Yemeni nationals living in the United States who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have until April 13 to self deport or seek other legal residency through asylum or work visas.

In February the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—who was fired last week—announced the end of TPS for Yemen.

The designation was first granted in September 2015 due to war in the country. Noem said conditions have improved, no longer warranting TPS. About 1,400 Yemeni nationals had TPS status as of last year according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

People who wish to self deport are encouraged to use the Customs and Border Protection CBP Home app to report their departure. That includes a complimentary plane ticket and $2,600.

People who do not leave or find alternative legal residency could be deported and banned from future immigration to the U.S.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield launched the Ride to Rise program Monday. It allows all students living in Detroit to ride city buses for free.

The program is aimed at reducing absenteeism, as well as providing transportation for students to get to after school activities such as tutoring, enrichment programs, and more.

Sheffield says the program also brings more money back to the district.

“It's about $700,000 a year that they currently spend on bus fare for students. Bus passes, that money, again, will be redirected back into the school system. The school board and the superintendent will decide what...they use that money for," she says. "We have been advocating for it to go back to after school programming.”

The 6-month pilot allows any student to show their school ID to get on a D-DOT bus for free. That includes students who attend charter, private, and other city schools.

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley

A new report shows Michigan’s gender pay gap widened in 2024. Women who worked full-time earned 79 cents for every dollar a man earned. That’s three cents less than the year before, as men’s wages grew faster.

Sarah Javaid from the National Women’s Law Center lists other factors.

“The bigger picture is that women are being impacted by caregiving duties, they’re impacted by state policies. Unpaid leave paid sick time. They’re impacted by what education and training they can receive, and they’re also impacted even way earlier than they enter the workforce.”

Javaid says supporting childcare, banning employers from asking about salary history, and increasing education access would help close the gender pay gap.

-Reporting by Colin Jackson

Last year’s partial federal government shutdown made it hard for Michigan to collect statewide job data. The state’s last unemployment rate was 5% in January. Michigan lost jobs last year as more people left the workforce.

The revised annual report shows unemployment remained essentially flat last year. Michigan showed a net loss of about 2,300 hundred jobs.

The Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information Director Wayne Rourke says Michigan’s workforce declined by 1.6% percent over the course of 2025. He says that’s largely due to older people retiring and exiting the workforce.

The new monthly federal jobs report for March showed the nation added jobs last month and the unemployment rate ticked down.

-Reporting by Rick Pluta

Arab American Heritage Month

Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared April as Arab American and Chaldean-American Heritage Month.

Dearborn, Michigan is home to the largest concentration of Arab Americans per capita in the U.S.

Governor Whitmer signed an executive Order allowing higher vapor fuels to be sold in southeast Michigan until July 1. The move allows the cheaper winter gas blend to be sold for the next three months.

High vapor gas helps cars run smoothly when it's cold outside. It's less expensive to make, but worse for the environment.

Whitmer hopes allowing it will lower prices at the pump amid the ongoing war in Iran.

But GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says there's no guarantee that the higher vapor mix will make it to consumers.

"Even with a waiver... refineries have generally already made a transition over to cleaner... more expensive blends of gasoline for the summer. So even if Michigan allows it... that doesn't mean refineries are going to go back to producing something different."

If refineries do revert to winter blend, DeHaan says it could lower gas prices by around 5 to 7 cents per gallon.

AAA says Michigan drivers are paying an average of $3.86 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas this morning. That’s about 20 cents cheaper than it was last week.

Detroit Public School Community District is now employing Student Influencers in their on going effort to grow enrollment. 23 students will be hired to share positive messages about their schools.

To apply, current students must make a 60 second Reel about themselves and submit it via direct message to DPSCD’s Instagram account. For more information visit the district's account on Instagram, under the handle detroitk12.

This weekend Detroit Music Hall will host a special screening of the movie "Dream Girls." It’s the 20th anniversary of the film releasing and the 45th anniversary of the Broadway show.

