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Kamala Harris promotes Biden administration’s aid for small businesses in Detroit stop

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Kamala Harris promotes Biden administration’s aid for small businesses in Detroit stop


Detroit — During a stop in Detroit on an economy-focused tour, Vice President Kamala Harris touted how the Biden administration is assisting small businesses, including those owned by minorities, and contrasted its approach with the policies of former President Donald Trump.

“The last administration invested in access to tax cuts for billionaires,” Harris said. “We are investing in an access to capital for entrepreneurs.”

Harris said the administration will provide $100 million for small and medium-size auto parts manufacturers to upgrade their facilities and train their workforces. The funding is the latest in a series of recent investments and initiatives meant to spur a transition to electric vehicles being pushed by President Joe Biden. 

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The transition to EVs has become a key political issue in Michigan, the longtime heart of the U.S. auto industry and a crucial swing state in the 2024 presidential election, an almost certain rematch between Biden and Trump. The Biden administration, knowing that, has made several similar announcements aimed at Michigan recently and is deploying top surrogates alongside Harris.

Trump has repeatedly slammed Biden’s policies promoting electric vehicles. During a campaign rally in Freeland last week, he said they would bring “an economic bloodbath.”

After arriving at Detroit Metro Airport around midday, Harris and her team made a pit stop at Joe Louis Southern Kitchen on Woodward Avenue, where she spoke with supporters and the owners of the restaurant, according to a White House press pool report.

Around 40 pro-Palestinian protesters rallied at the corner of Warren Avenue and Woodward, near the Wright museum Monday afternoon, demanding a cease-fire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Harris told reporters later in the day that she was on a call between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the morning, according to the pool report.

“We are closely tracking what is happening on the ground,” she told reporters. “And my team is keeping me updated and I have nothing further at this time.”

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Aid for auto suppliers

Of the new funds announced Monday, the Energy Department’s Automotive Conversion Grant program will receive $50 million to help small and medium-size suppliers convert from manufacturing parts for internal combustion engine vehicles to manufacturing parts for the EV supply chain.

“These grants will allow businesses to upgrade production and production lines to produce parts for electric vehicles,” she said.

The Energy Department’s Industrial Assessments Center Implementation Grants Program will get the other $50 million to help auto suppliers “improve their facilities’ energy and material efficiency, cybersecurity, or productivity, or reduce the greenhouse gas emissions,” the White House said in a press release.

The programs are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, respectively.

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“The strength of America’s economy is also based on the strength of America’s supply chains ― we all learned that in the pandemic if we weren’t clear before,” Harris said, adding that the investment will help to keep the auto supply chain in the United States, which strengthens the American economy and keeps “those jobs here in Detroit.”

Other economic initiatives

Harris said that when she and Biden took office, they pledged to increase federal contracts for minority-owned small businesses by 50%, “knowing that traditionally and historically, folks didn’t necessarily have access to the relationships to get those contracts.”

“And we are on track to meet our goal by the end of next year,” she said to applause from the audience.

She also noted that structural inequities have made it less likely for Black Americans to own a home. Biden’s proposed budget includes providing up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers.

Harris also said debt forgiveness is “a central pillar” of the Biden administration’s economic agenda. She said the administration has already forgiven about $500 million of medical debt across the country, and noted that it will forgive an additional $700 million of debt in Wayne County, .

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GOP response

The Republican State Leadership Committee, a national organization of GOP state leaders, criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s policies in a statement Monday, especially the push toward electric vehicles.

“Kamala Harris thinks that the key to winning Michigan voters is to go all in on electric vehicle production, even though Michigan-based companies like Ford just reported a major loss in revenue from their electric car production,” said Mason Di Palma, a committee spokesperson. “The push from Lansing and Washington, D.C., Democrats to force electric vehicles on everybody shows how out of touch they are with reality, and how they have no interest in addressing key issues like improving the economy.”

Tim Golding, the director of grassroots operations for the conservative group Americans for Prosperity-Michigan, stated that since Biden and Harris took office, “every decision this Administration has made has put the American Dream further out of reach.”

“For Michiganders, economic opportunity starts by quitting ‘Bidenomics’ and embracing real solutions that empower individuals and businesses to seek out their purpose and thrive on their own terms — not top-down policies that favor the Administration’s allied special interests,” he said.

asnabes@detroitnews.com

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Washington correspondent Grant Schwab contributed.



