Detroit Dog Rescue is looking for families to foster dogs for two weeks to protect them from the bitter cold. The shelter and many veterinary boarding facilities are full. As temperatures plummet for the next few days more dogs are expected to die from the cold than survive.

The rescue is looking specifically to house medium to large sized pitbull-type dogs. The dogs are temperament tested, and mostly potty trained. The shelter will provide everything needed, including food and medical care. To learn more or to apply to foster, visit DetroitDogRescue.com.

The City of Detroit and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation announced a new grant fund to help small businesses improve tech systems. The Rocket Community Fund will provide backing for the program.

The program will award $1,000 grants to 140 Detroit-based micro-businesses with 10 or fewer employees and under $500 thousand in annual revenue. Grants can be used to purchase hardware, software, AI, or other technology tools.

Enforcement of Dearborn’s School Bus Stop-Arm Safety program with Bus Patrol will begin on Monday. Drivers who fail to stop for a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended will be issued a $250 civil infraction for the first offense and a $500 civil infraction for any additional offenses within one year.

Under state law, motorists are required to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when lights are flashing and must remained stopped until the bus resumes motion or the lights are off.

The Detroit Tenants Union is hosting a fundraising event for Leland House residents. The event will take place Jan. 23 at PJ’s Lager House at 1254 Michigan Avenue. Doors open at 8 p.m.

The union is collecting monetary donations at the door and raffling off prizes. All proceeds will go directly to the Leland House residents who are still displaced from their homes.

More than two dozen residents were evacuated on Dec. 10 after a major electrical failure at the building.

Value City Furniture is going out of business, and four metro Detroit stores are having sales. The store’s parent company American Signature Inc filed for bankruptcy and is closing all assets. All sales at the stores are final, with no refunds, exchanges, or gift cards accepted.

Locations include Sterling Heights, Taylor, Utica, and Westland.

Detroiters are bracing for another round of dangerously cold weather. Temperatures late this week are forecast to drop below zero with extreme wind chills. A cold front will pass through the state, dropping high temperatures into the single digits on Friday and Saturday. Friday night’s low will be 10 degrees below zero. Wind chills could reach nearly minus 30.

Severe cold weather can lead to frostbite—skin damage caused by freezing temperatures—or hypothermia, where the body’s temperature falls below 95 degrees. If that happens, get medical attention immediately.

Throughout the cold spell, Detroit’s recreation centers and libraries will serve as places you can go to get warm.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has helped to launch a program aimed at getting city residents to claim the tax credits they’re entitled to. The city is working with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, the Accounting Aid Society, and the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. The coalition will advise Detroiters on how to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits when doing their taxes this year.

Residents making less than $69,000 per year can get free tax preparation through the program. Officials say the city helped Detroiters get $450 million in Earned Income Tax Credits last year. Residents can call 2-1-1 or visit www.getthetaxfacts.org for more information.

The American Heart Association says the number of fatalities from heart attacks and strokes is down in the United States. The organization says there were 915,000 deaths related to cardiovascular disease in 2023. That’s down from 941,000 in the previous year.

Despite the reduction in fatalities, heart attack remains the largest cause of death in the U.S., followed by cancer, accidents, and stroke.

The Heart Association says African-American communities continue to have a disproportionately higher risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

Automotive News and the Detroit Free Press are reporting that Lincoln will move its headquarters into the Michigan Central Depot in Corktown.

The division of Ford Motor Company is currently housed in the company’s Glass House on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, but that building is closing and will be torn down. Ford’s world headquarters has moved to a new building in Dearborn near the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Gas prices in metro Detroit have jumped in the past month. A gallon of self-serve unleaded now averages $2.89. That’s up from $2.79 in late December. Analysts say prices remain relatively inexpensive because of low demand and production of winter formulations of gasoline. Even so, AAA says Michigan is still one of the 10 most expensive states in the country for gas.

Winter car care

With the extreme cold weather we’re expecting this week, keep your gas tank at least half full. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and you have windshield wiper fluid. Get your battery checked. Driving with an emergency kit, including first aid materials, a flashlight, snacks, a shovel and a blanket is a good idea in case you get stuck in the snow.

