Detroit, MI
Thompson: The new year brings a promising future for Detroit students
Detroit Public Schools Community District often gets a bad rap due to declining enrollment issues or longstanding challenges that led to the historic takeover of the school system before voters returned it to an elected board.
And in many cases, that is the lens through which the school system’s performance is examined and viewed across the state. But there are hidden stories of progress within a school system that is still struggling to define itself and to give young Detroiters hope for a meaningful future.
I saw that first-hand last week at Denby High School, part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, on the city’s east side, where hundreds of young Black and Brown male students gathered in the basketball gym for the annual policing and prosperity forum.
The annual event initiated and led by tenacious Detroiter Sharlonda Buckman, the district’s assistant superintendent for family and community engagement, is one of the hidden jewels of the public school system and brings together male students from various high schools to discuss their interaction with law enforcement. On the panel were senior and junior police officers from the Detroit Police Department, as well as the district’s public safety chief, Labrit Jackson, all of whom took hard questions from the students about how to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system.
Before the start of the forum, I met three students: 17-year-old Justin Montgomery, 17-year-old Exavier Ward and 16-year-old Wesley Lewis, all students of Denby.
The three of them live on the east side and are serious and determined students who believe they have an obligation to be worthy ambassadors of their communities.
“I just got a scholarship from Cleary University for track and field and cross country and I just signed the papers so I can be committed,” Ward told me. “I am excited for the new year and I’m ready to live my adult life.”
His parents are also joyful about his future because, “out of all of my siblings, I’m going to be the first one to go to college. I want to major in cybersecurity,” he says.
Montgomery is scouting Oakland University or Central Michigan University and is also interested in a trades school. He’s keeping his options open.
“I have been here for a while and I’m ready to get out of high school. The experience has been good for me,” he says.
For Lewis, graduating in 2027 will make him the first in his family to be committed to college. That alone keeps him upbeat for the new year as he prepares for the challenges and the pressures of being an 11th grade student.
“I’m really ready to go to college. I’m looking at Kentucky State University, Wayne State University and Michigan State University,” he says. “I probably would major in music in college because I currently play the piano. But sometimes I get nervous about college because I feel like it is going to be harder than high school.”
These impressive young men speak to the vitality of the school system and the need to continue to nurture and support them.
The forum on policing and prosperity reinforces that need.
“This forum is so important because we give the students an opportunity to have a voice and talk about the things that are important to them and how they interact with law enforcement,” says Marty Bulger, the district’s senior director of male mentoring.
“Even a more dynamic piece is the fact that because the city has seen a reduction in violent crime, we believe as we reach our young people, we will continue to see a decline. These young men are our future leaders.”
X (formerly Twitter): @BankoleDetNews
bankole@bankolethompson.com
Bankole Thompson’s columns appear on Mondays and Thursdays in The Detroit News.
Patrick Trout (Photo: Detroit Fire Department)
DETROIT (FOX 2) – A Detroit Fire Department veteran who died at his home hours after completing a shift earlier this month is presumed to have died in the line of duty.
What we know:
Patrick Trout, 47, worked an overnight shift before going home, where he died suddenly on Monday, Jan. 5.
Detroit Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms announced at Trout’s funeral Monday that his death is considered a presumed line-of-duty death, pending the results of the medical examiner’s final report, according to a Detroit Fire Department spokesperson. The spokesperson said the classification is new for the department and is based on information indicating Trout may have suffered injuries during a fire in the shift prior to his death.
What they’re saying:
The Detroit Fire Department shared a message about his death on social media saying:
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Firefighter Patrick Trout.
A proud member of Squad 4, Firefighter Trout was known for his compassion, service and sense of humor. His dedication to this department and the people of Detroit will never be forgotten.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, son, loved ones, and his brothers and sisters here in the Detroit Fire Department during this difficult time.”
Washington Township rig dressed up as the Memorial Rig drives by. (Detroit Fire Department)
The backstory:
Trout was a senior firefighter assigned to Squad 4 and had served with the department for more than 11 years. He was also a decorated retired U.S. Army sergeant who previously served in the National Guard and Army Reserve.
Trout is survived by his wife, Shannon, and their son, Jackson.
