Plus, a food voucher expiration warning, Detroit sports updates and unique ways to support local businesses.

Demolition has started at the site of the new AlumniFi Field, which will be home to the Detroit City Football Club soccer field. The former Southwest Detroit Hospital, which has been vacant for years, will be demolished to make way for the 15 thousand seat soccer stadium and mixed-use project. The project will also include a 421-space parking garage and a 76-unit residential building.

The U-S Senate last week confirmed Detroit Native Jerome Gorgon as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Gorgon will be the chief federal law enforcement official for federal cases in Detroit and throughout the state’s eastern Lower Peninsula. He follows former US Attorney Dawn Ison. Gorgon was born in Southwest Detroit, graduated from Southwestern High School, and taught in Detroit Public Schools.

Waitlist open

The Taylor Housing Commission is opening up the waitlist for its housing choice voucher program for 12 days this month. The last time the list was open was in 2023. Starting December 20, the commission will accept pre-applications for a potential spot on its waiting list for the program meant to help low-income families, the elderly, veterans, and people with disabilities afford housing. The commission will randomly select up to 400 names to create its new wait list. Applicants do not need to be residents of Taylor to apply. To apply, visit taylorhousing.org

Applications being accepted

PropserUs Detroit is hiring. The organization supports entrepreneurs with opportunities and capital needed to build businesses, generational wealth, and vibrant neighborhoods. ProsperUs is seeking applications for trainers to deliver a variety of programming, including entrepreneur training, subject-matter workshops, group technical assistance, and one-on-one coaching. Ideal candidates will have experience in entrepreneurship, knowledge of adult learning, and a commitment to equity and community impact. Visit ProsperUs Detroit’s Instagram page for a link to apply. Application window closes on January 11.

Watch out for a flash freeze tonight. Scattered showers throughout the day today are expected to create wind gusts picking up to about 40 mph by Friday morning. Temperatures are expected to quickly drop to below freezing overnight, increasing the potential of a flash freeze on the roads by Friday morning. Snow is also predicted through Friday morning.

Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield says she will retain Todd Bettison as the city’s police chief.

In a statement released Tuesday, Sheffield praised Bettison’s results – citing Detroit’s record drops in violent crime – including the lowest homicide rate since the mid-1960s.

Bettison had a 27-year long career in the police department, before becoming Detroit’s Deputy Mayor in 2022. Mayor Duggan made him Police Chief earlier this year after former Chief James White left to become the head of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network.

Additional headlines from Wednesday, December 17, 2025

• The Great Lakes Water Authority is starting a new project with the goal of alleviating sewage overflows in parts of Southwest Detroit. The authority will hold a ceremony Thursday to launch the assembly and operation of a tunnel-boring machine. The tunnelling is scheduled to begin in the spring.
• Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced a new housing development in Detroit’s North Corktown neighborhood. The project will create 23 new apartments and retail space. About 30% of the apartments will be classified as affordable housing.
• President Donald Trump says he will deliver an address to the nation tonight. The live address from the White House takes place at 9 p.m. and will be available on select broadcast and online platforms.
• Just across the river, the Chaldean Association of Windsor is holding a special street renaming ceremony. A section of Marentette Avenue will get the secondary name “Chaldean Way.” The association says there are thousands of Chaldeans living in and around Windsor. The event takes place at 3 p.m. on Friday.
• Many merchants around Detroit will be busier than normal as residents do their holiday shopping. Many large retailers will have extended hours to accommodate additional shoppers. Independent stores may have expanded hours too, but check before you go. And if you haven’t been downtown in a while, you can look for several new shops, especially along Woodward Avenue near the new Hudson’s building.

Detroit mayor-elect Mary Sheffield has chosen her deputy mayor.

Brian White has been her chief of staff during her time as city council president. White says he'll help Sheffield deliver on her promises to spread Detroit's growth into the neighborhoods.

