Statue of former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young to be instated at U.S. Capitol

The Detroit Evening Report

Statue of former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young to be instated at U.S. Capitol

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Published on Oct 16, 2026, 4:21:48 PM
Total time: 00:03:33

Episode Description

The Coleman A Young Foundation’s years long efforts to get a statue of the former Detroit mayor in the U.S. Capitol is coming to fruition.

Funders such as the DTE Foundation, Bedrock, The Ilitch family and business people John A. James and Suzanne Shank have donated to the cause.

The statue will be in the Capitol building’s National Statutory Hall Collection, replacing a marble sculpture of Lewis Cass, a former governor of Michigan who supported slavery.

Young was Detroit’s longest serving and first Black mayor. The Charles H. Wright Museum will host an event Tuesday, Oct. 20 to celebrate the announcement.  

Additional Headlines for Oct. 16, 2026

Detroit School board candidates and voter awareness

Citizen Detroit is asking its audience to help spread the word about the 25 candidates running for Detroit School Board this election by watching and sharing the candidate interviews on their website.

Candidate interviews have been available for several weeks on Citizen Detroit's site.

The candidates answered questions about their priorities for students, what they hope to accomplish on the board and what they wish they had experienced as students themselves.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.  

Extreme weather has taken a toll on sewer systems

Heavy rains have overwhelmed Metro Detroit sewer systems in recent years flooding rivers, streams, and basements. Local leaders and water experts met in Southfield today to talk about better ways to manage stormwater.

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash says regional cooperation is critical. 

“Stormwater does not follow political borders. It follows river systems. 

It follows drainage districts. So, where the water flows really matters. All the communities in Oakland County and regionally are working together on a whole broad array of work." 

Nash says green infrastructure absorbs rainwater and keeps it out of sewers. Oakland County recently planted 30,000 square feet of trees and shrubs in two Pontiac parks that were prone to flooding. 

Davis Aerospace Technical High School returns to Coleman A. Young International Airport

The Davis Aerospace Technical High School is returning to Coleman A. Young International Airport after 13 years at a different location.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District has converted the airport’s former main terminal building into a school for aviation training for Detroit. This marks one of several investments into the city airport over the last year, including the addition of companies MyFlight Tours and AvFlight.  

Detroit Evening Report will be back in the new year

The Detroit Evening Report is taking a hiatus until Jan. 2027! We’re planning to come back bigger and better in the new year. Stay tuned.

More about The Detroit Evening Report

A new chapter ahead

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.