03-28/egle-reopens-public-comment-for-romulus-hazardous-waste-facility-permit #environment #michigan #romulus #newsDET

For the first time in seven years, Detroit public schools’ graduation rate has increased.

A possible factor: the district’s expansion of online credit recovery courses.

But credit recovery takes students away from face-to-face classes and activities. Teachers and experts are skeptical, saying it doesn’t address the root of why students have fallen behind.

“It’s not that they just need to retake an algebra I class and they’re good to go.”

https://detroit.chalkbeat.org/2023/3/28/23658635/detroit-public-schools-credit-recovery-graduation-rates-west-side-academy-absenteeism #education #newsDET