Christine Ferretti
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Editor, @BridgeDet313. Past: Assistant City Editor and Detroit City Hall reporter @detroitnews, @madonnaU grad. Email me: cferretti@bridgedetroit.com
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Articles by Christine Ferretti
Detroit parks are getting a boost. What to know
Nearly a dozen neighborhood parks in Detroit are getting major investments. Mayor Mary Sheffield’s administration said the 11 projects were shaped with input from block clubs, neighborhood associations, schools, businesses and organizations that use the parks.
Canada celebrates Gordie Howe bridge opening — without Michigan — amid tariff riff
Canada celebrated the Gordie Howe Bridge after decades of planning The ceremony took place in Windsor, after Canada scratched a binational gathering amid an ongoing trade war The bridge is expected to open for traffic on Monday WINDSOR — As dozens of guests looked across the Detroit River from Windsor on Friday, Canadian leaders celebrated the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge as a once-in-a-generation project connecting two countries through trade, travel and a shared history.
Detroit wants to elevate youth voices in leadership – that means giving them real power
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Detroit police officers detained more than 180 minors during a fireworks celebration on June 22, 2026. Most offenses were curfew violations, and the event was generally peaceful.
Blowback from latest DTE outage surfaces on midterm campaign trail
This story also appeared in Planet Detroit This article first appeared on Planet Detroit and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Roughly 400,000 DTE customers lost power during the July 4 weekend. Democratic candidates in two contested state Senate primaries are calling for utility reforms.
Detroit school board’s chair and vice chair will not seek reelection in November
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for Chalkbeat Detroit’s free newsletter to keep up with the city’s public school system and Michigan education policy. Two leaders of the Detroit school board will not be on the Nov. 3 ballot, creating the potential for a major shake-up in the governing body’s future direction.
Here are the 35 people running for the Detroit school board
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. This story also appeared in Chalkbeat Detroit Three incumbents, multiple former school board members, and several people who have run before are among a crowded field of 35 people running for five open seats on the Detroit school board.
Detroit paying average of $36K to remove, replace ‘dirty’ dirt
Detroit has paid an average of $36,000 per site to remove and replace contaminated backfill dirt at more than 100 demolition sites across the city, stemming from the work of a contractor now under federal investigation. Tim Palazzolo, head of the Detroit Demolition & Construction Department, provided the cost estimates, remediation updates and strengthened testing practices to cope with the so-called “dirty dirt” scandal during a Monday presentation to members of the City Council.
Detroit school board’s chair and vice chair will not seek reelection in November
This story also appeared in Chalkbeat Detroit Two leaders of the Detroit school board will not be on the Nov. 3 ballot, creating the potential for a major shake-up in the governing body’s future direction. LaTrice McClendon, who chairs the Detroit Public Schools Community District board, and Corletta Vaughn, the board’s vice chair, were both listed as disqualified on a list of candidates city officials provided Chalkbeat shortly after the filing deadline Tuesday.
Detroit school board’s chair and vice chair will not seek reelection in November
Sign up for Chalkbeat Detroit’s free newsletter to keep up with the city’s public school system and Michigan education policy. Two leaders of the Detroit school board will not be on the Nov. 3 ballot, creating the potential for a major shake-up in the governing body’s future direction.
Michigan voters can still change their primary vote if their candidate dropped out
This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. This story also appeared in Votebeat You did everything right: You voted early, putting that absentee ballot in the mail or dropping it in a local drop box to ensure your vote was counted. Then your candidate dropped out. What on earth are you supposed to do now?
New unemployment job-search rules take effect in Michigan. What to know
Unemployment recipients in Michigan must report three work search activities for each week, up from one The reporting change will be phased in based on each claimant’s certification schedule The new work search requirement is part of bipartisan legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year Beginning July 19, Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits will need to report three work search activities for each week instead of one to remain eligible for benefits.
How a 105-foot schooner is teaching teens the Detroit River’s story
This story also appeared in Bridge Michigan The Detroit River Scholars program is helping youth connect with the heritage of the river through hands-on experience on a schooner The program aims to break down historic barriers for people of color In addition to learning to sail, students collect data and learn about healthy ecosystems On an unusually hot day in late June, a group of about 20 Detroit high schoolers boarded a 105-foot, three-masted tall ship and set sail along the Detroit River.