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Detroit, MI

2024 Ford Fireworks in Downtown Detroit: Street closures, parking & everything to know

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2024 Ford Fireworks in Downtown Detroit: Street closures, parking & everything to know


The 2024 Ford Fireworks return to Downtown Detroit on Monday, June 24, and with hundreds of thousands of people converging on the city, it’ll be a busy night in Detroit.

The City of Detroit has released information on viewing areas, closed parks, curfew and more for the event on Monday night.

Here’s everything you need to know

Viewing areas

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The city said the best viewing sites are Hart Plaza, Belle Isle and Spirit Plaza. Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza will be open to the general public until capacity is reached. However, setting up or gathering at the plazas will not be allowed prior to 2:00 p.m. on June 26.

During the day of the fireworks, re-entry will not be allowed at Hart Plaza or Spirit Plaza. Anyone entering either plaza will be subject to security screening, including coolers and backpacks.

Belle Isle will be closed until 2 p.m. and then will open to traffic. Motorists will need a recreation passport to enter the island. Alcohol consumption is prohibited, no tents or canopies are allowed and more.

Riverside parks that will be closed:

  • RiverWalk in its entirety including Milliken State Park/Harbor
  • AB Ford Park, 100 Lenox
  • Gabriel Richard Park, 7130 E. Jefferson
  • Mariner Park, 14700 Riverside Blvd.
  • Lakewood East, 14578 Riverfront Blvd.
  • Erma Henderson Park, 8800 E. Jefferson Ave.
  • Owens Park, 8430 E. Jefferson Ave.
  • Stockton Park, 9250 Dwight  
  • Maheras-Gentry Park, 12550 Avondale  
  • Elliott Park, 110 Mt. Elliott  
  • Riverside Park

Where to park

The city said the Municipal Parking Department will not enforce parking meters after 5 p.m., however, you have to observe parking restrictions. Violators will be ticketed and may be towed for improper parking, parking in front of fire hydrants, bus stops or blocking sidewalks.

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Parking is also available at city-owned garages like the Ford Underground Garage for $10 and Eastern Market Garage for $5.

Street and freeway closures

  • No northbound or southbound traffic will be allowed on Woodward Avenue beginning at Park and Witherell. Motorists may cross Woodward at John R/Clifford, Grand River, and State/Gratiot.
  • All streets south of Fort and west of Woodward will be closed.
  • All streets south of Congress and east of Woodward will be closed.
  • Beginning at 6 p.m., freeways will begin to close. *

The Detroit Police Department reserves the right to request closure of the freeways and surfaces streets earlier or later, depending on the volume of vehicle traffic.
Curfew

A curfew will be in effect for minors ages 17 and under from 8 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. on June 25 for the area bounded by the Detroit River, Rosa Parks Blvd., Lodge Freeway, Fisher Freeway, the extension of Fisher Freeway east to include Gratiot Avenue, Vernor Highway, Chene Street, Atwater Street and Chene Park.

Minors can view the fireworks from approved public areas, but must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or other responsible adult ages 21 or over.

Minors in violation of the curfew will be taken to the Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval. Minors will be held there until picked up by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian also shall receive a parental responsibility violation ticket.

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Lost children

Parents can find lost children in these locations:

  • Huntington Place, off Atwater Dr. in the atrium 
  • Detroit Police Department 3rd Precinct, 2875 W. Grand Blvd. (313) 596-5300 
  • Detroit Police Department 4th Precinct, 4700 W. Fort Street (313) 596-5400 
  • Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval, 628-2100 

DDOT bus routes impacted

The following bus routes will be impacted by the Fireworks. They include: Grand River (#3), Woodward (#4), Van Dyke/Lafayette (#5), Gratiot (#6), Conant southbound only (#12), Jefferson (#9), Dexter (#16), Russell (#40), Chene (#52), and Cadillac/Harper (#67). All DDOT routes will go to Rosa Parks Transit Center.

For more information regarding DDOT service, call (313) 933-1300.

Detroit People Mover

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The Detroit People Mover will be open for the fireworks from 7 a.m. until midnight. People may exit at Financial District for viewing at Spirit or Hart Plaza.

Trains will not stop at Huntington Place or Renaissance Center after 2 p.m.