Sheffield has also announced she will keep Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison in his position. In a press statemen the Sheffield transition team credited Bettison with a record drop in violent crime across the city. Sheffield said the chief has the “respect of his peers…the loyalty of the rank and file… and the hearts and trust of the people.”

• New federal bills would replicate a Michigan program to help with childcare in every state. The “tri-share” childcare program splits the cost of childcare between income-eligible families, employers and the state. Republican Representatives Hillary Scholten and John James co-sponsored the bill.
• Governor Gretchen Whitmer says improving Michigan's student reading skills will be her number one priority next year. She says she will share more details about her plans during her final State of the State address early next year. Kids Count ranked Michigan among the ten worst states in 4th and 8th grade reading scores.
• Detroit attorney Maurice Morton joins the race for District 13 Representative. Morton will challenge Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar as an independent.

• The state’s last virtual FAFSA webinar of 2025 is this week. The FAFSA is used by colleges and funding organizations to determine financial aid for students. The MiLEAP webinars also offer information on federal financial aid programs, state financial aid programs and resources for finding scholarships. The last FAFSA webinar of the year is Thursday, Dec.18 at 6:30 p.m. To register or to find a recording of a previous webinar, go here.

Arab American candidate Abbas Alawieh has announced that he’s running to become the next state senator in District 2. The newly drawn district includes Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and parts of Allen Park and Detroit.

Alawieh says he is running to uplift people’s voices.

“I want to become a state senator that wields the power of a movement of people that will come together around this campaign to say, hey, District 2 is here to play.  We're going to show up with our values, with our leverage, with our people power.”

Alawieh previously worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Representatives Andy Levin and Rashida Tlaib. He also served as chief of staff to Congresswoman Cori Bush.

Alawieh also co-founded the Uncommitted National Movement, which aimed to pressure then Presidential candidate Kamala Harris to address U.S. policy on the war in Gaza.

Inaugural Rising Voices Artist & Creatives Cohort

The Asian American civic engagement nonprofit “Rising Voices” has launched a new project. 

The Rising Voices Artist & Creatives Cohort will sponsor four emerging creatives next year. Each artist will receive $2500 and a mentorship to create pieces for a gallery exhibition in July. The theme will be “Revolution, Resistance & Joy.”

The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 1. Winning artists will be announced in March, with work time between April and June.

Bus safety in Dearborn

The City of Dearborn and the Dearborn Public Schools unveiled a new bus safety program today. The program detects and penalizes drivers who illegally pass school buses. About 40 million drivers in the U.S. illegally pass bus stops annually, leading to 2,200 violations.

School buses in the city will be equipped with “BusPatrol” technology  which uses stop-arm enforcement cameras to record violations and report them to the Dearborn Police Department.

The new features are part of an effort to increase traffic patrols and educate the public about how to keep children safe as they’re getting on and off school buses.

Hospitals make a call on vaccines

Several Michigan hospital systems reportedly plan to disregard federal recommendations and continue giving infants the hepatitis B vaccine.

A federal advisory panel said earlier this month that doctors should wait to vaccinate babies against hepatitis B unless their mother tested positive for the disease.

Health experts warn that will lead to an increase in childhood liver disease. Evidence shows giving newborns the vaccine early is safe and has drastically reduced hepatitis B in kids.

The Detroit Free Press reports that Corewell, Henry Ford, McLaren, Munson and the University of Michigan health systems will continue to give the vaccine to children within the first day after they are born.

Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter and Pat Batcheller

Warming centers

The city of Detroit has opened warming centers to help residents escape the bitter cold. City officials say residents can escape the frigid conditions during the day at Detroit's recreation centers and public library branches. Overnight shelter is also available.

Those in need should call the Detroit Housing Resource Help Line for assistance at 866-313-2520 or online at detroitmi.gov.

People can also go to a Detroit police precinct.

Weather forecasters say the potentially life-threatening sub-zero wind chills are expected to abate later this week.

Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter

The City of Detroit is activating warming centers in response to the extreme cold weather forecasted this weekend. The City has also declared a cold weather health emergency and is advising residents to remain safe.

One of the warming centers is the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries on 13130 Woodard Ave. They are opening Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. through Tuesday Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. Residents in need can access the temporary overnight stand by shelter anytime by walking in without any referrals.

You could also call the Detroit Housing Resource Help Line at 866-313-2520 which is operating 24/7 during this health emergency.

For more information on helpline resources, respite locations and other warming centers go to detroitmi.gov.

Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore will be arraigned in court Friday on stalking and home invasion charges.

This happened just days after the shocking news of his firing from the Wolverines program over allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

According to prosecutors, he faces charges of home invasion in the third degree, stalking and breaking and entering or entering without breaking.

The judge has agreed to a $25,000 cash surety bond, continuation of mental health treatment and a GPS tether for Moore, making it clear that any contact with the alleged victim would be a violation of the terms of his bail.

NFL

The Detroit Lions have a reunion with former QB Matthew Stafford as they face the Los Angels Rams. If the Lions win on Sunday they will have a 72% chance of making it to the playoffs. If they lose, their chances drop to 42% according to NFL research. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. EST as SoFi Stadium.

NBA

The Pistons face the Atlanta Hawks today at Little Caesars Arena. The hometown heroes are currently number one in the Eastern Conference.

Tip off for Friday’s game is at 7:00 p.m.

NHL

The Red Wings face the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday Dec. 13 at the United Center. The game starts at 8 p.m.

And this Saturday, NBA Hall of famer, Detroit native and former Pistons during the 2007 Chris Webber, is hosting his Michigan basketball showcase this weekend.

Basketball fans across the state will gather at the University of Detroit Mercy's historic Calihan Hall arena to witness the top girls and boys high school teams in Michigan.

The boys event will be on Saturday Dec. 13 at noon and Sunday Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m. The girls event will be Sunday at noon. For more information go to udmercy.edu.

Detroit Public Schools officials want Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release four high school students the government is holding, including a star baseball player at Western International High School.

Agents arrested Santiago Jesus Zamora Perez and his mother last weekend. Their lawyer says ICE is holding them in Texas.

At a school board meeting Tuesday, students and teachers described a climate of fear at the school in Detroit's Mexicantown neighborhood.

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says he and the school board will write a letter to ICE asking them to release the students it detained.

Detroit’s Kronk Gym officially reopened this month in the old rec center where Joe Luis trained. It’s now in the recently renovated Brewster-Wheeler recreation center.

Kronk Gym was Founded by Emanuel Steward and trained dozens of world boxing champions including Thomas Hearns and Lennox Lewis. 

Kronk Gym memberships range from $90 to $129 a month, with training and HIIT classes, or $35 a month for youth.

The social justice group CodePink Detroit will join a coalition of grassroots organizations for a Human Rights Day march this Saturday starting at Hart Plaza.

The groups are calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and Military aid to Israel, abolishing ICE and ending National Guard presence in some U.S. Cities. The march begins at 2:00pm.

For more information visit codepink.org/detroit1213.

Dearborn Heights came close to canceling it’s annual tree lighting ceremony this year but a local business man saved the day.

City officials had ordered an artificial tree from China but the shipment ran into serious delays. The city decided to try to find a replacement tree, and businessman Sam Hussein helped pay for it. Hussein told Channel 7 he felt it was the right thing to do and was a great way to give back to his community.

The tree lighting ceremony will take place Friday at 6:30 p.m. outside of the Dearborn Heights City Hall.

The Charles H Wright Museum’s Season of Soul is back! The daylong event is Sunday Dec. 14 starting at 10 a.m. The event falls on Second Sunday.

The museum offers free admission on the second Sunday of every month. Activities include morning yoga, photos with Black Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a holiday silent disco.

For more information, check out the events page on the museum’s website at thewright.org.