'Reclaim the Rivers' initiative budgets $90 million for clean-up and restoration
Published on Oct 2, 2026, 4:31:04 PM
Total time: 00:03:19
Published on Oct 2, 2026, 4:31:04 PM
Total time: 00:03:19
State and local leaders announced a new waterway cleanup project in Detroit. The "Reclaim the Rivers" initiative will put close to $90 million toward removing toxic sediment, restoring fish habitat and public works projects along the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers.
The money comes from settlements with polluters. It could attract federal and private funding. Detroit City Councilman Scott Benson says some of the cleanup has already started. He says the extra funding will help make more of the river usable.
"Now that we have our federal and state partners coming in with the resources to be able to help, you can see what the results are and how families are flocking. As we clean up and expose more spaces to recreational uses, it allows more families to come down and enjoy our riverfront."
Both the Detroit and Kalamazoo rivers are listed as federal areas of concern for the Great Lakes region.
Wayne County commissioners are unanimously supporting a package of community benefits and tax incentive for a proposed Google data center in Van Buren Township.
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans had vetoed the incentives arguing Google proposing the massive date center gave officials too little time to analyze impact on the environment. Equal Opportunity Housing Commissioner Allen Wilson voted for the tax breaks in part, he says, to show "solidarity among his fellow members."
"No disrespect to Chief Executive Evans. I think he does a great job for the county. At the end of the day, we have got to make a determination. We have to stand strong as a commission. If we don't stand strong as a commission, folks (will) keep stepping on you."
For his part, County Executive Evans says he will work with the commission on the data center plan going forward. Van Buren Township officials are scheduled to consider the final site plan for the center in about two weeks.
The Detroit Lions have a nationally broadcast Sunday night game on NBC. They match up against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 2-1 Lions are trying to build against the 1-2 Panthers. Kickoff of is at 8:20 p.m.
If you have the chance this weekend, check out the UniverSoul Circus at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre.
You’ll be able to see Detroit's own Fresh the Clownsss who brings a blend of Detroit Jit dancing and high-energy clowning. The show starts tonight at 7 p.m.
Additional performances taking place in October can be found 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.