Detroiters are getting ready for the annual Thanksgiving Day parade. The event brings floats, singing acts, and clowns down Woodward Avenue – culminating in the arrival of Santa around noon.

The parade kicks off just before 9 a.m. For those of you who don’t want to deal with the crowds or the traffic or the cold, you can watch it in your pajamas on WDIV-TV.

The parade is leading to some road closures downtown. Woodward will be closed, starting today, from Grand Boulevard all the way down to Jefferson as workers prepare the route for tomorrow’s event.

If you’re headed downtown, parking meters will be free tomorrow and Friday. Just make sure you’re not parking somewhere illegally. And the People Mover is up and running again to get you around downtown.

Additional headlines for Wednesday, November 26, 2025

• The Lions host the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field this Thanksgiving. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
• Thanksgiving travel is expected to reach new records, with Wednesday afternoon and Sunday being busiest. Gas is down by 10 cents in metro Detroit.
• Black Friday is fast approaching. Consider shopping at local businesses, who say that support makes a huge difference.
• The University of Michigan plays rival Ohio State on Saturday.

The Detroit Department of Transportation will be adding 53 new buses to its fleet thanks to a $50 million federal grant. That’s in addition to the 76 busses DDOT purchased in the last two years.

Mayor Mike Duggan says the new purchase will replace more than 40% of Detroit's bus fleet. Many of the new buses will operate out of the $160 million rebuilt Coolidge Terminal on Detroit's west side.

• Michigan's Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce is making its final recommendations, including giving out free gun locks and banning certain weapons, as well as suggesting standardized training for school resource officers and a school safety tip hotline. Pro-gun lawmakers disagree with some goals, like raising the age requirement to purchase a fire arm and banning high capacity magazines.
• Former Detroit Pistons star Chauncey Billups pleads not guily to charges that he conspired with the Mafia to rig poker games. Both the money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy charges agsint him carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
• With no Noel Night this year, Merry Midtown and A Noel Afternoon at the Detroit Public Library are going to bring some festive cheer.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says there are now more than a thousand registered doulas in Michigan. That includes 700 doulas who take Medicaid.

Doulas are trained non-medical professionals who provide birth assistance, including emotional and physical support, and help families navigate the birthing experience.

Dawn Shanafelt is the Director of the Division of Maternal & Infant Health for MDHHS. She says the state has surpassed its goal of registering 500 doulas through the Doula Registry by 2028, doubling that number as of last week.

“What’s next for the program is to continue to support our existing doulas that are part of the registry. So the one thousand plus doulas. And then we are really focusing on enrollment and recruitment of doulas in areas where the number of doulas that are available for families is lower, and then also for special populations.”

Shanafelt says that includes populations that speak a language other than English, Indigenous populations, and teenage parents.

She says having doula-assisted births reduces birth complications and medical interventions, shortens the duration of labor, and increases breastfeeding support. Babies also tend to have healthier birth weights.

MDHHS has added a mobile food distribution site in Hamtramck, partnering with Forgotten Harvest.

The On-the-Go popup pantry will provide food pick-up for people who schedule appointments. There are options for fresh produce and grains and culturally appropriate foods such as halal or kosher options.

MDHHS says they will select and offer similar mobile food pantry options in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties every month. The next one in Hamtramck will be held tomorrow Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the MDHHS office located at 12140 Jos Campau St. in Hamtramck.

People can make an appointment by emailing MDHHS-FH-WC-Hamtramck@michigan.gov. Dial 211 or visit mi211.org online for free referrals to food pantries.

A Hamtramck-based artist residency program is receiving a $175,000 award.

Entry Points is a program which offers housing and studio space for returning citizens who were formerly incarcerated juveniles. The nonprofit is receiving the 2025 J.M.K Innovation Award. The award is given by the J.M. Kaplan Fund to 10 awardees for their work in tackling social justice, environmental conservation, and heritage preservation.

Entry Point was created by artist-activist Jonathan Rajewski and writer and former juvenile lifer Kyle Daniel-Bey through Hamtramk Free School, an alternative educational organization that facilitates creative writing and art workshops in Michigan prisons, working with juveniles who were sentenced to life without parole.

