All stories from Outlier Media
Detroit news about housing, transportation, local government, culture and more.
Detroit Fourth of July events: Unity Fest, Afrobeat parties and a jazz weekend bash
From cultural showings at Detroit African Caribbean Unity Fest to historical teachings at Not Our Independence Day, there’s plenty to do for the holiday, plus more ways to connect with fellow Detroiters this weekend.
🇺🇲 Happy Fourth of July (eve)!
Hey Detroit 👋🏽 By the time this hits your inbox, Outlier Media will be a few…
So, what you’re telling me is you care about safety?
More than any other issue, Detroiters want local officials to make the city safer. Plus: New…
How AI-generated misinformation threatens elections: What Detroiters need to know
Realistic AI-generated content is exceptionally easy to create but difficult to spot. Knowing how to detect…
Detroit buys more BolaWrap, lasso-like devices that police have used twice
Detroit police who are part of the citywide Mental Health Co-Response Task Force began carrying BolaWrap…
Once convicted of murder, now Darryl Woods will lead Detroit’s police oversight board
The Board of Police Commissioners has elected Darryl Woods, a returning citizen, as its next chair.…
🐦 🪨 Don’t let the rocks hit ‘ya on the way around town
Birds can be jerks in Detroit. Residents are frustrated with park closures before fireworks and a…
The curious case of the Crain’s building bird bomber
Workers are scratching their heads at why birds were dropping rocks from the roof of a…
Prince dinner, Trap Karaoke and bilingual story time: Detroit events this week
Get ready for another vibrant week of music, culture and community.
Whether you’re looking to showcase your family’s hidden karaoke talents, dive into some house music or experience an innovative night out, there’s something for everyone.
A university in retreat
Wayne State’s Board of Governors shifts its meeting to online-only and places public comments last on…
Wayne State abandons public meetings, shunning protesters and the public
Following the forceful removal of protesters at their last board meeting and the dismantling of a…
Company apologizes to Detroiters for absentee ballot applications sent in error
Earlier this year, about 23,000 Detroiters received a confusing piece of mail.
Policy changes, audits and employee transitions
Detroit’s mental health care agency seeks a new CEO, police oversight board gets a new member,…
PFAS are everywhere. Here’s what to know and do
You can’t see, smell or taste them, but PFAS are everywhere, possibly lurking in the…
Get Involved: Workshops, trainings and more civic engagement opportunities in Detroit
Detroit Documenters offer free workshops and training to anyone with a Documenters account. Sign up to…
How Detroit can get its rental properties in compliance
Very few of the city’s landlords follow rental regulations. A new report offers suggestions for fixing…
Why most Detroit rentals aren’t up to code — and how the city could fix that
If Detroit’s goal was to make housing safer for renters, it has barely made a dent.
One good building: Federal building in Detroit goes up for auction
The federal government built the United States Immigration Station during the Prohibition Era. After more than…
The Dirt: Where developments are happening, and where they’re stalled
Construction started on the first building of $3 billion Future of Health development in New Center,…
🤝🏾 💰 Curious about those co-ops?
Everything to know on how the Detroit People’s Food Co-op and other cooperatives in the city…
What to know about co-ops, and why you may consider joining one
The excitement around the opening of the Detroit People’s Food Co-op created a good excuse to…
Detroit events this week: Taco and Tequila Fest, Coffee Thursday and glassblowing
Feast on food and drinks at Taco and Tequila fest, hang out with Outlier at Coffee…
Take our survey on managing expenses in Detroit
Outlier Media is reporting on the costs that make Detroit an expensive place to live. Tell…
Detroit Housing Commission property to get $200M lifeline
The public housing authority is partnering with a private developer to redevelop the crumbling Villages at…
Detroit Housing Commission has a new plan to save one of its developments. Residents have questions
The Villages at Parkside has long been falling apart. Now the Detroit Housing Commission plans to tear down the low-income housing complex and rebuild it with the help of a private developer.
