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Detroit, MI

5th metro Detroit drugstore closes and customers think they know why

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5th metro Detroit drugstore closes and customers think they know why


The recent news that a busy Rite Aid store in Midtown Detroit will soon be closing — reportedly because of theft — was disappointing for some longtime shoppers, although not a big surprise to everyone.

Detroit resident Aaron Boone, 61, recalled how he was standing in the checkout line a few months ago when he saw a man simply walk out of the store without paying for a large pack of beer.

“He (came) right there like he was going to pay for a 30-pack of beer, and he walked right out,” Boone said. “It’s terrible, man.”

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The Rite Aid at 4612 Woodward is among the latest batch of “underperforming” stores that the drugstore chain has made plans to close since filing for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy last fall. The Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid chain intends to stay in business, but with hundreds fewer of the 2,000 stores and retail pharmacies that it had last year in 17 states.

More: Village-like Core City development in Detroit expands with new duplexes, restaurant

A Rite Aid corporate spokesperson didn’t give the specific reasons why it was decided to close the Woodward Avenue location. However, store staff have been telling customers that theft was a reason. One employee, who did not provide their name, told the Free Press last week that theft was among the reasons for the closure.

The store at one time stationed a security guard near the entrance. However, the guard wasn’t directed to chase after suspected shoplifters and therefore didn’t deter all of the theft, one staffer told a customer. Some of the more expensive merchandise in the store, including laundry detergents and hair regrowth products, are placed behind locked shelves.

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The landlord of the building said Rite Aid had been a tenant for 20 years and didn’t specify why it is leaving. The store is on the ground floor of an Albert Kahn-designed building that is over 100 years old and has 56 residential apartments.

“We don’t know why they left. Frankly, their sales were going up every year,” Christine Jonna, of Bloomfield Hills-based Jonna Companies, said Monday. “It wasn’t a matter of rent; we even offered them a sweeter deal.”

The Federal Trade Commission in December barred Rite Aid from using facial recognition technology in its stores for five years in a settlement for allegations that the drugstore chain’s efforts to stop known shoplifters from entering its stores resulted in false accusations toward innocent shoppers, particularly people of color. The FTC claimed Rite Aid had at one time deployed the facial recognition technology in multiple states, including Michigan.

Once the doors shut next month, the Midtown Detroit Rite Aid will become at least the fifth drugstore to close in the past six or seven years along a stretch of Woodward Avenue running through Detroit and Highland Park.

The other shuttered pharmacy stores include:

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  • A CVS at 10301 Woodward Ave. that closed in 2019 and briefly became a charter school.
  • A CVS at 7451 Woodward Ave. that closed in 2018 or early 2019 and is now a Happy Pizza.
  • A CVS at 14140 Woodward Ave. in Highland Park that closed in 2019 or 2020 and is now a Family Furniture store.
  • A Walgreens at 14048 Woodward Ave. in Highland Park that closed in about 2017 and is now a Family Dollar.

Asked about its past store closures, a CVS spokesman said many factors are taken into consideration when deciding to shut a location, including “local market dynamics, population shifts, store density and other access points to meet the community’s health and wellness needs.”

Nationwide, drugstore chains have been closing various urban locations in recent years amid a rise in thefts and robberies. And retailer Target last fall said that theft and “organized retail crime” that threatened the safety of employees prompted their decision to close nine stores in four states.

A representative for the nonprofit community and development group Midtown Detroit Inc. said they haven’t done any recent formal surveys of area retailers on the subject of theft.

“It never feels good to see a staple store that supports community members in our neighborhoods close, especially as this isn’t just a Midtown Detroit issue, but an example of what is happening across the country,” Maureen Stapleton, the group’s interim director, said in a statement. “We will certainly continue to monitor this situation and observe if there are some lessons learned to ensure we take the proper steps — within our control — to prevent this from happening again.”

The Rite Aid store closure, set to happen March 25 for the pharmacy and April 21 for the store, will be an inconvenience for residents such as Ross Consuegra, 67, who said he will likely transfer his prescriptions to a 24-hour CVS that is in the general area at the corner of Brush Street and East Warren Avenue.

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“So I got my options,” Consuegra said. “But for other people, it’s very disappointing.”

More than two dozen Rite Aid locations in Michigan have closed or will be closing as part of the company’s ongoing reorganization. The Rite Aid website says there are now about 1,700 total stores.

Contact JC Reindl: 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on X @jcreindl.





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Detroit, MI

With 46k outages around Michigan, Metro Detroit prepares for power loss

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With 46k outages around Michigan, Metro Detroit prepares for power loss


With a High Wind Warning and high wind gusts expected to hit Southeast Michigan on Monday, utilities are preparing for a busy afternoon with possible outages.

DTE says it has response teams in place to deal with a loss of power to homes around the region.

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DTE: Weather may cause power outages

According to DTE, approximately 6,200 homes were without power to start things out this week.

