The Metro
"The Metro" covers local and regional news and current affairs, arts and cultural events and topics, with a commitment to airing perspectives and uncovering stories underreported by mainstream media in Detroit.
Most Recent Episode
Wayne County Prosecutor's Office reflects on a wrongful conviction — and works to get things right
Eric Anderson spent about nine years in prison for a robbery he didn’t commit. The case rested on one person claiming he was the robber. Wayne County now says that claim wasn’t reliable.
A new report from prosecutors, public defenders, Detroit police, judges, and advocates traces how that mistake happened. Valerie Newman, the Deputy Chief and Director of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office Conviction Integrity Unit, explores that and more.
More Episodes
The power of preventing problems instead of responding to them
America faces a number of problems today, such as climate change, income and wealth inequality and hyper partisanship.
Paul Fleming, an associate professor of public health at the University of Michigan, believes we need to focus more on preventing problems from happening in the first place.
He details this in his new book, “Imagine Doing Better,” which he hopes will help leaders get to the root of problems before crisis occurs.
Why some Detroiters are missing out on a key opportunity to build wealth
Home ownership is considered to be a critical piece of the American Dream.
Wealth is often passed down from generation to generation through homes. But, in Detroit, there are many properties that have not been properly passed down from parent to child or relative. Why? And how can that be changed?
WDET's Sam Corey spoke with Shari Williams, the Director of Equitable Neighborhood Planning for Detroit Future City, to learn more.
What makes the Detroit Red Wings so important to Detroit?
Longtime journalist Helene St. James has covered the Red Wings since 1996 and has written three books about the team. We learned more about the storied history and importance the team holds in Detroit.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
Red Wings Hockey celebrates 100 years with new exhibition
The Detroit Red Wings have a long, gritty history that mirrors the city it calls home. To celebrate and commiserate the last 100 years, a new exhibition is on display at the Detroit Historical Museum.
Detroit Red Wings at 100 will have a unique array of artifacts on display that capture the franchise from 1926 to today. The exhibition will be on display through 2026.
Jeremy Dimick is the lead curator at Detroit Historical Museum. Marcel Parent is the Director of Curation & Collections at Ilitch Holdings. Both joined The Metro to talk more about the exhibit and Detroit Red Wings history.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
The difficulties Michigan hospitals and their patients face as premiums rise
America’s health insurance is distributed in a patchwork way. There are public health insurers, like Medicaid and Medicare, and then there are private ones. That insurance may become harder to come by for over 200,000 residents.
Two health insurance agencies — Health Alliance Plan and Molina Healthcare will no longer offer coverage through the Affordable Care Act in Michigan. And Meridian Health Plan will be significantly shrinking its coverage for state residents. That’s happening as premium costs are expected to go through the roof because the Republican-controlled Congress did not include an extension of health insurance tax credits in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Brian Peters is the CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. He spoke with Robyn Vincent.
How to improve the care we provide Black pregnant mothers
Birthing is a fragile process. That’s why pregnant women need a lot of care. A new report shows we're not doing that well.
About 1 in 6 babies born in Detroit were born prematurely. And this issue is directly related to that of infant mortality and maternal health. Two years ago in our country, over 20,000 babies died before their first birthday… the highest rates occurring in the South and Midwest regions.
Tamika Jackson, a reproductive justice and maternal health organizer for Mothering Justice, spoke about the issue, and how to resolve it, with Robyn Vincent.
Detroit Narrative Agency wants Detroit's story told the right way
Movies are a window into a different world. They can take us from our lived reality and submerge us into the point of view of a people or a time that may be different from our own. But, if the mainstream lens through which stories are told only focuses on a handful of perspectives, how do we uplift and nurture the stories from communities that have are often left out?
Detroit Narrative Agency is a local organization that makes a point to highlight compelling storytelling from people of color.
Through its Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship, Detroit Narrative Agency selects four filmmakers to receive mentorship, funding, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities to support the creation of a short film.
In Sequence — A Premiere Showcase of the Detroit Narrative Agency ’24-25 Fellowship Films debuted at Senate theater.
Ashley Calhoun is Interim executive director of Detroit Narrative Filmmaker Fellowship and Lindsay Robillard is a Director of Development at Detroit Mercy and a volunteer with Senate Theater. They joined the show to talk more about supporting metro Detroit’s film community.
Early detection for Alzheimer’s is possible with new blood tests
Alzheimer's research has come a long way in recent years. Blood tests to identify an abnormal protein called ptau217 can mean diagnosing Alzheimer's disease before symptoms like memory loss show up.
Early intervention is key, says Dr. Rany Aburashed, a neurologist and CEO of Neurogen Biomarking.
"The whole game now is determining as early as possible if you have these plaques developing in the brain. The earlier we know, before the symptoms are significant, the more we can interact and actually change the disease itself."
The blood tests identify sticky amyloid plaques and tangled fibers, which are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's based on biology instead of symptoms means early interventions could reduce progression or severity of Alzheimer's symptoms later in life.
"Just because you have a genetic predisposition, it does not mean you're going to progress to dementia [...] but you can only change that if you're in front of it," says Dr. Aburashed.
Some people have genetic predispositions, and lifestyle factors in 40's, 50's and 60's can trigger the disease, especially drinking alcohol and smoking, adds Dr. Aburashed.
The FDA approved several new tests for Alzheimer's diagnosis this year.
The woman rerouting America's food
When federal food aid stalled, millions were left scrambling. At the same time, mountains of edible food continued to meet their fate in dumpsters.