One good checklist: Detroit crosses last building off its notorious ‘dirty dozen’
An infamous list is now obsolete, now that 12 once-abandoned skyscrapers around downtown have been redeveloped…
The Dirt: A new horseback riding center is coming to Detroit
A voucher scam is targeting some of Detroit’s poorest residents. We have even more details about…
What heat does to your body — and how to stay safe this week in Detroit
Detroiters need to be on guard this week, with forecasters calling for a record run of…
Survey: Most Detroiters involved in their communities and plan to vote, but doubt officials share their concerns
We know little about the reasons for Detroit’s voter turnout. So we commissioned the Detroit Metro…
✨ 👛 Calling all Detroit fashionistas
Our favorite looks from Michigan Fashion Week and what to expect from Trump’s upcoming visit. And:…
Our favorite looks from Michigan Fashion Week in Detroit
Michigan’s small community of fashion designers, hair stylists, makeup artists and models strutted their way to…
Highland Park renews trash contract, prolongs budget decision
In other news: A former city contractor was denied his debarment appeal by City Council; a backlog of yet-to-be-investigated citizen complaints against police officers continues to grow; and Wayne County decided it would spend more than $150,000 on mattresses for a new Juvenile Detention Facility, which is opening … when, exactly?
Breaking news and taking names
Documenters don’t try to break news, but sometimes it happens. Catch up on the latest from public meetings in and around Detroit.
Why smaller developers may be quitting Detroit
People who do smaller building projects say the city throws too much red tape in their way.
Detroit pays lip service to neighborhood developers — so why does it keep getting in their way?
“A lot of cities are way ahead of us in terms of facilitating development,” said Monique…
One good park: Clark Park is thriving thanks to residents
Clark Park is one of Detroit’s oldest parks, and it saw a major renovation last year,…
The Dirt: Metro Detroit has one of most inflated housing markets in U.S., report says
Federal prosecutors revealed shocking details in their case against William Smith of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.…
Meet Orlando Bailey — Outlier’s new executive director
On Monday, Orlando Bailey officially started at Outlier Media, taking over as the executive director. Orlando…
🧑🌾 🛒 See you at the (farmers) market
Lots to cover in the community this week, from an update on protests at Wayne State…
Where to find fresh produce at Detroit farmers markets this summer
Belle Isle is buzzing, the Detroit River is shimmering, and it’s nothing but sunglasses and shorts these days. Another summer favorite? Detroit’s many farmers markets.
Tec-Troit, Motor City Pride and more Detroit events
This weekend, the city will be poppin’ with Pride events to celebrate LGBTQ+ residents and allies.…
Breaking down info like a cardboard box
Our latest civic guide explains the do’s and don’ts of curbside pickup and highlights recent changes.…
Reparations now: ‘Regards from Black America’
Black Detroiters at the Reparations Task Force meeting want Biden to commit to federal reparatory justice.
Meet Shiva Shahmir, this month’s featured Detroit Documenter
This month’s featured Detroit Documenter Shiva Shahmir says information is like radio waves: To receive the…
Mural contracts spark ethics investigation into Detroit planning director
“I think there’s still many questions that need to be answered,” said Christal Phillips, executive director…
Behind the scenes of a Detroit mural project gone wrong
The city and its partners rushed to select buildings and sign a contract to paint murals…
Emails: A mural series meant to promote Detroit ended in controversy. Here’s how it happened
The messages show how representatives for the city, Street Art for Mankind and the Downtown Detroit…
One good building: A courtyard that offers dignity
The courtyard at the Pope Francis Center’s new Bridge Housing Campus in Detroit is designed for people not yet ready to sleep inside.
The Dirt: RiverFront Conservancy scandal, land tax stalled and more Detroit takeaways from Mackinac
The Detroit News threw a turd in the proverbial punch bowl with a column about the…
Board of Police Commissioners meeting gets philosophical, biblical
It’s a question that comes up from time to time at the police oversight board’s meetings:…
All you need to know about trash pickup in Detroit
Anyone who works, plays, lives in or visits Detroit should take the cleanliness of the city…
Photos: Inside the restored Michigan Central Station
Michigan Central Station is finally set to reopen, and it’s a sight to see.
Update: Police clear encampment at Wayne State
A dozen pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested this morning. Here’s the latest.
Police clear Wayne State University encampment, arrest a dozen protesters
Police cleared an encampment of pro-Palestinian students at Wayne State University in Detroit on Thursday, making…
💃 🎶 Ready to find your Detroit summer music festival?
Hey Detroit! We have a packed newsletter with so much info you can plan your week…