That number could rise as the wind picks up throughout the day. Gusts up to 60 mph are expected to blow through in the late morning and early afternoon. 

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“Our Storm Response Teams are ready to restore power as quickly and safely as possible,” read a note from DTE on their website. 

The company will also be providing an update on their prepared response at 9 a.m.

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Tap here to see the DTE outage map

Dig deeper:

If someone does come across a downed power line, they should avoid the spot. 

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DTE recommends staying at least 25 feet away from the downed lines, and assume they are live and dangerous. If anyone sees downed power lines, they’re asked to report it here.

If there is an emergency, such as a fire or you see a power line on an unoccupied car, first call 911 then call the power company. DTE Energy can be reached at 800-477-4747. Consumers Energy can be reached at 800-477-5050.

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More: How to apply for reimbursement from DTE, Consumers Energy

If you are inside your vehicle and a wire falls on it, DTE says to stay in your vehicle and call 911. 

However, if you must get out of the vehicle, DTE advises removing loose clothing, and getting out without touching the frame. Jump with your feet together to avoid touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Do not remove your feet until you are at least 20 feet away from the vehicle. 

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46k Outages Elsewhere

The recent blast of active weather over the weekend has already knocked out power for a big chunk of the state further to the north.

Approximately 46,000 households remain without power, according to Consumers Energy.

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The bulk of those outages are north of Mount Pleasant, near Claire off of Highway 127.

See the outage map here.

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According to Consumers Energy, they have 500 crews responding to the outages and hope to have power restored by 10 p.m.

High Wind Warning

Michigan will be under a high wind warning for the majority of Monday. 

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The National Weather Service issued the order from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. The winds will shift from Southwest to Northwest at 25 to 35 mph. Occasional gusts between 45 and 55 mph are expected with a speeds climbing to 60 mph.

That means downed wires and tree branches are not out of the question.

Incoming snow could also worsen visibility on the road. 

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The Source: Data from DTE and Consumers Energy, as well as forecast information from the National Weather Service were cited for this story. 

ConsumerMetro DetroitAround Michigan



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Detroit, MI

Detroit Metro Airport deals with flight delays and cancellations during Midwest storm

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Detroit Metro Airport deals with flight delays and cancellations during Midwest storm



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Detroit Metro Airport is facing over 200 flight delays and cancellations, and flooding is being reported in Southeast Michigan as a winter storm moves through the Midwest on Sunday.

As of 7:45 p.m., 17 flights that were scheduled to depart the Romulus-based airport on Sunday have been canceled, according to FlightAware, and 131 have been delayed.   

Twenty flights scheduled to arrive at DTW Airport have been canceled and 118 have been delayed as of 7:45 p.m., FlightAware said.

Across the country, More than 3,000 flights were canceled or delayed by Sunday afternoon.

The disruptions come less than two days after a winter storm with ice and snow that strained the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, and during what was expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.

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Flooding in Southeast Michigan

Northville Road between Five Mile and Six Mile roads in Northville Township was flooded on Sunday afternoon, according to public safety officials who asked that people avoid the area.  

Glenlore Trails in Commerce Township says it will be closed on Sunday night due to “extensive flooding” in the area. According to event organizers, anyone who had a ticket can email organizers for a refund or to transfer it to Jan. 3.   

Rounds of prolonged heavier rainfall are expected through the afternoon and evening hours, generally along or south of Interstate 69. Thunderstorms are possible on Sunday evening.

Temperatures will drop significantly overnight and flash freezing is possible. 

Snow squalls and brief, intense snow showers are expected through the day on Monday, along with brief whiteout conditions.

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This is a developing story. Stay with CBS News Detroit to learn more. 



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Detroit, MI

Pastor draws strength from Detroit church’s proud history to lead

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Pastor draws strength from Detroit church’s proud history to lead



In 2025, Lawrence Rodgers celebrated his fifth anniversary as pastor of Second Baptist Church of Detroit. But when he serves his community, he draws strength from a nearly 190-year-old church history.

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It is true that Detroit is the only American city where four major sports franchises play home games in the downtown core area. 

However, it is also true that within walking distance of Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field and Comerica Park — the homes of the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers respectively — sits a Detroit institution that has been intimately engaged in a type of service where success is not measured by championship banners, but instead by the number of lives that are saved and transformed. 

And this nearly 190-year-old institution has often performed its best work during some of the most challenging historical periods known to mankind. 

That institution, founded in 1836 by 13 formerly enslaved people, is historic Second Baptist Church of Detroit, which, since 1857, has occupied a stately space at 441 Monroe St. within the cultural, commercial and entertainment district known today as Greektown.

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“I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘this church is why I am free’ because our church served as one of the last stations on the Underground Railroad. That’s heavy stuff and very humbling,” Second Baptist Church of Detroit Senior Pastor Lawrence Rodgers said about the oldest religious institution owned by Black people in the Midwest, which “claimed a mission” in 1836 “to free the enslaved and have them enjoy the full privileges of American citizenship.”  

