Detroit, MI

Mallory McMorrow: Legislators who don’t work on transit needs should be voted out

Published

2 years ago

January 31, 2024

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Mallory McMorrow: Legislators who don’t work on transit needs should be voted out

For state Rep. Donavan McKinney, going to high school was a challenge.

It wasn’t the subject matter, it was the trip to and from school.

McKinney, a Democrat who now represents parts of Detroit and Macomb County in the Michigan Legislature, recounted the regular trip from his home near Seven Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in northeast Detroit to Renaissance High School in northwest Detroit. Like plenty of other kids, he didn’t attend his neighborhood high school so he had to travel, but transit limitations meant a long journey of riding the bus and walking for considerable time each way.

“Most of that time spent was just waiting,” he said Tuesday night. “We need to do better.”

McKinney, who noted that he loved the bus growing up, was speaking to a crowd at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center in Detroit that appreciates what he went through but also has hopes that the region is moving toward something better. It was part of the State of Transit 2024, an annual event hosted by the advocacy group Transportation Riders United.

This year in addition to discussions with leaders from metro Detroit’s main transit agencies, the event included a state policymaker panel with state Sens. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, and Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor; and state Reps. McKinney and Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, along with state Chief Infrastructure Officer Zach Kolodin.

All spoke of their desire to improve transit.

Irwin described transit as one of the “big gaping holes” in the region, noting that “when you connect people good things happen.” He said he’s working on efforts to fix Regional Transit Authority legislation, which he said basically takes rail projects off the table. He implored the audience to keep asking officials about transit.

McMorrow spoke of transit as economic development, pointing to the region’s failed bid to attract Amazon’s second headquarters in 2018 or even be considered as a finalist because of a lack of education and transit investments, despite offering $4 billion in incentives.

Local community leaders, she noted, often describe transit needs but fail to seek funding for it.

More: Detroit boosting service on key bus route as it begins bus rapid transit pilot project

McMorrow and Irwin implored the audience, estimated at more than 75 people, mostly transit supporters and those affiliated with transit agencies, to spread the word to elected officials about how important they view transit as an issue. McMorrow said it needs to be made clear that elected officials will get voted out of office if they don’t act on it.

Morgan identified the recently formed transit caucus, which now has 36 members, including one Republican, as a key effort in the Legislature. He said he’s looking toward legislation that would significantly boost local bus operating funds.

Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United, described reliability as the biggest struggle locally and nationally. But some changes could help on that front.

More: RTA weighing proposal for QLINE control

Those include a $3-an-hour wage increase for Detroit Department of Transportation drivers and what was described as a potentially historic increase expected for drivers at the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, or SMART, as contract negotiations move forward there. Higher bus driver salaries, it’s hoped, will help alleviate what’s become a chronic driver shortage. That situation isn’t unique to metro Detroit, but this region is notable for its lower rates of driver pay.

Talk of the pay increases garnered significant applause from the audience, which also clapped when talk turned to progress so far on making transit available, specifically SMART expansion into Novi and Wixom with Rochester and Waterford listed as being up next.

Highlighting an area of potential opportunity, Owens referenced filling in the gaps in Wayne County, which has numerous communities that opt-out of SMART.

Despite the areas of progress, transit in Michigan has been hampered by chronic underinvestment for many years, according to advocates, who point to that as a key reason young people choose to leave the state.

Owens used a chart to show how state funding for transit has been largely flat for more than 20 years while funding for roads, which already outpaced transit substantially, has continued to climb.

Another chart, showing 2016 per capita transit funding, showed dozens of cities, with Detroit near the bottom, just behind Virginia Beach, Virginia, and just in front of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber.

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Detroit, MI

Former Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron

Published

8 minutes ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Former Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron

The Pistons have made recent moves to add more shooting, but still don’t have anyone quite as lethal as former Detroit guard Luke Kennard. On Saturday night, Kennard had a brilliant start to his postseason with 27 uber-efficient points for the Lakers in a win against the Rockets. His level of 3-point accuracy is something the Pistons have desperately been seeking all season long to bolster their offense.