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Philadelphia Phillies at Detroit Tigers odds, picks and predictions

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Philadelphia Phillies at Detroit Tigers odds, picks and predictions


The Philadelphia Phillies (51-26) visit the Detroit Tigers (36-41) on Monday for the start of a 3-game series at Comerica Park. First pitch is slated for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Phillies vs. Tigers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; Phillies won 3-0 in 2023

Philadelphia is on the road after a 4-2 homestand. Despite owning the top winning percentage in MLB (.662), the Phillies are just 1-4 in their last 5 road games.

Detroit is continuing a homestand that opened with the Tigers taking 2 of 3 from the Chicago White Sox over the weekend. The Bengals have struggled offensively of late; before scoring 11 runs in a Sunday triumph, they have slogged their way to a .597 OPS over the previous 15 games.

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Phillies at Tigers projected starters

RHP Aaron Nola vs. RHP Casey Mize

Nola (8-3, 3.54 ERA) is making his 16th start. He has authored a 1.06 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 in 94 IP.

  • Last outing: No-decision, 6 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 4-3 win vs. San Diego Padres Tuesday
  • Career vs. Tigers: 2-0, 1.40 ERA (25 2/3 IP, 4 ER), 18 H, 8 BB, 31 K in 4 starts
  • Has benefited from a .246 batting average on balls in play (.219 BABIP against inning-leadoff batters)

Mize (1-5, 4.43 ERA) is lined up for his 15th start. He has a 1.45 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 6.0 K/9 in 69 IP.

  • Last outing: Loss, 4 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 K in 2-1 loss at Atlanta Braves Tuesday
  • Has never faced the Phillies
  • Has pitched fewer than 6 innings in 5 of his last 6 outings

Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.

Phillies at Tigers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 12:01 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: Phillies -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Tigers +145 (bet $100 to win $145)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Phillies -1.5 (-105) | Tigers +1.5 (-115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Phillies at Tigers picks and predictions

Prediction

Tigers 5, Phillies 4

Moneyline

Mize, who owns a 3.26 ERA at home, has been hurt around the margins and figures to be under-bet. Nola’s numbers swing the either way. And he faltered badly in his last road turn and the 5-day rest interval has not always agreed with him in the later years of his career.

A shaky-of-late Detroit offense has been undone, in part, by a .262 batting average on balls in play in the month of June.

The Tigers are the lesser club, but they are 8-6 over their last 14 games and the tag here offers some underdog value. BACK DETROIT (+145).

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Run line/Against the spread

The Over has a lean here, but the weather forecast calls for an inward breeze and the total is relatively low. A Detroit +1.5 play would be worth looking into if the price got near -105. Otherwise, AVOID and shoot for the outright plus-money return.

Over/Under

The Under cashed in 2 of 3 series meetings a year ago and is 4-1 across the last 5 Philly-Detroit games.

But the Phils can bang the ball around and the Tigers offense figures as undervalued by just a bit. The OVER 8 (-115) is worth consideration on a partial-unit basis.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

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How This 100-Year-Old Foundation Helped Save Detroit

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How This 100-Year-Old Foundation Helped Save Detroit


“In some ways, I’m a little sheepish because we don’t have a big splashy announcement,” admits Rip Rapson, referring to the 100-year birthday celebration of the Kresge Foundation (“Kresge”), over which he presides. Yet, the centennial celebration of this Detroit-based philanthropic powerhouse is anything but low-key. Earlier this month, Rapson marked the occasion by sharing the stage with former President Barack Obama, who lauded Kresge’s legacy.

If you’re not familiar with Kresge, you’re probably not alone. Named after Sebastian Spering Kresge, founder of the company that became the once-dominant Kmart retail chain, the foundation is hardly a household name outside Detroit. While Kresge’s $4.3 billion endowment is substantial, it’s less than a tenth the size of the Gates Foundation.

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Yet, in Detroit, at least, Kresge’s impact has been well documented and is even credited with helping to save the city at one point. During our conversation, Rapson, who has led Kresge since 2006, traces its century-long journey from “pocketbook philanthropy” to providing $3 billion in funding for major infrastructure projects in the late 20th century through initiatives like it’s Capital Challenge Grant Programs.