On Dec. 22, the 41-year-old Rodgers, who celebrated his fifth anniversary as the senior pastor at Second Baptist in 2025, provided some insight about how he finds inspiration to serve his congregation and the greater Detroit community. 

Just as the players and coaches who participate in games played at the bustling sports venues near Second Baptist spend many hours studying past performances to get better, Rodgers says he finds strength by looking at photographs displayed within the church that reflect the significant history made by a host of special people. A tiny sampling includes: William C. Monroe, Second Baptist’s first pastor, who spearheaded the church’s involvement in the formation of two abolitionist societies — the Amherstburg Baptist Association and the Canadian Anti-Slavery Baptist Association. Second Baptist member and Sunday schoolteacher Fannie Richards, who became the first Black schoolteacher in a Detroit public school in 1868 and later taught an integrated class at Everett Elementary School beginning in 1871, the year the Michigan Supreme Court ordered Detroit to abolish segregated schools; and Robert Bradby, Second Baptist’s pastor from 1910 to 1946, who leveraged his relationship with Henry Ford to link hundreds of Black people to jobs at the Ford Motor Co. during the Great Migration.

The passionate tone in Rodgers’ voice when he provided an impromptu history lesson about Second Baptist provides a glimpse of the energy his congregation experiences when Rodgers delivers a sermon. But Rodgers says the history that he loves to share means little if it is not acted upon today. 

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“I never want people to think that this church is only a museum,” stated Rodgers, a native of eastern North Carolina, who says he did not dive into Second Baptist’s history until he responded to a “call from the Lord” while serving as a pastor in Baltimore and searched the internet for national pastor openings, which led to him being selected by Second Baptist out of 200 applicants. “This history is not just about what we have done, it’s also about who we are right now. My predecessors improved the conditions of our people during the institution of slavery, the Great Depression, World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement, the Detroit Rebellion of 1967 and other challenging periods in our history. They offered us a way to survive and even thrive. And that is a tradition that we need to apply today.” 

After immersing himself in Second Baptist’s history, Rodgers came to Detroit in 2020 full of enthusiasm and a desire to continue the church’s tradition of serving humanity as the 24th senior pastor to lead Second Baptist Church of Detroit. Nonetheless, despite having the best intentions, Rodgers faced a challenge that no other Second Baptist pastor before him had to navigate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visits to the homes of church members and other extended in-person interactions were not possible when “everything was on lockdown” and “everyone was afraid.” But as time went on, with help from connections Rodgers made through the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, and his own exploration across the city for basic essentials, Rodgers says he witnessed and felt a spirit that allowed him to appreciate Detroit in a different way. 

“I can’t tell you exactly when it happened, but, at some point around the middle of my second year here, I called my mother and I said, ‘Detroit is like down home, up North,’ ” recalled Rodgers, who earned a master’s degree in divinity in 2017 from Howard University, where he graduated at the top of his class, while receiving numerous awards in the process. “Around the same time, I found a Detroit barber and a Detroit tailor and bought a pair of Detroit-style glasses. One of our members saw me afterwards and he said: ‘Now you look like one of us.’ But more than the member’s words, there was a sense of community and warmth that I felt — like Southern hospitality — that you don’t see or feel in a lot of places that have these temperatures.” 

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Powered by the “spirit of Detroit” that Rodgers described, he and the Second Baptist congregation have aggressively addressed challenges that continue to plague Detroit and our nation, including the opioid crisis; food insecurity connected to families and the unhoused, and human trafficking. And while helping Detroiters “survive,” Second Baptist is also committed to providing resources that enable Detroiters to “thrive,” such as resources and programs focused on financial and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education.

Rodgers says that with each historical tour, training session and seminar provided at his church, along with direct outreach into the community performed by Second Baptist members, including providing food and other necessities to unhoused Detroiters, a message is sent that is felt well beyond the city. 

“There was a time when the world looked to Detroit because of the automotive industry, but today the world is looking to Detroit to see how we are responding to challenges faced by our entire nation,” said Rodgers, who also has shared his concerns and ideas for helping Detroiters with the nonprofit Greektown Neighborhoods Partnership, which is leading the ongoing initiative to transform the Greektown district into a pedestrian-friendly destination. “The world wants to know how we are going to ensure that all people are served. Going into 2026, I’m so excited to be in Detroit at this time and I look forward to building on the relationships and partnerships that we have established at Second Baptist such as our partnership with the DTE Energy Foundation, which will allow us to expand our youth STEAM program and continue our mission to empower the next generation. 

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“I’m also extremely excited to be living in a time when Detroit’s first woman mayor is about to take office and I’m praying for Mayor Sheffield and all of our new leaders. I believe all Detroiters need to look back and be inspired and gain hope from the challenges that we have overcome in the past. Ancestral memory is important, but we don’t want to just look back at the history, we want to live it, and in that way we can continue to repair and turn around our city for the benefit of all Detroiters.”    

Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city’s neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott’s stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.



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