The screening will be hosted by actress Raven-Symone and will also feature special live performance from Jennifer Holiday, who played Effie in the Broadway performance.

Tickets are on sale now at the Music Hall Box Office and Ticketmaster. The screenings will be on April 4 at 7:00 p.m. and April 5 at 3:00 p.m.

President Donald Trump gave a primetime address last night about the war in Iran. He told Americans that nearly all his objectives for the war has been met and that the war would end in the next two to three weeks, but his timeline has shifted before.

This extension of the war could mean the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed during that time. This comes as the price for a gallon of gas in the US rises to $4. The Washington Post even found that there was a 56% increase in Google searches for most fuel-efficient gas cars in the month of March.

For Detroiters looking for cheaper gas prices you can look at the Gas Buddy app. As for today, the app says that the SNK Gas Station on the corner of Michigan Avenue and South Merriman Road in Inkster is $3.29 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel.

According to AAA, the best way to save gas is maintaining good tire pressure, driving at a moderate pace on the highway and avoiding slamming on brakes and accelerating.

Tomorrow is Good Friday, a Christian celebration commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. Because of that most City of Detroit offices will be closed. Normal police, fire and water services will be provided.

Also of note tomorrow is the Detroit Tigers home opener, so be aware of street closings. The streets directly around Comerica Park with be closed off. These include Witherell between Adams and Montcalm, and Brush between Madison and Montcalm.

March Madness

Michigan is in the final four and will be going up against fellow No. 1 seed Arizona. The game will be at 8:49 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

With a win over the Toronto Raptors yesterday, the Detroit Pistons clinched the division title—something they haven’t done in the last 18 years. And now they only need to win two more games to clinch the No. 1 seed in the East.

They play tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.

NHL

After a tough March, the Red Wings have a smaller chance of making it to the playoffs. According to reports they have a 40% chance as they look to face the Philadelphia Flyers tonight.

Game starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center

Detroit City FC beat the Flint City Bucks yesterday 1-0 in the second round of the US Cup. Their next game is against Rhode Island on April 4 at 4:00 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

Detroit’s 11th annual International Festival of Animation is going down on April 4. There will be a 93 minute mix of 19 animated shorts showcasing works from Michigan and international animators.

This event will be held at the historic Senate Theater in Detroit.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield gave her first state of the city address last night at Mumford High School. She announced a new program starting today for Detroit Public Schools students.

"Any K-12 student in the city can ride the bus for free, seven days a week, 365 days a year." Sheffield said some of the school budget money for bus fare will be rerouted into after-school programs.

And she announced a plan to lure businesses to economic corridors in the city, with a new position: the Director of Retail Attraction.

"For too long, the city has waited for retailers to come to them. My administration will go out and compete for that investment, because strong neighborhoods need more than housing and infrastructure. They need vibrant commercial corridors where people can shop, work and gather close to home."

Sheffield also said she was working with billionaire Dan Gilbert and the Move Detroit Coalition to entice more people to move to the city. "Our first program will support 313 current and future Detroiters with real resources, $15,000 to support home ownership and business growth, and $1,000 in relocation assistance to make it easier to come home to Detroit."

The mayor also highlighted some of the things she's already done since taking office, such as raising the minimum wage for city workers, and bringing the program Rx Kids to the city to help new mothers.

The Michigan Treasury Department is kicking of a new initiative today called Mi Money Matters Financial Empowerment.

According to the Treasury department, nearly 80% of metro Detroiters earning below 125,000 report never receiving formal education in personal finance. Roughly 25% of Detroiters do not have access to a bank.

The initiative includes a website that links to free tools and courses on credit, banking, and student loans.

Detroit City Council debated the value of Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax incentives yesterday, questioning whether they are a useful tool for relieving the tax burden on residents.

NEZ tax incentives cap the city and county millage rate at 50%. Under the current structure, a $300,000 home would be taxed $6,000; in the suburbs, the same home’s taxes would be less than $2,000.