AAA Michigan says if you get stranded, stay in the car for shelter unless it’s not safe to do so. Call for help and put your hazard lights on.

As tensions around ICE rise across the country, multiple Native American tribes in Michigan are asking their members to always carry identification in case they get stopped by immigration officers.

Tribes in other states such as Minnesota have reported instances of members being targeted and detained by ICE agents.

The Sault Ste Marie and Grand Traverse tribes, along with other tribal communities across the state, condemned ICE's actions in a series of statements reminding people they are U.S. citizens. They say Tribal ID cards are a federally recognized form of identification.

There are no reports of Michigan tribal members being detained at this time. Several tribes and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The process of paying out claims from the Flint water settlement is moving forward. So far, 4,400 people have secured their payment from the more than $600 million settlement with the state of Michigan, the City of Flint and several businesses. Nearly 26,000 people have qualified for a share of the settlement.

The Michigan Department of Education is pushing for a stricter mandate for districts to implement "the science of reading" across the state. The Detroit News reports the department asked legislators to support mandatory training for elementary school teachers and require districts to choose from a list of approved reading programs.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is next week and the Zekelman Holocaust Center is hosting a performance of Remembrance of Things Present to commemorate. The theatre performance by the Braid centers true stories of the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors through dramatic storytelling and song.

The performance is Sunday, Jan. 25 at 2:30 p.m. at the Holocaust Center. Holocaust Remembrance Day is Jan. 27. It marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and honors the six million Jews and millions of others who were killed, tortured and persecuted by Nazis.

Admission to the museum is free Tuesday, Jan. 27. The Zekelman Holocaust Center is located at 28123 Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills.

Urban Neighborhood Initiatives is hosting a community conversation and celebration Saturday. The Springwells Summit is a space where residents can bring ideas and concerns about safety, flooding, transit, housing or any other issues. The summit is from noon-2 p.m. The afterparty is from 2-4 p.m.

The Accounting Aid Society hopes to recruit between 350 and 400 volunteers to provide no cost tax preparation services to low and no income families this tax season. No prior tax experience is required. Volunteers receive free training and certification.

The Accounting Aid Society activated 387 volunteers to process more than 23,000 tax returns last year and was responsible for more than $32 million in refunds in 2025. To learn more and get involved visit accountingaidsociety.org.

A new report says Michigan is losing teachers about as fast as it's gaining them.

Researchers at Michigan State University say nearly eight thousand teachers left the field in the last academic year, while nearly the same number entered the profession. The report also highlights a reliance on temporary or interim teaching credentials. About 5% of teachers lack certification, and 3% are still in training.

Bridge Michigan notes that interim teachers are more common in charter schools and urban areas. Special education had the highest teaching vacancy rates.

TSA is introducing a new option for travelers who have not yet gotten their Real ID or a passport…for a fee. It’s called the TSA ConfirmID.

Starting Feb. 1, travelers will have to pay $45 for it on pay.gov. There isn’t an option to buy a ConfirmID with cash. You will still need photo identification along with the ID to fly.

Passengers with Confirm ID could experience delays of up to 30 minutes for an additional screening process.

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin says Flint is still in pain and looking for justice 12 years after lead contaminated the city's drinking water. Slotkin urged the Trump administration to settle a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Henry Ford is honoring the nation’s 250th birthday with a year-long celebration called “America: 250 Years in the Making.”

The celebration will be centered around two exhibitions and the opening of the Jackson Home, the house that served as the meeting place for Martin Luther King Jr and other leaders as they planned the Selma to Montgomery Marches of 1965.

The two exhibitions will focus on crafting in America and a collection of textiles and fashion that helped shape the county. For more information about all programming this year visit thehenryford.org.

Tech Town’s Hatch Detroit Contest is returning. The contest is for entrepreneurs with a retail concept looking to open a brick-and-mortar location in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park.

The winner will receive $100,000 from Comerica Bank and business support from TechTown Detroit.

