The city of Detroit is distributing free face masks at recreation centers while supplies last. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/detroit-air-quality-improves-wildfire-smoke/

“The forecast does have more rain, but it would take a lot to slow these fires down,” says state of Michigan meteorologist Jim Haywood. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/detroit-air-quality-forecast-ontario-fires/

DTE is appealing a $100-million judgment over sulfur dioxide pollution from its Zug Island subsidiary: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/judge-to-dte-no-delays-clean-air-act-compliance-zug-island/

The air pollution in Detroit exceeds the air quality index itself, which may need to “go beyond hazardous,” meteorologist says. Read the full story: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/detroit-air-quality-worst-in-city-history-wildfires/

As wildfire smoke drifts across borders, its health impacts are felt unevenly. Vulnerable groups like those with chronic conditions, pregnant women, children, and first responders face heightened risks: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/wildfire-smoke-precautions/

Canadian wildfire smoke is likely to reach Metro Detroit late Wednesday, adding to health risks for vulnerable residents already dealing with high temperatures. Read more about what to expect and how to stay safe: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/ontario-wildfire-smoke-detroit-heat-wave/

The Detroit building department has ticketed Riverfront Towers five times for blight violations since July 2. The air conditioning at Tower 100 has been malfunctioning since late May. Read more: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/detroit-riverfront-towers-no-ac-heat-wave/

Just a few degrees of increased body temperature can lead to heatstroke or put too much strain on the heart. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/nighttime-temperatures-heat-wave-dangers/

Taylor is the only Metro Detroit community with an ICE cooperation agreement. Advocates say it threatens immigrants, while the police chief says critics have blown the partnership out of proportion. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/taylor-ice-agreement-arrest-debate/

Bills introduced in the Michigan Legislature would limit utility rate hike requests made to the MPSC to once every three years and tie the elimination of property taxes on utilities to a rollback in rates. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/michigan-utility-rates-midterms/

More than 320,000 DTE customers lost power during July 4 weekend storms. Here’s what to know about the utility’s reliability record, the $42-per-day credit you may be owed, and why your rates keep going up. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/dte-power-outages-reliability-2026/

Immigration enforcement activity around Pontiac grocery stores, churches, and schools is “to the point no one wants to leave their home anymore to do any of those things,” says advocate Elida Reyes. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/pontiac-ice-arrests-latino-community/

The system is shifting underneath the feet of immigrants, says the lawyer for an Afghan asylum seeker living in Michigan. Read our story made possible in part with support from the Poynter Institute: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/michigan-immigration-detention-trump-policy/

Here’s how Metro Detroit residents can lower their bills during heat waves by shifting energy use to off-peak hours. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/07/dte-peak-hours/

Up to 60 gallons per minute of contaminated groundwater has been flowing from the BASF site into the Detroit River near Wyandotte’s drinking water intake. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/detroit-river-basf-contamination-cleanup-2027/

Utility shutoffs show what energy poverty looks like in a wealthy country, writes Amani Sawari of We Want Green Too: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/detroit-dte-shutoff-crisis-has-a-face/

Southeast Michigan is under an extreme heat watch from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday evening, and seven Michigan counties have an air quality alert for ozone Monday. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/detroit-heat-wave-ozone-alert-june-2026/

A measurable reduction in childhood asthma is Detroit health director’s top priority, he says in Planet Detroit interview: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/ali-abazeed-detroit-health-asthma/

Twenty-five Great Lakes Water Authority member communities exceeded Michigan’s lead action level since 2018, and experts say authorities need to move faster to protect public health. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/drinking-water-lead-glwa/

The backlash against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's support for a 1.4-gigawatt data center in Saline Township signals the facilities may become a defining issue in Michigan's 2026 election: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/whitmer-data-center-backlash-2026-election/

ICYMI: A Detroit oil recycling facility that caught fire in 2025 is seeking city and state approval to reopen and expand, despite a history of odor complaints and air quality violations affecting nearby residents. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/detroit-oil-recycler-reopen-fire/

U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell back legislation to restore federal water assistance that helped 1.5 million households during the pandemic. Read more: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/dingell-tlaib-federal-water-assistance/

Jeremy Rosenberg's nonprofit Mezuzah is bringing a micro market and coffee shop to Detroit's Northwest Goldberg neighborhood, addressing food access while building Jewish community. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/05/jewish-nonprofit-detroit-community/

Planet Detroit will explore the East Canfield Art Park in a picnic tour at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 20. Learn more here: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/detroit-east-canfield-art-park/

Detroit researcher leads first systematic study of Alzheimer's prevalence among Arab and Middle Eastern Americans in Metro Detroit, addressing decades of statistical invisibility. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/05/detroit-researcher-uncovers-hidden-dementia-crisis-in-arab-american-communities/

This week: Belle Isle’s koi get temporary housing during renovations, Michigan Republicans push to weaken wetland protections, and Brush Park Manor residents endure heat without A/C. Read the full news roundup: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/michigan-environmental-news-belle-isle-koi/

Candidates in the closely watched Senate race need to offer specific plans for addressing data centers, environmental advocates say: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/data-centers-michigan-senate-primary/

After 20 years in Detroit's entertainment industry, Sarah Johnson is trading event planning for writing. She joins Planet Detroit's Neighborhood Reporting Lab. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/04/sarah-johnson-career-shift-writing/

Highland Park resident and filmmaker Jamela Lugo-Thomas is documenting the city's water crisis as part of Planet Detroit's Neighborhood Reporting Lab. https://planetdetroit.org/2026/03/highland-park-filmmaker-water-crisis-documentary/

An Allen Park planning commissioner expresses concern about the speed of data center development and the city’s lack of tools to address emerging technology: https://planetdetroit.org/2026/06/allen-park-planners-reject-data-center/