Councilmember Scott Benson says the city needs to be competitive with neighboring cities, which the NEZ does by lowering taxes—even if they aren’t as low as a suburb's.

Detroit City Councilmember At-Large Mary Waters has dispatched a crew to clean up trash at a site on the city’s northwest side. Garbage has been gathering at an empty apartment building near Six Mile and Greenfield. Neighbors have been complaining about the mess, which has gained the attention of the media.

Waters says Greenfield between Six Mile and Puritan should be permanently cleaned up, adding that Detroit’s neighborhoods should be as clean as “corporate downtown.”

Another brewery has closed in Midtown. Jolly Pumpkin announced on Facebook that it has closed after 11 years of operation. The restaurant was located on Canfield, just west of Cass Avenue.

The Motor City Brewing Works on the same block closed earlier this year.

The Detroit News reports a new Mediterranean-themed restaurant will open in the Jolly Pumpkin space this summer.

Fifth Third Bank is moving its regional headquarters in Detroit.

The Free Press reports the bank will leave its offices at One Woodward Avenue and move a couple of blocks north to One Campus Martius. A number of employees at other locations in Metro Detroit will also move into the new headquarters.

Fifth Third completed its acquisition of Comerica Bank in February.

Many Detroiters woke up in the middle of the night to the rumbling of thunder. Rising temperatures overnight created the right conditions for brief thunderstorms. High temperatures near 70 degrees today, coupled with an approaching cold front, will bring another round of storms this afternoon and evening.

Some of those storms could be strong or severe. The National Weather Service says the threat of severe weather is a level two on a scale of five. High temperatures Wednesday are expected to be in the 40s.

Fans of the University of Michigan’s women’s basketball team are feeling a bit down today. The team lost to Texas 77 – 41 last night in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA women’s tournament.

Texas led the game 22 – 9 at the end of the first quarter.

Michigan basketball fans are celebrating after a good weekend of March Madness.

The University of Michigan’s men’s team beat Alabama on Friday night to make it to the “Elite Eight.” The team then turned around and beat Tennessee 95 - 62 Sunday to advance further in the NCAA tournament.

Michigan takes on Arizona in Indianapolis Saturday night at 8:49 p.m. Both teams are No.1 seeds.

The U.S. war with Iran continues to keep gas prices high. AAA Michigan says the average price of a gallon of gasoline is $3.92. That’s down a penny from last Monday, but it’s still 92 cents higher than a month ago.

Wayne and Macomb counties have some of the lowest prices in Michigan. Industry analysts say higher gas prices are driven by higher costs for crude oil.

Despite the higher prices, AAA says demand for gasoline is rising across the country as spring break season continues.

Michigan Republicans held their state endorsement convention on Saturday. Delegates selected candidates for Secretary of State and Attorney General at their meeting in Novi.

Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini was picked to be the Republican candidate for Secretary of State. The GOP also endorsed Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd to become its nominee for Attorney General.

The party says on the convention website that it’s holding its endorsement event early to give candidates more time to raise money and prepare for the general election on Nov. 3.

Thousands of metro Detroiters attended “No Kings” marches across the region on Saturday, protesting the policies of the Trump administration.

Marches were held at Clark Park and Grand Circus Park in Detroit, as well as in Ferndale, Livonia, Dearborn and several other locations in the area. More than 100 events were held across Michigan.

Metro Detroiters will see temperatures rise to around 70 degrees Tuesday, bringing a chance of strong thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service says Metro Detroit has a marginal chance of severe weather tonight. That’s a level one on a scale of five.

That risk increases to “slight” Tuesday. That’s level two out of five. There’s a chance of winds of 58 mph or higher, one inch hail and tornadoes.

Storms Tuesday are most likely to occur between 4 p.m. and midnight. Keep up with the weather on 101.9 WDET FM.

President Trump announced on Thursday that he will sign an executive order to pay TSA officers during the ongoing shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security.

On his Truth Social platform, he said his order will instruct the Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin to pay the TSA agents in what he calls an emergency situation.