In recent years, Kresge has shifted focus to bolstering cities and supporting their most vulnerable communities. Rapson lists countless examples, such as transforming “brightened and abandoned land”—sites that private investors avoided and government officials left unaddressed due to electoral blowback—for years. One standout moment was Kresge’s pivotal $100 million contribution to Detroit’s ‘Grand Bargain’ during the city’s 2013 bankruptcy, a move credited by Mayor Mike Duggan with stabilizing and revitalizing Detroit. Many projects Kresge now invests in involve new, untested ideas that might be too sensitive for the political class to touch. As Rapson explains, philanthropy can leverage its credibility to convene discussions, secure technical resources, invest in community engagement processes, and undertake various initiatives to foster consensus.

As the foundation turns 100, it faces some potential criticism. Unlike the current trend in large-scale philanthropy to spend down endowments for greater immediate impact, Kresge has chosen to ensure its annual grants do not erode its endowment, effectively meaning it will continue to exist in perpetuity. This approach contrasts with the philosophy of spending down philanthropic assets, famously championed by Chuck Feeney, who donated nearly his entire $8 billion fortune before he died in 2020. Similarly, in its latest annual letter, the Gates Foundation pledged to spend down its entire endowment within 20 years of its founders’ passing, significantly increasing its annual expenditure to achieve this goal. Countless other foundations have also opted to implement sunset clauses. These commitments arise amid global calls for immediate financial intervention, especially as foundations worldwide collectively hold a record $1.5 trillion in assets that some argue could be put to better use during times of pressing need like the present.

Reflecting on Kresge’s decision, Rapson is introspective. Amid multiple crises that hit Detroit over the years, from automotive bankruptcies to political turmoil, the Foundation could have immediately deployed $3-4 billion for maximum impact. However, Rapson ponders the long-term consequences and trade-offs of such a decision. He notes that Kresge has granted out $3-5 billion over its lifetime, roughly equivalent to its current endowment. Yet, this figure doesn’t include the additional philanthropic and public investments it has spurred. For example, when funding infrastructure projects, Kresge required recipient organizations to secure at least two-thirds of project costs from other sources before providing a matching grant. A more recent example is Kresge’s investment in the Justice40 Accelerator, a collaboration with Partnership for Southern Equity and other partners. This has enabled community-based organizations to access over $15 million in funding, empowering them to compete for federal, state, local, and philanthropic grants. It may not attract ‘splashy’ headlines, but when considering this leveraging power, Kresge’s indirect financial impact over the long term is likely far greater than its total grant outlays.

Now, using its centennial as a platform, Kresge aims to export its core philanthropic philosophy of leveraging broader resources to support urban communities beyond Detroit. Like Obama, Rapson views cities as pivotal economic opportunity, innovation, and culture centers. However, cities across America and worldwide face significant challenges, and new infrastructure and community development programs need to be designed with these in mind. As Rapson explains, climate change presents new challenges, necessitating new adaptive practices to mitigate wildfire risks in California, elevate sidewalks against rising sea levels in Miami, and raise houses on stilts in New Orleans.

In addressing such challenges, Rapson acknowledges the potential of significant public investments promised by the Inflation Reduction and Infrastructure Acts. However, he also emphasizes the difficulties cities encounter in accessing these funds and other philanthropic resources, such as donor-advised funds (DAFs), which lack mandatory spending requirements but could be motivated to contribute through streamlined approaches. For the latter, Rapson wonders if community foundations could blend aspects of DAF spending alongside their perpetual existence. For example, the San Francisco Foundation could set long-term priorities—addressing housing crises, health emergencies, or urban flooding—while maintaining a dedicated fund replenished by DAFs. If successful, this model could incentivize DAF holders to spend down and continuously contribute to the fund over time.

Ultimately, Rapson envisions foundations playing a multi-stakeholder “sherpa” role to municipalities, providing technical assistance and testing new ideas that other public and private funders might otherwise initially avoid until proven successful. As Rapson’s counterpart at the Rockefeller Foundation, Raj Shah, notes, philanthropy at its best often serves as the best source of capital to make “big bets” on ideas to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

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As Kresge looks to the future, its true legacy does not rest solely on the size of its grant contributions—whether that’s $5 billion or more in the decades to come. Nor does it lie solely in the billions its grants might unlock. Instead, the measure of its influence will ultimately be seen in the widespread adoption of Kresge’s philanthropic playbook by other community foundations that, as Obama reflected, are often too cautious. If widely adopted, Kresge-style practices promise to exponentially catalyze transformative investments in cities, fostering health, inclusivity, and sustainability worldwide. If this promise holds true, countless urban communities will be glad that Kresge decided to stick around for another century to come.



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