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Ex-lawmakers ask for special master to to help redraw 13 Detroit districts after court ruling

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Ex-lawmakers ask for special master to to help redraw 13 Detroit districts after court ruling


A group of Detroiters, including former state lawmakers and city officials, are calling for a special master to be appointed to assist or oversee the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in redrawing map lines in 13 Detroit area legislative districts.

The group, comprised of a number of citizens who filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, said the maps drawn by the Commission in 2021 were a violation and diluted the Black voting power.

A federal three-judge panel sided with the plaintiffs and ordered that the legislative districts be redrawn.

All parties involved will have to appear in early January to discuss with the court how they plan to proceed with redrawing the maps.

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Former state lawmakers who represented Detroit joined citizens Wednesday to call for the special master to help ensure Detroit is properly represented.

“You have members from Hazel Park and West Bloomfield deciding the fate of Detroiters, a tax that they won’t have in their own community, but they’re going to subject us to it,” said Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, who serves as a spokesperson for the Detroiters who filed the lawsuit because of her experience as a former state representative.

Dagnogo said a strong Black caucus is needed in Lansing.

“If you’ve never seen the process of being in a caucus room, we go to war to lift up the issues for Detroit. And you have to have strong voices in that room.”

“Black leadership matters,” said Natalie Bien-Aime, one of the plaintiffs. “And, under our watch, we want to make sure that we are represented with people who look like us, understand our communities, can speak to the voices of our concerns.”

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Cheri Hardmon, Senior Press Secretary for Benson, told 7 Action News, “Per the state constitution, Secretary Benson has a non-voting, ministerial role on the Commission and does not have a position on its processes or procedures.”

The recent three-judge panel ruling said that the “Commission drew boundaries of plaintiffs’ districts predominantly on the basis of race. We hold that those districts were drawn in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Consitution.

In their opinion, U.S. Circuit Judge Raymond Kethledge and U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney were critical of the Commission.

And while U.S. District Judge Janet Neff agreed with the ruling, she wrote separately because she believed the opinion was “unnecessarily harsh” to the Commission and those who assisted them.

“I personally was was not surprised by the ruling,” Commissioner Rebecca Szetela said. “I had identified some of the issues raised in the ruling and my dissenting report going back to 2022.

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7 Action News reached out to Edward Woods III, Executive Director for the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Woods issued the following statement:

“In reviewing the Court’s decision, the Commission agrees with Justice Janet T. Neff that the ‘opinion is unnecessarily harsh to the Commission.’” Guided by Michigan’s Constitution, the Commission carefully followed the seven-ranked redistricting criteria to draw fair maps with citizen input.

“To ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act, the Commission considered race to comply with this Act and not at the expense of the 14th amendment. The Court came to a different conclusion. The Commission will consider its options moving forward.”

Click on the video to hear from one Commissioner, the plaintiffs and former lawmakers.

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Detroit, MI

Marlins Look For Better Late Game Luck Tonight in Detroit

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Marlins Look For Better Late Game Luck Tonight in Detroit


The Miami Marlins arguably should have won last night. 

Thanks to a well-timed Otto Lopez homer in the 8th inning, the Marlins were up 5-3 entering the 8th inning…but the Detroit Tigers got to the Miami bullpen, putting up three runs on reliever Anthony Maldonado to come back and seal the 6-5 victory. It spoiled an okay start from Sixto Sánchez, who has worked so hard to get back to MLB, as well as spoiling a good offensive day from Nick Gordon, who went 3-4. 

Miami’s sending lefty Ryan Weathers (2-4, 4.54 ERA) to the mound tonight, looking to even the series, while Detroit’s countering with Reese Olson (0-4, 2.52).        

Here’s how Miami will line up for the contest:

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CF Jazz Chisholm Jr.
DH Bryan De La Cruz
1B Josh Bell
RF Jesús Sánchez
2B Otto Lopez
LF Nick Gordon
SS Vidál Bruján
3B Tristan Gray
C Nick Fortes

Weathers is coming off of a stretch of quality starts, going six innings with three runs allowed in losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics. He’s never faced Detroit as a starter, but has a little experience with a few of the Tigers hitters: SS Javier Báez and outfielder Mark Canha are both 0-1, while catcher Carson Kelly is 1-2 and infielder Zack McKinstry is 1-1.  

Here is the Tigers lineup:

CF Matt Vierling
2B Andy Ibáñez
LF Mark Canha
DH Riley Greene
1B Spencer Torkelson
3B Gio Urshela
RF Wenceel Pérez
SS Javier Báez
C Jake Rogers

Olson’s had some tough luck so far this season – he’s allowed two or less earned runs in six of his seven starts and yet has still to get a win due to getting an average of 2.35 runs of support in his outings. He has one career start against the Marlins, coming in July of last season, where he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings but once again took a no-decision (Miami won 6-5 thanks to two runs in the 8th inning). Not a lot of track record here for Marlins hitters, but Bryan De La Cruz took him deep and went 2-3 in that July matchup.  

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This evening’s matchup is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET and there’s a full suite of broadcast options: In-market, the Marlins broadcast is on Bally Sports Florida and the Tigers are on Bally Sports Detroit. For audio, the Miami broadcast is available on Fox Sports 940AM (WINZ) and WAQI 710, while the Tigers are on 97.1 The Ticket. 



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Detroit, MI

2024 Detroit Green Task Force Earth Day Awards – Hour Detroit Magazine

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2024 Detroit Green Task Force Earth Day Awards – Hour Detroit Magazine



Learn more about the Detroit Green Task Force at detroitgreentaskforce.org. 





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Detroit, MI

6 people hospitalized after suspect fleeing police strikes Uber, Detroit chief says

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6 people hospitalized after suspect fleeing police strikes Uber, Detroit chief says


Six people were hospitalized, including a fugitive and their passenger, after a police chase began in Southfield and ended in a crash on Detroit’s west side, police said Monday.

A female Uber driver was in critical condition after a fleeing suspect struck her vehicle and she was ejected, according to Detroit police Chief James White. Four others were listed in serious condition, said White, who did not provide the condition of the remaining victim.

The suspected driver and a passenger were taken into custody and were among those hospitalized, the chief said. The driver is wanted as a parole absconder for second-degree murder and possession of cocaine, he said.

The chase began in Southfield around 5:30 p.m. near 12 Mile Road and Northwestern Highway and ended in Detroit. The driver ran a red light and struck the Uber headed west on Outer Drive near James Couzens Freeway, White said.

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“I’m sure Southfield (police) is going to be issuing charges for fleeing and eluding as well as some other charges,” White said. “… The key is that we’re handling the investigation because of the critical nature of the accident. That’s where we are right now.”



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