A senior administration official said the money provided by President Trump’s Reconciliation Act, also known as the Big Beautiful Bill, will be used to pay TSA officials.

This comes as the president signed an executive order asking federal contractors to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Since the beginning of his presidency, Trump has targeted public and private organizations over DEI practices despite multiple experts and advocates showing DEI practices help address historic inequities for marginalized groups.

Netflix is raising U.S. Prices for the second time in less than two years. The new pricing was on their website on Thursday.

The standard plan with ads will go from $7.99 to $8.99. The standard plan without ads will go from $17.99 to $19.99. And the premium plan is going from $24.99 to $26.99.

According to Variety, the higher pricing shows Netflix is confident that they that this increase won’t turn away too many subscribers from the biggest subscription-streaming platform in the world with 325 million customers.

The increased pricing will be applied for both existing and new members.

March Madness

Both Michigan and Michigan State have made it to the sweet 16. Things will be even sweeter if they make it
to the elite 8.

But first No. 1 Michigan will face No. 4 Alabama at 7:35 p.m. EST at the United Center in Chicago. And No. 3 Michigan St. Will face No. 2 UConn tonight at 9:45 p.m. at Capital One Arena in Washington DC.

NBA

The Pistons dominated the New Orleans Pelicans with the score 129-108. Now all they need to do is win at least five more games to clinch the No. 1 seed of the Eastern Conference.

They are 4.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics. Cade Cunningham, who is out because of a collapsed lung, is projected to get back by mid April according to reports.

The Pistons play again tomorrow against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 5:30 p.m. EST at the Target Center.

MLB

The Detroit Tigers opened up the season with a dominate win over the San Diego Padres. Final score was 8-2. They play again today at 9:40 p.m. EST at Petco Park.

Soccer

Detroit City FC face off against the Charleston Battery tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.

And tomorrow, March 28th 2026 is HipHop night at Big Pink. DJs Mobeatz, Auset, and Stardust are on the line up to play some of the best hip hop hits that are circulating playlists.

The event starts at 10 p.m. tomorrow and it’s for folks 21 and up.

The state of Michigan and the city of Romulus have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a proposed ICE detention center near Detroit Metro Airport. The lawsuit states that ICE failed to consult Michigan officials and didn’t consider alternative buildings, such as existing prisons.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement a warehouse is not an appropriate place for a large scale detention center. The lawsuit comes after Nessel wrote a letter demanding that ICE halt the project and filed a FOIA request to see records on the purchase and plans for the warehouse.

FORCE Detroit, a community violence intervention (CVI) organization, is hosting an activation for the newly launched CVI Athletics Program.

The program is starting a youth flag football league with Detroit PAL and Detroit’s Occupy the Summer initiative. The league will have two age divisions: ages 11-13 and ages 14-17.

The event is being held Friday, March 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the Chandler Park Fieldhouse Dome.

The Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit is hosting a Sacred Paths of India Bus Tour. The tour will take participants to three houses of worship for the Jain, Hindu, and Sikh faiths. The tour aims to explore the traditions and experiences of each faith community.

Each location will showcase how the religious traditions are practiced today and explore the meaning behind the sacred spaces and rituals.

Tickets are $90 and include a seat on the bus, all three faith experiences and lunch. Seating is limited. The tour is on April 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The non-profit group Reparation Generation is hosting a virtual house meeting on Tuesday, April 14 at 8 p.m. The meeting will discuss what they call their “reparations in action” approach, the broader reparation movement, and ways to engage.

The group holds these meetings every other month to share the mission and goal of the organization.

To register visit reparationgeneration.org/events.

Non Profit BasBlue is celebrating five years with the 2026 Bold Women Summit on March 31. The summit title is “The Power of Us: Celebrating Women Shaping the Future” and will feature keynote conversations with fashion designer Tracy Reese and Motown Museum CEO Robin Terry.

Since BasBlue launched in 2021, the organization has more than 600 members, with 125 participating annually in its Trailblazer Scholarship program.

For more information visit basblueus.com/summit.