Entry Points helps returning citizens reintegrate into public life, including presenting their work publicly.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is awarding $2.9 million to several groups to reduce pollution in waterways.

The Nonpoint Source Program grants will fund eight projects aimed at eliminating runoff at nonpoint sources which come from farms, urban areas and construction sites.

This occurs when there is rain, snowmelt, or when the wind carries pollutants into waterways. The grants will help repair waterways to reduce sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org.

The City of Pontiac unveiled its Down Payment Assistance Program this week, an initiative aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers and encouraging wealth and investment in Pontiac neighborhoods. City leaders are inviting renters to apply for this first-of-its-kind program.

To qualify:

• Your prospective home must be in Pontiac.
• Applicants must be first-time homebuyers or individuals who have not acquired a home in the past three years.
• You must complete a homebuyer education session through the organization National Faith Homebuyers and receive a certificate.
• You must work with the homebuyer organization to meet HUD and program requirements.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 313-255-9500.

The City of Detroit broke ground this month on four new buildings that will bring 211 units of affordable and permanent supportive housing to long-vacant land next to the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center.

The units will have rents based on 30 to 80 percent of the area median household income.

Three of the buildings will include 53 units that received 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the State of Michigan. They will offer a mix of one- and two-bedroom units starting at less than $500 a month.

The fourth building will be a 52-unit permanent supportive housing development, with each unit supported by project-based vouchers that keep residents paying no more than 30 percent of their income for rent.

Completion of all projects is scheduled for 2027.
More information: https://detroitmi.gov/news/work-begins-80m-development-bringing-211-new-units-affordable-permanent-supportive-housing-brush

NFL
The Detroit Lions face the New York Giants on Sunday as they try to bounce back from a tough loss to the Eagles. The Lions are currently third in the NFC North. The game will be held at Ford Field, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m.

NBA
The Pistons have won 11 games in a row. They’ll look to keep the streak alive as they face the Bucs at the Fiserv Forum. Tipoff is Saturday at 8:00 p.m.

NHL
The Red Wings sit at the top of the Atlantic Division as they prepare to face the Columbus Blue Jackets tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.

The holiday season brings the return of The Rink at Campus Martius Park, which opens to the public starting tomorrow. From November 22 through March 1, visitors can experience what USA Today named the No. 1 Best Ice Skating Rink in the country in its 2024 ranking.

For hours and additional details, visit: https://downtowndetroit.org/experience-downtown/things-to-do/the-rink/

DER will be off for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, but local businesses will be out in force for the holiday shopping weekend. Online tourism site Visit Detroit has compiled a list of local shops to explore, including sneaker boutiques, floral shops, art galleries, and more.

To see the full list, visit: https://visitdetroit.com

Detroit held a grand opening for the Violet T. Lewis Village senior apartment complex on Wednesday. It sits on the site of Michigan’s first and only historically Black college, founded by a Black woman named Violet T Lewis. Those gathered discussed her legacy.

Hamtramck’s race for mayor is over—for now. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers has certified the results of this month’s contest.

Adam Alharbi has won the election for mayor by just six votes. The outcome of the contest was controversial, with more than three dozen ballots thrown out after they were found in the office of City Clerk Rana Faraj.

Losing candidate Muhith Mahmood tells WDET that he will ask for a recount. He says the 37 ballots should not have been ignored. “Canvassers denied a legitimate 37 votes. That is concerning, because this is not the 37 people who made a mistake. Since the race is so close to each other, they could find a way to count this ballot.”

Incumbent Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib did not seek re-election. He was nominated by President Trump to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait.

• Anti-Islamic protesters clashed with Dearborn residents Tuesday. Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Anthony Hudson initiated the protests after he called for an end to Sharia law governing Dearborn – even though there is no Sharia law governing Dearborn. He has since backtracked on this statement. At a City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Mayor Abdullah Hammound said there’s room for all faiths to live together peacefully in Dearborn.
• The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is tearing down the remains of the Belle Isle Zoo. The zoo was closed in 2002 when the city of Detroit decided it was too costly to operate. The DNR says most of the site will be returned to nature, although some parking spaces for other island attractions will be placed there.
• Long-time public relations expert Georgella Muirhead is retiring. She currently works at the 98Forward PR firm. But she worked for years in the administrations of Mayors Coleman Young and Dennis Archer, helping to get their priorities out to the public. She left her government office in the late 90s to begin the public relations firm Berg, Muirhead and Associates with famed Coleman Young spokesperson Bob Berg. They sold the firm in 2016.

