A Wayne County judge has blocked a local heating and cooling company from doing work on a steam line project on Lafayette Park property in Detroit, a ruling some residents of the famed development are cheering.

Detroit Thermal, a company that provides heating and cooling to buildings through an underground network, said it will appeal the decision.

Detroit Thermal wants to upgrade and reconnect a steam line to the 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative. But residents who live in the housing cooperatives designed by famed architect Mies van der Rohe worry the project would damage their community’s landscape because it would involve excavation work.

Earlier this week, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Annette Berry granted a permanent injunction, which the Mies housing cooperatives had sought.

Berry ordered that Detroit Thermal is enjoined, or prohibited, from entering on Lots 19-22 of the Lafayette Park Subdivision, excavating on the lots and using the lots for the purpose of installing a slip line into existing steam pipes.

“I think generally that we feel vindicated and … feel like it was important for us to stand up for our property rights,” said Randy Essex, a resident of the Nicolet Co-op, one of the housing cooperatives.

What is Lafayette Park?

Completed in stages in the 1960s, the Mies van der Rohe Residential District is considered one of America’s most successful post-World War II urban redevelopment projects, according to the Detroit Historical Society. Located east of the Chrysler Freeway and roughly bounded by Rivard Street, Lafayette Avenue, Orleans Street and Antietam Street, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

4Warn Weather – After a prolonged stretch of warm, dry weather across Southeast Michigan, chances of rain and thunderstorms are returning just in time for one of the region’s busiest outdoor weekends.

Motor City Pride at Hart Plaza, along with graduations, sporting events, backyard gatherings, and trips to area parks and lakes, will contend with periods of showers and thunderstorms from Friday evening through Saturday evening before drier weather returns Sunday.

The good news? Neither day will have all-day rain.

Friday will start warm and largely dry across Metro Detroit.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 80s, making it one of the warmest days of the week. Most communities should remain rain-free through at least early afternoon.

Scattered to numerous showers with embedded thunderstorms develop Friday afternoon and continue through Friday night as a weather system approaches from the west.

While an isolated stronger storm cannot be ruled out, Friday’s primary impacts are expected to be periods of rain, lightning, and downpours rather than widespread severe weather.

The greatest coverage of storms is expected during the evening and overnight hours, roughly between 9 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday

Saturday remains the day to more closely monitor the forecast and check the 4Warn Weather app.

Following a likely lull in activity during the morning, additional showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon as a weak cold front moves across Southeast Michigan.

Some storms may become strong to severe.

The primary threats include damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph and hail up to one inch in diameter. While the tornado threat appears low, it is not zero.

The highest risk for severe weather covers the southern communities of Southeast Michigan, where a Level 2 out of 5 Slight Risk stretches from the Downriver communities to Monroe and Lenawee counties.

The remainder of Southeast Michigan, including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, Port Huron, and much of the Thumb, remains under a Level 1 out of 5 Marginal Risk, where isolated severe storms remain possible.

An isolated storm could begin developing as early as noon Saturday, but the greatest potential for severe weather appears to be between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Activity should gradually weaken and move out during the evening, ending by around 10 p.m.

For those attending Motor City Pride festivities at Hart Plaza, weather awareness will be important Saturday afternoon.

While many hours of dry weather are still expected, festival-goers should be prepared for temporary interruptions if thunderstorms develop nearby.

Anyone spending time outdoors this weekend should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.

The 4Warn Weather app can deliver warnings and Exact Track 4D Radar updates directly to your phone, so you can act quickly if severe weather develops.

Remember, if thunder roars, go indoors. Tents, festival canopies, and trees do not provide safe shelter from lightning or severe winds.

A substantial building is always the safest place to be during a thunderstorm warning.

Sunday

Sunday is shaping up to be the best day of the weekend.

Any lingering showers should end Saturday evening, giving way to sunshine, comfortable humidity levels, and afternoon temperatures in the lower to middle 80s. Conditions should be favorable for Pride festivities, outdoor dining, boating, picnics, and recreation throughout Southeast Michigan.

Next week

Looking ahead, summerlike heat is expected to build quickly next week.

Forecast confidence continues to increase that Southeast Michigan could experience its first widespread stretch of 90-degree weather of the season by the middle and latter part of next week.

High temperatures are expected to climb through the 80s early in the week before approaching the lower 90s on Wednesday and Thursday.

Humidity levels are also expected to increase, creating a muggier feel.

People are encouraged to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, take breaks in the shade, and monitor the forecast for additional thunderstorm chances expected to return mid-next week.

Before the weekend storms arrive, skywatchers may have one more reason to look up Thursday night.

A weak geomagnetic disturbance could allow a faint display of the northern lights, or aurora borealis, to become visible across parts of Michigan. Viewing conditions are expected to be best between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. in areas away from city lights while looking toward the northern horizon.

The farther north in Michigan you travel, the better the chances of catching a glimpse of the display.

Share your northern lights and weather photos with Local 4 at MIPics.

On Thursday, the Detroit Lions announced they signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Kyre Duplessis to their active roster. This news follows Coach Dan Campbell’s announcement that rookie receiver Kendrick Law tore his ACL during OTAs (organized team activities) in the second week of non-contact practices.

Duplessis spent the first four seasons of his college career at Coastal Carolina, playing in 39 games but amassing just 23 receptions for 348 receiving yards and a single touchdown. However, in 2025, Duplessis transferred to Delaware and broke out, registering 60 receptions for 824 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding 19 yards on three rushing attempts. Additionally, Duplessis chipped in on special teams, returning three punts for 73 yards (24.3 yards per return), including a touchdown, as well as two kick returns for 33 yards (16.5 yards on average).

While Duplessis played nearly 90% of his snaps on the outside at Delaware, at 5-foot-10, 193 pounds, with 4.6 speed, he projects inside in the NFL. While his game film is limited and difficult to find, in his final collegiate season, Duplessis was utilized as a YAC (yards-after-the-catch) option, and the offense found creative ways to get the ball into his hands: quick slants, sideline shots, and snaps out of the backfield. He may struggle to separate at the NFL level, but he has positive instincts, contact balance, and body control with the ball in his hands. Special teams could be his best path to the field.

Duplessis joins a wide receiver room that features solidified starters in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa firmly, while also containing solid depth options in Greg Dortch, Dominic Lovett, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Malik Cunningham, and Cedrick Wilson.