Applications are now open. Participants can submit their business plans on hatchdetroit.com through Feb. 27.

A sales tax of one percent in Detroit could generate $72 million a year in revenue for the city. That’s according to a report released Wednesday by the Citizens Research Council (CRC). But the juice may not be worth the squeeze.

CRC officials say that estimated $72 million revenue is only about 5% of Detroit’s general budget for 2026. Creating the tax requires changes to the state constitution, an ordinance from the city council and voter approval.

Researcher Madhu Anderson says implementing the tax could create other challenges for the city.

“It encourages what we call tax avoidance, which is looking for areas where taxes may be lower to buy the same product It also encourages more competition for businesses. They may choose to not locate in a city because of the higher taxes, meaning residents may not purchase things there.”

Anderson says there are alternatives the city could look at for increasing revenue, such as an entertainment tax.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is looking for suggestions from residents about what issues in the city she should be focusing on. The mayor’s transition team, Rise Higher Detroit, has released a survey on their website asking for input on things like taxes, services, community programs and more. Volunteers will also be going door to door in neighborhoods.

For more information or to complete the survey visit risehigherdetroit.com/survey.

The National Association of Women in Construction Detroit Chapter is offering a $2500 scholarship to Michigan students and apprentices pursuing careers in construction and skilled trades.

The chapter is holding a free, in-person workshop on Jan. 24 at the Northwest Activities Center. Scholarships can be used for tuition, training, and tools.

Applications are due Feb. 28. For more information, visit the link in today’s DER post at wdet.org/der. (nawic.org/nfsf-scholarships)

The Church of Christ Care Community is organizing a donation drive for Detroit residents. The church is collecting items to create welcome bags for women and children who arrive at Interim House, Michigan’s largest shelter for victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

People can donate clothing, pajamas, personal care items, formula, stuffed toys, blankets, diapers, wipes, non-perishable snacks and juice.

The drop off location is 23621 15 Mile road in Clinton Township. Donations are being collected through March.  

The Detroit Auto Show officially begins Wednesday as the event’s media and industry days get underway. Hundreds of journalists from around the world are in town to see the latest offering from Detroit’s automakers and other manufacturers.

Detroit Auto Dealers Association executive director Sam Klemet says this year’s show will be unlike any other in recent history. “It's one thing to look into the rearview mirror of what has been. That kind of takes your eyes off the road ahead. I think that people who come to the 2026 show will have a very different, positive engaged experience that we haven’t had in a number of years. So, I think it will be a show that really resets the tone of what the Detroit Auto Show is all about.”

The charity preview takes place on Friday evening. The show opens to the public on Saturday and runs through Jan. 25 at Huntington Place in Detroit.

The 2026 North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year awards were announced today. A group of 50 automotive journalists rate the vehicles on several criteria, including design, safety, technology and performance.

The 2026 Car of the Year is the Dodge Charger. The Truck of the Year is the Ford Maverick Lobo. And the Utility Vehicle of the Year is the Hyundai Palisade.

President Trump traveled to Detroit Tuesday to connect with the auto industry. He toured the Ford Rouge plant in Dearborn and talked with company leaders before heading into the city to speak to members of the Detroit Economic Club at the Motor City Casino.

During his wide-ranging remarks, the president touted the strength of the economy and claimed that affordability is a “fake word”. He also made allegations of rigged elections and called for stronger voter identification requirements.

Hundreds of demonstrators showed up outside of the Motor City Casino Tuesday to protest against President Trump and his administration’s policies, particularly those involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The protest was peaceful, but Detroit Police did arrest a couple of people for failing to move when ordered to do so.

Detroit’s three casinos earned more than $1.2 billion in revenue last year, according to numbers released by the Michigan Gaming Control Board Tuesday. Nearly 80% of that came from slot machines.

The three casinos are reporting lower revenues for December. The gaming houses brought in $105.1 million last month. That’s down more than 5% from December 2024. MGM Grand held nearly half of the city’s gaming market at 49%. Motor City controlled 29 % and Hollywood Casino at Greektown held 22% of the market.