When a police officer is shot, how they get to the hospital depends on the city – and Philadelphia stands apart
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. When five police officers were shot in Houston in January 2019 while serving a drug-related arrest warrant, all of them were transported to the hospital after emergency medical services arrived. Two went by air and three by ground ambulance. About seven months later, a gunman in Philadelphia shot six police officers during another drug warrant execution.
Council, police oversight board press DPD on detention center temps Original
DETROIT Christine Ferretti and Nushrat Rahman BridgeDetroit and Detroit Free Press July 18, 2026, 6:04 a.m. ET A council member and police board commissioner have pressed Detroit police on temperatures inside the Detroit Detention Center. Detroit police said the department is working to upgrade the facility's ventilation system, provides portable air coolers and has offered water and bags of ice to cool off.
Trump rehashes claims of election vulnerabilities, foreign interference, and fraud in primetime speech
This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.
As racial wealth gaps persist, bills would have Michigan study reparations
Michigan lawmakers have proposed a commission to study reparations and racial disparities The three-bill package focuses on addressing housing, education and economic inequities, not cash payments Critics question costs, feasibility and the government’s role in reparations Michigan lawmakers are proposing a new approach to addressing the state’s longstanding racial wealth gap: studying reparations.
Detroit offers masks, respite spots from Canadian wildfire smoke Original
DETROIT Christine Ferretti BridgeDetroit July 16, 2026, 2:58 p.m. ET The city is distributing free masks, offering refuge and urging residents to take precautions amid hazardous air quality conditions. Mayor Mary Sheffield and Chief Public Health Officer Ali Abazeed are providing updated guidance for Detroiters concerned about the poor air quality caused by ongoing wildfires in Canada.
Detroit faces toxic smoke from Ontario wildfires on top of heat
This story also appeared in Planet Detroit This article first appeared on Planet Detroit and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Michigan faces an air quality alert through at least Thursday as smoke from Ontario wildfires reaches the state. The smoke arrives during a heat wave, compounding health risks for vulnerable residents including older adults, children, and people with respiratory conditions.
Detroit City Council approves $5.8M settlement in wrongful conviction
The City of Detroit is paying a $5.8 million legal settlement to a man who spent 15 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. The agreement, approved Tuesday by Detroit City Council, will bring a conclusion to a 2018 lawsuit filed by Detroiter Aaron Salter. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office determined a case of mistaken identity led to Salter’s conviction in the 2003 shooting death of Willie Thomas.
Guide: How Michigan’s process for setting DTE, Consumers rates factors into midterms
This story also appeared in Planet Detroit Overview: The Michigan Public Service Commission oversees utility rates, including four pending cases affecting Southeast Michigan residents. DTE Energy filed for a $474-million rate increase in April — a 9.7% hike for residential customers — just months after a $242.4-million increase was approved in February.
DOJ warns election officials they could be criminally charged over noncitizen voters
This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. This story also appeared in Votebeat The U.S. Department of Justice has sent letters to election officials in several states warning that they could face criminal prosecution if they knowingly leave noncitizens on their voter rolls or allow noncitizens to receive, cast, or have ballots counted in federal elections.
Detroit neighbors push back on east side oil facility reopening proposal
A Canadian-owned waste oil reclamation company wants to reopen — and expand — a year after a fire shut down its eastside facility. But residents of Detroit’s Conner Creek neighborhood report improved air quality and conditions across the community following the plant’s closure. Since its inception in 2012, Aevitas Specialty Services Corp.
Detroit begins drafting data center regulations
The City Planning Commission is drafting a proposal to govern data center developments in Detroit. The commission got to work on the proposal following a series of meetings of a cross-sector data center working group convened by City Councilman Scott Benson. “We’re off and running,” Benson told BridgeDetroit of his plan to have the data center zoning policy approved by Detroit’s City Council by Dec. 31.
Detroit youth gain access to global entertainment industry through Usher internship program
Eight young adults from Detroit stepped into the world of global entertainment through an internship program tied to R&B superstar Usher’s ongoing tour, traveling across the US alongside him to gain hands-on experience in production, creative design, and communications.
Detroit school district releases 2026-27 calendar
This story also appeared in Chalkbeat Detroit This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. The Detroit district has released its 2026-27 school year calendar, with an Aug. 24 start date for students. The Detroit Public Schools Community District’s board approved the calendar last month, shortly before the district reached a tentative agreement with the teachers union.
