Detroit, MI
How do Metro Detroit kids & parents feel about school lunches?
WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. (WXYZ) — Michigan is all set to put another $40 million to help continue funding free school meals for all public school students regardless of income.
So, to understand how the community feels about it, I went and spoke to parents in both Oakland and Wayne counties.
The first question I asked was: how often they use the program?
Screenshot courtesy of WXYZ video
“We are about 50-50 utilizing it,” said Markeesha. “Our kids are not really found of what the school offers as far as lunches. They don’t really utilize breakfast because they typically eat a good breakfast at home. But as far as lunches they say they are really mediocre.”
Screenshot from WXYZ video
“Some days more than others, based on the offerings,” said Justin. “We want to make sure there is always the option for them to have additional food if there is anything they want to buy.”
Screenshot from WXYZ video
“If there is a meal the kids like, then they get to choose that. Usually, we tell them two meals a week; the rest are kind of from home,” said Jon. “I think it is probably good for some of the students or residents that maybe need that assistance; I don’t know if it’s for everybody…my concern mostly is the nutritional value of it.”
Screenshot from WXYZ video
“I think kids should be able to go to school and not worry about food,” said Meggan.
Screenshot from WXYZ video
“On average, for the school year, $50, and without school lunch, it has probably been $250,” said Jessica. “And fortunately, we can afford that there are parents out there that cannot.”
When asked what kids usually get with their school lunch, the meals usually consist chicken sandwiches, a vegetable and milk.
“It’s usually a main item, an entree, a hamburger, pizza, or something like that, then there is a veggie and a fruit option and a drink,” Jon said.
What about dietary restrictions or religious needs, is that a concern?
“Well, generally, the schools consider that when they prepare meals,” Meggan said. “My kids are vegetarians, and pretty much now, camps and programs that serve food have vegetarian options.”
If there is any kind of food you would like to see added on to the menu, what would that be?
Screenshot from WXYZ video
“Turkey sandwich,” said Max.
Would you like every school district to have a unified menu?
Screenshot from WXYZ video
“That sounds great to me,” said Kevin. “Like let’s say a more affluent city, they have better food options vs those in a lesser situation, so a unified menu would level the food Plainfield.”
“That would be nice,” Markeesha said.
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A woman died, and a person is in custody, in the aftermath of a two-vehicle crash on Friday evening in Detroit.
An emergency call was placed at 7:39 p.m., reporting the crash at Collingwood and Belleterre streets. The Detroit Police Department said one of the drivers was traveling at a high rate of speed on Collingwood and disregarded a stop sign at the intersection, striking the other vehicle.
The crash killed a woman who is in her 40s and injured a man who is also in his 40s. A medical condition was not available for the injured man.
The Detroit Police Department said a suspect is in custody and they are continuing to investigate.
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Federal regulators say the autonomous vehicle company Waymo must stop its cars from blocking first responders. Waymo has been testing its vehicles in Detroit. The head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the agency found several cases of Waymo driver-less vehicles traveling into emergency scenes, blocking firefighters or failing to stop for flashing lights and flares. Federal regulators say they will meet with autonomous vehicle developers to devise ways to address the problem. A Waymo vehicle will stop, however, if it notices nefarious activity from kids riding in it. A Waymo car in California recently stopped in a parking lot and called police after two teens in its back seat allegedly began drinking alcohol and shooting water beads from a toy gun.
Additional headlines for Friday, July 10, 2026
Bar IX location coming soon?
Detroit’s first women’s sports bar is crowdfunding to open a permanent space. Bar IX hosts pop-up watch parties for women’s sports. The bar has raised 65 percent of if its 125-thousand-dollar goal since the campaign kicked off on June 30. Organizers are giving away merchandise such as stickers, keychains, and t-shirts with donations.
African World Festival
The African World Festival is this weekend at Hart Plaza. The festival celebrates culture and history with music, spoken word, food and a retail marketplace. The festival starts today and runs through Sunday. Visit Charles H Wright museum website at for more info and to buy tickets.
Lake St. Clair Metropark to receive updates
Lake St. Clair Metropark is getting 15 million dollars in improvements. The improvements include reopening the North Marina, expanding accessibility across the park, adding new trail connections and modernizing infrastructure. It’s the biggest investment in the park in decades. Renovations at the marina will fully reopen the marina with 78 boat slips for transient docking and bring accessible floating finger docks back to the North Marina basin. All renovations are expected to be completed by the end of summer 2027.
Detroit Riverfront tour
The Detroit Parks Coalition is hosting a free walking tour about the Detroit Riverfront tomorrow, July 11 from 10 a.m. to 11a.m. The tour will give an overview of the history of the riverfront as a well as more info on the newest Ralph C Wilson Centennial Park. Meet at the Dock, located near the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden across from the Plaza. Parking is available along Jefferson Ave, Rosa Parks, and in the nearby Bagley Mobility Hub and Assembly garages.
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