Goodr founder Jasmine Crowe-Houston joins Robyn Vincent to talk about the system she built to connect those two realities — and why she believes hunger is less about supply and more about how we move it.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
Detroit’s Mother Moore on literacy, justice, and showing up
For more than 50 years, Helen “Mother” Moore has been a force in Detroit’s struggle for education justice — confronting school boards, fighting state takeovers, and pushing for literacy as a civil right.
Now the city is honoring her legacy with the reopening of the newly renovated Helen Moore Community Center on Dexter.
Robyn Vincent sits down with Mother Moore to trace the moments that shaped her, the battles she’s still fighting at 89, and what Detroit must do to ensure that every child can find opportunity close to home.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
Covenant House Michigan brings awareness to youth homelessness with Sleep Out Detroit
If you saw a young person on the street, maybe waiting on a bus, would you know if they were homeless or not? Would you care?
Covenant House Michigan has been serving the state's homeless youth population for nearly 30 years.
For the past 12 years, the organization has hosted “Sleep Out Detroit”. The annual event is a part of an annual movement held across the globe. It's also during National Youth Homelessness Month.
On November 20, more than 100 people will camp out to financially support and bring awareness to youth homelessness.
Megan Dunn and Detroit-based artist and public speaker Phillip Simpson joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to talk more about “Sleep Out Detroit” and the importance of spreading awareness.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
Financial challenges at Detroit's workforce agency
The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation is the city’s workforce agency, connecting residents to jobs, training and other opportunities.
It was created by Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration in 2012 and it’s also run by the mayor’s office.
Mayor elect Mary Sheffield will soon be sworn in. Changes to the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation could be on the way. The agency was also doing a lot of work with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, and they’re drying up.
At the Nov. 3 meeting, the agency discussed how they’ll navigate their finances while exploring different funding options. Producer Jack Filbrandt spoke with Detroit Documenters Jasmine Kaltenbach and Noah Kincade to learn more about the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation.
What reparations could look like in Detroit
In 2021, Detroit residents voted to create a reparations task force. The goals include creating housing and economic programs to repair harms committed against Black Detroiters who have been city residents for at least 20 years.
Cidney Calloway, co-chair of the Detroit Reparations Task Force, joined Robyn Vincent to discuss the harms the task force seeks to remedy in more detail.
The White Stripes inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
A legendary Detroit band has been recognized with one of music industry’s highest honors.
The White Stripes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this month. With that distinction, the band is now alongside some of Detroit's greats, like Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, and Aretha Franklin.
The duo exploded onto the national scene in the early 2000s and released six studio albums across ten years. Songs like “Blue Orchid,” “Icky Thump,” and the iconic stadium banger “Seven Nation Army” are examples of the raw textures and driving beats that characterize their approach to garage-punk.
Meg and Jack eventually split after 2011 but their contributions to music in Detroit and America will be forever recognized. Mike Latulippe, host of The Detroit Move on WDET, played with Jack White back in the day. He joined the program to discuss the band's legacy.
Black Midwesterners find alternative messengers for their news
Trust in major news organizations is at an all time low.
According to a 2024 Gallup poll that has tracked trust in media for over 50 years, 30% of people said they do not trust mass media. Only 6% said they lack trust in the media when the survey was first taken in the 70s.
When Danielle Brown, a professor of journalism at Michigan State University, asked Black communities in states like Michigan if they trusted the media, she discovered that they have their own trusted messengers for news. She joined the show to discuss her findings.
A Host of People has a new location on Detroit’s westside
Local experimental theater A Host of People prides itself in being a collective that brings justice to the forefront, making sure all people see themselves on stage.
The theater company explores a range of topics in their productions, including how American politics intersect with personal lives.
Recently, A Host of People got a permanent location on Detroit’s West Side, further cementing its mission in a city that has no issue fighting back against injustice.
Sherrine Azab is the co-director of A Host of People. She spoke with The Metro’s Tia Graham about the move and using theater to speak justice to power.
Is gambling ruining sports?
In the years since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting across the nation, professional athletes have been in a lot of trouble.
Last month, Pistons legend Chauncey Billups was arrested in a wide-ranging federal investigation into illegal sports betting and rigged poker game schemes. His potential role in a plot with ties to the Mafia raised many eyebrows, including those of longtime sports journalist Jemele Hill.
Hill, a Detroit native and someone who has been covering professional sports for years, joins the show to share her thoughts on how betting is changing sports and how the allegations against Billups impact his legacy.
The case for a Detroit land conservancy
Detroit has a lot of vacant land — 18 square miles of it — that’s just sitting around. What should be done with it?
The local think tank Detroit Future City has an idea. They are creating a conservancy to protect and steward the land today and well into the future. Producer Sam Corey spoke with Kimberly Faison, the vice president for thriving and resilient neighborhoods and Sarah Hayosh, the director of land use and design for Detroit Future City.
What the archives of bureaucracy can tell us about colonial administration in the U.S. today
Evidence of colonization in the United States is stored in filing cabinets and archives of bureaucracy, and is still evident in the U.S. government today.
Maggie Blackhawk, a scholar of colonialism, imperialism, and American Indian history joined The Metro to discuss what we can learn from the bureaucratic records of the past to better understand colonialism in the U.S. and Michigan.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
Investigation finds potential conflicts of interest in Oakland County contracts
Controversy among local leaders in Oakland County is brewing.
A Detroit Free Press investigation uncovered gaps in the county's laws that allowed multiple officials to engage in conduct that experts say is a conflict of interest. Commissioners in Oakland County voted on contracts for organizations where they were also employed.
Detroit Free Press investigative reporter Dave Boucher joined the show to explain why those gaps exist and how to close them.