Some Michiganders fly American flag. Others refuse. A new poll explores why
This story also appeared in The Associated Press DETROIT — Jerry Esters proudly displays the American flag each day on his Detroit home. A few miles away, Yvonne Pistochini says there is no scenario under which she would allow the Stars and Stripes to cast its shadow where she lives. Both are Black. For Esters, the flag represents the opportunities that allowed the great-great-grandson of slaves to find success and flourish.
Michigan immigrant advocates call Supreme Court ruling a huge win
Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press Michigan immigrant advocates and community members celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject President Donald Trump’s attempt to overhaul birthright citizenship, calling it a huge win that upholds a century-plus guarantee. It was a blow to a key pillar of the president’s efforts to clamp down on immigration in his second term.
ShotSpotter contract extension approved
Detroit’s City Council narrowly approved a $2 million contract extension for a controversial gunshot detection software following hours of intense public comment and debate. The nine-month agreement with SoundThinking, formerly known as ShotSpotter, has sparked controversy over its cost and effectiveness. The council’s 5-4 approval will keep ShotSpotter in place through March 31, 2027, and brings overall contract costs to $9 million.
Detroit legislators back Wayne County transit millage
The City Council on Tuesday formalized its support for a Wayne County transit millage on the August ballot and urged Detroiters to get to the polls. The Detroit City Council resolution, spearheaded by Council President James Tate, notes that transit service is a lifeline for low-income residents, seniors, residents with disabilities and essential workers and a “critical tool” for advancing economic opportunity in the city and across Wayne County.
Detroit activates cooling centers amid extreme heat
City recreation centers and public library branches are open and offering respite from the dangerously high temperatures over the next few days. During the period of extreme heat, the Detroit Health Department recommends that residents: Drink plenty of water Limit strenuous activity Take frequent breaks in air-conditioned spaces Watch for signs of heat-related illness (dizziness, nausea, headache, confusion, fainting, rapid heartbeat, or unusually heavy sweating).
How to claim leftover money from Wayne County foreclosures
Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office is reminding property owners that the deadline is fast approaching to claim any leftover money from the sale of their property at upcoming tax auctions. Property owners must file a claim by Wednesday, July 1, otherwise they run the risk of forfeiting their rights to the funds, Treasurer Eric Sabree said in a news release.
Study finds fewer Flint newborns died after Rx Kids started
Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press Newborn deaths in Flint plunged after moms and babies began receiving no-strings-attached cash, new findings show.
Detroit teachers’ union approves tentative 2-year contract with school district
This story also appeared in Chalkbeat Detroit This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters The Detroit teachers union voted to approve a tentative agreement with the school district that would give new bonuses to attendance agents, career and technical education teachers, and staff certified to teach English language learners, union officials confirmed Wednesday.
To accommodate overseas voters, Michigan changes start dates for local officials
This story also appeared in Votebeat This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Michigan’s first election legislation of the 2025-26 session has made it over the finish line — and more voters could see their ballots counted as a result. On Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed four bills into law that would delay the start of some local officials’ terms.
Detroit solar project transfers to DTE after vendor drops out
Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press Detroit City Council approved a pair of 35-year contracts to shift the development of a neighborhood solar initiative to DTE Energy after city officials said another vendor on the project could no longer do the job.
Detroit detained 180 minors for curfew violations during fireworks
About 180 minors were detained during the 2026 Ford Fireworks, according to preliminary estimates from Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison. An 18-year-old shot by police before the event downtown is expected to survive, Bettison told reporters following a presentation to council members on Tuesday. The shooting happened during the arrest of a 19-year-old. Both individuals were armed, police said.
Detroit releases report with plans to tackle community health issues
Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press Mayor Mary Sheffield’s administration says that after hearing from residents it now plans to tackle some of Detroit’s top public health and equity issues, including maternal and infant health, as well as access to food and healthcare, with goal setting starting this year.
Michigan forgives $200M in medical debt. Should it help prevent debt instead?
Michigan has forgiven more than $200 million in medical debt for about 280,000 residents since 2024 The state allocated $4.5 million for the effort amid a bipartisan push to effect more reforms Policy analysts warn medical debt forgiveness is limited in impact, with the state lacking several regulations on debt collections and payments Michigan took another step Monday in its effort to eliminate medical debt for thousands of residents.