The March of Dimes says Detroit has the most premature births among the 100 U.S. cities with the highest birth rates. The study found 1 in 6 babies in Detroit are born before the 37th week of gestation.

The organization points to high rates of chronic illness as one of the reasons for that high rate, as well as disparities in healthcare for Black people.

This summer, the National Institutes of Health canceled a study of premature births in Detroit as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

• A new report released by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office details ways it can avoid wrongful convictions by studying the case of Eric Anderson—a Detroit man convicted of robbery in 2010 who was wrongfully imprisoned for nine years. The report lists 25 ways for police, prosecutors and judges to improve, including reducing reliance on a single eye-witness and improving funding for public defenders. So far, 43 people have been released from prison based on the efforts of the Wayne County Sentinel Event Review Team, most of whom were sentenced to mandatory life sentences.
• Part of the Riverwalk between Beaubien and Rivard will be closed Thursday through the spring for utility improvements on 1-375. The Michigan Department of Transportation says a new storm sewer along Schweizer Place down to the river is being installed. MDOT says the updates will support cleaner water being discharged into the Detroit River and relieve pressure on the city's sewer system.
• Midtown coffeeshop Simply Roasted and Mindful Bakery Yumaste are partnering with Gleaners to collect food ahead of Thanksgiving. They invite the community to drop off unexpired and non-perishable food items at 4240 Cass Avenue through Thanksgiving Day. For information on how to give, other organizations collecting food and food distributions visit gcfb.org.
• Carbon Athletic Club is hosting its annual Holiday Train Party Saturday. Tickets are $10 and available at carbonathleticclub.com or at the door.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Michigan chapter, reports an increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sightings in Metro Detroit.

CAIR-MI officials say community members have seen ICE vehicles in Wayne County. ICE also announced an increase in enforcement in the area.

CAIR-MI advises community members to be vigilant and aware of their rights, including asking to see a warrant and remaining silent except to request an attorney. The civil rights organization says people should have emergency contacts memorized and plans in place for their family members in case of an emergency.

• The Wayne County Board of Canvassers decided Friday not to count 37 ballots from Hamtramck’s mayoral race found in the city clerk’s office the day after elections. The board still has to count 120 cured ballots in the race, which could swing the vote in either direction. Mayoral candidate Adam Alharbi sued opponent Hamtramck City Councilman Muhith Mahmood alleging residency fraud. The votes will be certified by tomorrow November 18.
• The Archdiocese of Detroit announced a two-year process to reconstruct parishes in Southeast Michigan. Parishioners will have opportunities to share their input through two listening sessions at each parish. The new changes will be announced in early 2027. Changes will take place by July 2027. Restructuring can be monitored at restructuring.aod.org.
• Wayne State University Law School’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights received a $350,000 grant to expand a disinformation tool. The VERDAD: Verifying and Exposing Disinformation and Discourse AI-powered tool monitors U.S.-based ethnic radio stations for disinformation for Latino media. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awarded the grant to develop and enhance the tool. The expansion includes adding more states and adding languages including Arabic, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese.The award-winning journalist Martina Guzmán founded the tool.
• HEAL Asthma MI is a free program to help Michigan residents with resources and tools. Participants must be medically diagnosed with asthma, be 18 and up and face challenges to getting fair or equal health care. To sign up, contact 248-406-4254 or email aafahealasthma@gmail.com.
• The Islamic Center of Detroit is hosting a Turkey distribution this weekend. The distribution takes place Saturday, Nov. 22, from 1-4 p.m. The mosque is providing halal turkeys. The Islamic Center of Detroit also has a food pantry open every Saturday from 2-5 p.m., located at 14350 Tireman Street in Detroit. The Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, in collaboration with the Oak Pointe Church, is hosting a Turkey Giveaway on Monday, November 24 at 10 a.m. People can pick up a free turkey at the Brennan Pool Building at 21415 Plymouth Road in Detroit. First-come first-served.