Luke Kennard’s shooting makes him a dangerous playoff performer

Kennard was originally drafted to Detroit with the 17th pick of the 2017 Draft. The Pistons have plenty of draft regrets from that general era of team history, but picking Kennard has never been one of them. Despite any other weaknesses he may have, his strength as a shooter has always been enough to offset them.

In terms of pure 3-point percentage, Kennard is one of the best shooters in NBA history. He averages 44% behind the arc for his career, and shot a blistering 48% this season – the best mark in the league. Given his incredible track record, it’s not exactly a shocker to see him shoot 5-of-5 from three en route to 27 points in Game 1.

Not only is Kennard obviously an excellent standstill shooter, but he’s also a master of getting himself open with his movement. On Saturday night, he was able to play off LeBron James perfectly for a few easy looks. After that, he caught enough of a rhythm to create 3-point looks for himself, even in transition.

A player like Kennard is easily capable of turning an entire playoff game when he gets hot. In a close series, that one game where Kennard hits several threes can be all the difference his team needs to advance. If the Lakers do manage to win this series, even without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Kennard’s shooting will be a major reason why.

The Pistons could use someone like Kennard

Kennard would be a perfect marginal addition for the Pistons that only makes them better without taking anything away from the team. To be fair, the Pistons do have two shooters who have been hot recently in Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. But having more than one respected shooter on the court at a time is often necessary to maintain a solid offense in today’s NBA.

Given the Pistons’ current lack of shooting, any additional shooters are welcome. And Kennard is understandably one of the most feared shooters in the league, capable of bending defenses just by the threat of him taking a three. Rolling him out on the Pistons would surely open up more lanes for Detroit’s stars to attack the paint and score easier points.

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Detroit, MI

Troopers arrest Detroit woman after drive-by shooting on I-94

Published

12 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Troopers arrest Detroit woman after drive-by shooting on I-94

A Detroit woman was arrested in the aftermath of a hit-and-run collision and shooting on Interstate 94, Michigan State Police reported.

Emergency dispatchers were called shortly after midnight Saturday about the altercation. Troopers reported the caller said while they were driving eastbound on I-94, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a black Jeep sideswiped them and sped off.

The caller then decided to follow the Jeep.

In response, police said, the driver of the Jeep fired several gunshots in the caller’s direction.

None of the gunshots struck the vehicle.

Troopers were able to use license plate reader camera technology to locate the Jeep while it was on the Lodge Freeway, made a traffic stop. The driver and two passengers were taken into custody without incident.

The passengers were released shortly afterwards; troopers believe that the 19-year-old driver was the shooter. She has been lodged pending further review by the prosecutor’s office.

In addition, a firearm was recovered from the vehicle.

The above video originally aired on Aug. 19, 2025.

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Detroit, MI

Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons odds for NBA playoffs Game 1 Sunday

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons odds for NBA playoffs Game 1 Sunday

Who is favored in the NBA playoffs odds for Game 1 between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic?

Here’s what you need to know about NBA playoff betting odds for the NBA game between the No. 8 seed Magic and No. 1 seed Pistons, which is being played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

What is the point spread for the Pistons vs Magic game?

What is the moneyline for the Magic vs Pistons game?

What is the over/under (point total) for betting on the first-round NBA playoff matchup?

Watch Magic at Pistons on Peacock

Magic vs Pistons odds: What is point spread?

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Detroit Pistons are an 8.5-point favorite over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs series.

Pistons vs Magic odds: What is moneyline?

BetMGM Sportsbook lists Detroit as -375 on the moneyline for the first-round NBA playoff game. It has Orlando at +290.

Magic vs Pistons odds: What is over/under?

The point total for the opening game of the NBA playoffs series between the Pistons and Magic is listed at 218.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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