Deed fraud can cause vulnerable Detroiters to lose their homes – here’s why it’s hard to catch the thieves
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Buying her first home on Detroit’s far east side in 2021 was the moment when a lifelong dream finally came within reach for Kim Page. “I accomplished something that I always wanted to do,” said Page, who grew up in the city. “I always wanted to buy my own home since I was like 18.
Bernie Sanders-backed challenger takes on Thanedar in 13th District race
The race for the 13th Congressional District will test the direction Detroiters want for the Democratic Party as a progressive state representative endorsed by Bernie Sanders challenges Rep. Shri Thanedar’s bid for re-election. State Rep. Donavan McKinney, a 34-year-old Black Detroit native who is serving his second term in the state House, is Thanedar’s main opponent in the Aug.
Sheffield releases 100+ page report on Detroiters quality of life issues
Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press At the beginning of the year, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield asked residents to weigh in on their top quality of life concerns in the city. And now, six months later, she is releasing their feedback.
DPSCD steps up security at vacant Cooley High School following vandalism
Detroit’s public school district is stepping up security at soon-to-be demolished Cooley High School after weekend vandals breached the property and caused damage. In a statement released Sunday night, Detroit Public Schools Community District spokeswoman Chrystal Wilson said intruders broke down a large section of the fence protecting the building and a covering protecting the entrance of the long-vacant school was destroyed.
GUIDE: What Detroit’s master plan means and how to have your say
Detroit’s Master Plan of Policies will guide city housing, development and other land use decisions in the years ahead. The city is in the final stages of its first detailed revision of the city’s master plan since 2009. The process, coined Plan Detroit, launched in February 2024 by Detroit’s Planning and Development Department, and is expected to conclude in August.
Michigan Blue Cross to limit mental health benefit. Will thousands lose care?
Patients covered by Michigan’s largest insurer will lose access to limited-license mental health professionals that serve in private practice, effective March 1 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan says the decision ensures quality of care and aligns with its other products Therapists say Blue Cross is by far the state’s largest insurer for limited-license therapists Thousands of Michiganders could lose access to their mental health providers under a new Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan policy.
Tenants’ lawyers say Detroit court is handling evictions wrong
Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press A tenants group is challenging how Detroit’s 36th District Court — which handles thousands of eviction cases a year— is enforcing the city’s rental laws.
Historic Jackson Home opens at The Henry Ford in Dearborn
This story also appeared in Detroit PBS - One Detroit The Henry Ford in Dearborn is known for showcasing important moments in history, from the classic cars Ford Motor Co. made in the early 1900s, to the Montgomery city bus Rosa Parks was on in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat. Now another piece of history is debuting there. The Jackson Home — the former house of Dr. Sullivan Jackson, a dentist, and Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson, an educator — will open inside Greenfield Village June 12.
As demolition nears, Cooley High alumni make plea to preserve school’s legacy
A week after facing backlash from alumni and community members over the upcoming demolition of the historic Cooley High School, the Detroit school district is giving more insight into why the long-vacant building is being razed and the sports complex that will be built in its place. The Cooley sports complex will come to fruition in multiple phases, Detroit Public Schools Community District Assistant Superintendent of Operations Machion Jackson said Wednesday.
Gordie Howe bridge opening delayed over ‘outstanding issues’
The opening of a Canadian-U.S. bridge across the Detroit River that President Donald Trump previously threatened to block has been delayed due to “outstanding issues.” This story also appeared in The Associated Press In a statement released Thursday ahead of a Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at the bridge, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says “Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues.” The...
Detroit is spending millions on gunshot detection tech – is it an effective tool in the fight against violent crime?
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison says alerts from ShotSpotter, a gun detection technology, help officers respond quickly to shootings. “Without it, I wouldn’t have the closure rate [of resolved crimes] that I have and a lot of families wouldn’t have the justice they deserve,” he said in March 2026, according to BridgeDetroit. During a Detroit City Council committee meeting on May 18, 2026, police officials said ShotSpotter led to hundreds of search warrants and confiscated guns in 2025.
Michigan bills aimed at improving student literacy clear House committee
This story also appeared in Chalkbeat Detroit This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. A Michigan House committee approved several bills Wednesday that are aimed at improving literacy in Michigan schools, including one that would require specialized training for all K-5 teachers. The full House will now have to weigh the legislation. Literacy has been a top education priority in the Michigan Legislature and for Gov.
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