(Detroit Fire Department)
What you can do:
A fundraiser through The Yard Foundation has been established to support his family.
The Source: Information for this story came from a Detroit Fire Department spokesperson and the Detroit Fire Fighters Association.
Detroit, MI
Dylan Larkin’s tiebreaking goal in 3rd period sends Detroit Red Wings to 4-2 win over San Jose Sharks
Dylan Larkin scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the surging Detroit Red Wings beat the San Jose Sharks 4-2 on Friday night.
Marco Kasper scored his first goal in 37 games and added an assist to help Detroit win for the fifth time in six games. Alex DeBrincat scored his team-high 25th goal and J.T. Compher had the other goal for the Red Wings.
Lucas Raymond had three assists and James van Riemsdyk added two. John Gibson made 20 saves.
Will Smith scored for San Jose in his return from an upper-body injury that cost him 13 games. Collin Graf had the other Sharks goal and Macklin Celebrini, the NHL’s third-leading scorer with 72 points, added an assist. Celebrini has 32 points in his last 18 games.
Yaroslav Askarov stopped 21 shots for the Sharks, who had won seven of nine.
Detroit converted on its first power play when Raymond set up DeBrincat, who ripped a one-timer from the left circle into the net.
Smith tied it midway through the first period after Celebrini’s shot from the high slot tumbled over Gibson and rolled toward the goal line. Smith tucked the puck into the net.
Graf tipped in a pass from Nick Leddy at 1:58 of the second to give the Sharks the lead. Kasper’s pass through the legs of a defender set up Compher’s goal five minutes later, tying it 2-all.
Larkin jammed the puck between the post and Askarov’s pad at 4:41 of the third to give the Red Wings a 3-2 advantage. Kasper ended his scoring drought on an empty-netter with 1:32 remaining.
Sharks: Visit the Florida Panthers on Monday.
Red Wings: Host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
See Chrysler Grizzly Peak minivan concept at Detroit Auto Show
Chrysler’s Pacifica Grizzly Peak minivan isn’t available for purchase, but the concept model was on display at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show.
Chrysler’s Pacifica Grizzly Peak minivan concept car is on display at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show.
Chrysler’s parent company, Stellantis, said in a press release announcing the Grizzly Peak concept in August 2025 that it “builds on four decades of minivan leadership and a century of innovation to demonstrate that the adventure doesn’t have to end, even if the pavement stops for America’s best-selling minivan.”
“We’ve been following van life for years, and we know adventurers really value the versatility the Pacifica delivers,” Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand CEO, said in a statement. “Our Chrysler design studio nailed the brief and really dove in… We’re excited to get feedback from the van-life adventurers on our newest concept of the most awarded minivan ever.”
The Pacifica Grizzly Peak minivan concept car first debuted in August 2025 at the Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado.
What are the exterior features of the Grizzly Peak Chrysler Pacifica?
Chrysler says the Grizzly Peak Pacifica has the following exterior features:
- Arktos matte-finish paint color with Foreshadow accents
- Suspension lift above standard Limited AWD model of 2.75 inches in front and 2.5 inches in rear
- Off-road 31-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch Foreshadow wheels
- Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform roof storage rack
- Roof-mounted auxiliary TYRI LED lighting
- Roof-mounted ARB retractable awning
- Baja Designs LP4 LED fog lamp pods
- Paint protective wrap on lower-body panels
- Mopar splash guards
What are the interior features of the Grizzly Peak Chrysler Pacifica?
Chrysler said the Grizzly Peak Chrysler Pacifica has the following interior features:
- Limited model interior with integrated console
- Concept cargo floor panel replaces third-row seating
- Added second set of tie-downs behind second-row seating
- 115-volt / 450-watt power access in rear
- Concept color scheme – Cement Gray with Liquid Titanium accents (instrument panel, door bezels and steering wheel bezels)
- Katzkin leather seating surfaces
- Orange seat belts
- Sport steering wheel with unique dimple perforation and paddle shifters
- Mopar Chrysler-branded stackable totes
- Mopar all-weather floor mats throughout cabin
- Newly available space saver spare tire
- Mopar roadside first-aid kit
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