Detroit historian and Secondary Street Sign manager Janese Chapman has passed away
Published on Oct 12, 2026, 4:10:37 PM
Total time: 00:03:31
Published on Oct 12, 2026, 4:10:37 PM
Total time: 00:03:31
Detroit historian Janese Chapman has died. She led the city’s historic designation advisory board, which aims to protect Detroit’s architectural and cultural heritage.
She also managed the Secondary Street Sign program, which honors well known Detroiters by adding their names to selected roads. Some of the honorees of the Secondary Street Sign program in Detroit include Aretha Franklin, J Dilla, JoAnn Watson, and Viola Liuzzo.
Janese Chapman was 70 years old.
The Michigan Supreme Court is hearing arguments over the limits of state civil rights laws. One question before the court is whether or not the law applies to discrimination by association.
Lower courts ruled against a man whose Calvin University contract wasn’t renewed after he officiated a same sex wedding.
The courts found his own sex wasn’t an issue in the matter.
Lawyer Charissa Huang represents the plaintiff. She argues the law was meant to apply beyond just the direct members of a protected class.
“Allowing this court of appeals holding to stand would have a chilling effect upon people of different races and cultures and sexes and sexual orientations. They could be fired for association with one another with no resources.”
Calvin University’s lawyers argue that since the colleague whose wedding he officiated didn’t face discrimination, the man can’t argue sex-based discrimination on his own.
The Detroit Health Department is offering free breast exams tomorrow and next Tuesday. Offerings are from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Oct 13 and Oct. 20.
Both free exam dates include educational offerings and light refreshments. The Detroit Health Department is located at 100 Mack Avenue. To register, call 313-876-4319.
The 2026 Neighborhood Vitality Survey is now live. Detroit residents aged 18 and up can share their thoughts and experiences around health, safety, housing and other topics.
The first 6,100 respondents will get a $25 gift card for completing the survey. Responses help shape policy and guide funding for community projects. To participate in the survey, click here.
Huron-Clinton Metroparks is giving out $50,000 in funds for field trips.
Teachers can apply for the funds through the Huron-Clinton Metroparks’ "Get Out and Learn" Scholarship program.
The funds pay for field trips for hands-on experiences at the Metroparks or in classrooms.
It also hopes to remove financial barriers for students to participate in more STEM learning. The money can be used to pay for transportation costs for field trips up to $500.
Eligible schools must show they are 50% economically disadvantaged based on the Center for Educational Performance and Information score. In 2025, 54,000 participated in Metroparks field trips or classroom-based learning. To apply for the funding, click here.
WDET’s Detroit Evening Report is taking a hiatus as we work to reimagine the program and develop a new, expanded offering that better serves our community. Our commitment to amplifying diverse voices, reflecting the experiences of communities of color, and delivering trusted, relevant local journalism remains as strong as ever. We’re excited about what’s ahead and look forward to sharing more about this next chapter in the coming months. Stay tuned!
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The Detroit Evening Report is a three-minute daily round-up of the news that city residents need to know. Stories focus on the concerns, problems, passions and needs of Detroiters – specifically residents of color. On the weekends, we take a break from the news and spend some time with community members. Hosted by Sascha Raiyn, Jerome Vaughn, Tia Graham, Nargis Rahman, and Hernz Laguerre, Jr. Detroit Evening Report is a production of WDET, Detroit's NPR Station.