The three casinos paid $12.4 million in taxes and wagering agreement fees to the City of Detroit last month. They paid another $8.4 million in taxes to the State of Michigan in December.

The Michigan Historical Museum is showcasing black velvet paintings and their ties to Latino History in a new exhibit. “Black Velvet: A Rasquache Aesthetic” includes more than 100 black velvet paintings from the private collections of co-curators Elena Herrada and Diana Rivera, collector Minerva Martinez and from the community.

“[This is] probably the only kind of art exhibit ever where people brought their own and added them to the collection," says Herrada. "Like people were walking in with their velvet paintings and some of them donated them and some of them loaned them and some of them took them with them when they left.”

Herrada says there have been several small exhibits of black velvet paintings in Lansing and Detroit over the last few years but this is the largest. She says black velvet paintings were popular art pieces in Chicano homes but people were not given the space to celebrate the art elsewhere.

“Many times people’s aesthetics or tastes are really put down or looked down upon. That’s one of the reasons we don’t have close ties to museums because people don’t feel at home in places where there is high art.”

Black Velvet: A Rasquache Aesthetic is on view at the Michigan Historical Museum until late November. The museum plans to host several events related to black velvet painting in the coming months. This Saturday, Jan. 17 admission is free and visitors can make crafts inspired by the collection.

The museum is in Lansing at 702 W Kalamazoo Street. Admission is $8 for adults and less for seniors and children; $2 for adults and free for kids with EBT cards.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield announced the creation of the Department of Human, Homeless, and Family Services Monday, led by its new director Benita Miller. Miller previously served as the executive director of the New York City Children's Cabinet, and has three decades of experience in family and child welfare.

The restructuring of city services also creates the role of Chief of Health Human Services and Poverty Solutions. The University of Michigan's Luke Shaefer will fill that position and also oversee the Detroit Health Department, and the Office of Immigrant Affairs and Economic Inclusion. Shaefer was the founder and director of the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions research initiative and co-founded the program Rx Kids.

Sheffield says the reorganization of these services will make the process of reaching out to community services less fragmented and confusing for residents.

The Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the next cohort of its Queer Equity Impact Program. The 12-week business accelerator program starts in February and offers participants with business plan development, peer support, training and other guidance.

Applications are due Jan. 30. Learn more at detroitlgbtchamber.com.

Hundreds of people across Michigan protested against Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the weekend after an ICE agent shot a woman to death in Minnesota last week.

Joshua Medina joined demonstrators at Detroit's Clark Park on Friday night. He says Americans need to fight back against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

"Force only understands force, right? And by no means I mean that in a violent way, but I mean that in a show of people power, right?"

There were protests across the nation over the weekend.

- Reporting by Steve Carmody

Detroit's car companies are gearing up for the city's annual Auto Show this week.

Executive Director Sam Klemet says the event features immersive hands-on displays promoting both vehicle technology and the Motor City itself.

"It's a chance for everyone to come under one roof and see kind of what the auto industry is about...where it's going...and what the city of Detroit is about. I mean you'll see a lot of that as well. So I think that this is evolving into a content show."

Klemet adds that the event also celebrates those who love Michigan's outdoor areas by showcasing vehicles and equipment designed for rugged terrain.

The auto show opens to the public on Jan. 17.

- Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter

The City of Dearborn and Chef Amanda Saab are hosting a “Dinner with Your Muslim Neighbor” event this week at the Lincoln Ballroom at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. The event takes place Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.

The event hopes to give non-Muslim neighbors a chance to join Muslim neighbors to sit down and have deeper conversations together.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine is hosting its Future Docs program in March. The event is hosted by the Medical Alumni Association to expose kids to hands-on science and medicine.

Future Docs is for children between the age of 6-12 years old. Children will experience 18 hands-on science workshops, such as Brain Blast, Wind Your Way Through DNA, and Heart Rocks. Kids receive a t-shirt, a backpack, and souvenirs. The event takes place on March 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 540 Canfield in Detroit.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $35 for children. Tickets for WSU Medical Alumni Association members are $15 for adults, $30 for children.