Detroit, MI

Kwanzaa begins in downtown Detroit with kinara candle lighting

Published

2 weeks ago

December 26, 2025

Kwanzaa begins in downtown Detroit with kinara candle lighting

Detroit — A few hundred people braved a cold and gray Friday afternoon in downtown Detroit to warm their hearts in preparation for 2026 as the Kwanzaa season got underway with the lighting of the first kinara candle.

Now in its fourth year, the annual event in Campus Martius marks the first of the seven days of Kwanzaa with traditional African drumming and dance performances, as well as speakers discussing Kwanzaa’s significance. It culminates with the lighting of the world’s largest kinara.

“As the Sankofa symbol of West Africa tells us, ‘Return to the source,’ Kwanzaa has returned many to being mindful of their African heritage while strengthening community connections through culture and celebration,” said Nubia Morenike Wardford Polk, from the Detroit-based Nubian Archaeological Project.

Kwanzaa continues through Jan. 1. The celebration was established in 1966 to honor Black communities, culture and heritage.

The event incorporates seven principles — unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith — which are collectively called the Nguzo Saba and are each represented by the seven candles on the Kinara.

An additional candle is lit each day until all seven are lit on Jan. 1, representing activation of the principles for the new year.

“This is a favorite time for family and community to come together,” said Njia Kai, programming and special events producer for the Downtown Detroit Partnership, one of many local groups that help coordinate the annual event. “We discuss the principles, we re-establish our bonds, we have our children engaged … it’s just a wonderful seven days of fellowship.”

Kai was encouraged by Friday’s strong turnout despite the cold weather.

“Folks come. We expect the space to be packed out,” she said as people began filing into the seating area in front of the stage, where drummers were already banging out a hypnotic rhythm. “Like any other holiday that has a community associated with it, that community loves to come out and celebrate it.”

Event organizers say Detroit’s Kinara, officially dubbed the Motor City Kwanzaa Kinara, is the largest in the world.

City Council Member Scott Benson said Detroit is an appropriate home for the 30-plus-foot-tall structure, which was built by a team of Black architects, engineers and carpenters from the Detroit area.

“At a time when institutions around the U.S. are backing away from celebrating diversity, we warmly embrace it in Detroit,” the District 3 councilman said.

Friday’s celebration was hosted by John Mason, the longtime 105.9 KISS-FM morning radio host and Detroit Pistons public address announcer.

Mason said he studied under Maulana Karenga, the activist and author credited with establishing Kwanzaa, when he was a student and Karenga a visiting professor at Kent State University. At the time, Karenga went by the first name Ron.

“To the honorable Ron Karenga, we say thank you, and enjoy Kwanzaa,” Mason said.

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

@max_detroitnews

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Detroit, MI

Canucks Continue Road Trip with a Stop in Detroit on Thursday Night | Vancouver Canucks

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Canucks Continue Road Trip with a Stop in Detroit on Thursday Night | Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are set for game two of their season-long six-game road trip. They will face the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night for the second and final time this season.

Brock Boeser picked up a pair of assists in Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, while the Canucks’ three goals came from Liam Öhgren, Jake DeBrusk, and Elias Pettersson.

Filip Hronek also had an assist in the game and played a team-high 26:20 of ice time. The 28-year-old, who will represent his home country of Czechia at this year’s Olympics, has been strong at both ends of the ice this season and holds a 59.7% control of the goal share at five-on-five this season. He has been on the ice for 34 goals scored and 23 goals against.

DeBrusk had a hat trick and four points in the game the last time these two teams met in Detroit.

Pettersson has five goals and 18 points in his 12 games against the Red Wings. He has four three-point games against them in his career and has three goals and 10 points in his six games in Detroit.

Quick Hits on the Competition

The Red Wings come into Thursday’s game with an 8-3-1 record in their last 12 games.

They picked up a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators in their most recent outing.

Detroit is sitting pretty with a 25-15-4 record, and are second in the Atlantic Division.

On home ice, they posted a 14-8-1 record this season and have an 8-0-1 record in one-goal games on home ice.

Lucas Raymond (45 points) and Alex DeBrincat (43 points) lead the offence. DeBrincat is tied with Dylan Larkin for the team lead with 22 goals this season.

DeBrincat has scored 10 power play goals this season, and the Red Wings’ power play is tied for sixth in the league with its 24.6% conversion rate.

Moritz Seider leads the way on the backend. He is averaging 25:12 of ice time per game and has 31 points in 44 games.

John Gibson has made 25 starts this season, while Cam Talbot has 19 of his own. Gibson has a 14-9-1 record while Talbot is 11-6-3.

The Story: Power Plays

Rookie defenceman Tom Willander has been getting a run on the first power play unit over the past few games. The Canucks’ 2023 first-round pick is up to two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 32 games this season.

The Canucks have picked up four power play goals in their last three games.

Jake DeBrusk leads the team with 10, and Kiefer Sherwood sits second on the squad with six.

The team ranks 13th on the power play this season. They have scored on 20.4% of their opportunities with the man advantage.

Canucks’ Top Performers over the Last Five Games

Elias Pettersson: 3g-1a-4p
Jake DeBrusk: 2g-2a-4p
Linus Karlsson: 2g-2a-4p
Filip Hronek: 1g-3a-4p
Tom Willander: 1g-2a-3p

When and Where to Watch

Thursday’s game is at 4:00 p.m. PT, and you can watch the game on Sportsnet or listen to Brendan Batchelor’s radio call on Sportsnet 650 and the Sportsnet Radio Network.

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Murder charge filed in aftermath of altercation outside Detroit bar

Published

16 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Murder charge filed in aftermath of altercation outside Detroit bar

January 7, 2026 / 8:45 AM EST
/ CBS Detroit

Murder and two related charges have been filed against a Detroit man in the aftermath of an altercation that left one man dead and his brother seriously injured.

Michael Alan Harris, 42, of Detroit was arraigned Tuesday in 36th District Court of Detroit on charges of first-degree murder, felony firearm and resisting and obstructing a police officer, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

The charges are related to the fatal shooting of Jalen Coats Stevens, 28, of Detroit, Worthy said. Stevens was pronounced dead at the scene of an altercation early Sunday in the 15900 block of Grand River Avenue.

During the altercation, Stevens’ brother, Glenn, was stabbed over a dozen times but survived. He has been in the hospital since. Hundreds of people gathered for a vigil hosted by the Stevens family Tuesday night outside of Chita’s Nefertiti bar. The brothers were celebrating a work promotion for Jalen Saturday night before the altercation erupted.

While it was known by Tuesday night that one person was in custody, the family asked the public and police to continue working on the investigation, as the person who had stabbed Glenn had not been located.

In the meantime, Harris is scheduled for a probable cause conference Jan. 14, and a preliminary exam is set for Jan. 21.

The above video originally aired Jan. 6.

Heath Kalb

contributed to this report.

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The first Detroit Lions OC candidate has emerged

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

The first Detroit Lions OC candidate has emerged

Blough is only two years into his coaching career after retiring from playing after the 2023 season. He has spent the last two seasons as the Washington Commanders’ assistant quarterbacks coach, helping young quarterback Jayden Daniels emerge as a strong franchise player for Washington. Late in the 2025 season, Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard took the Stanford head coaching job, leaving Blough to serve as the interim quarterbacks coach for the rest of the season.

While backing up Jared Goff in Detroit, Blough was often described by the coaching staff as an excellent backup and strong offensive mind.

“I love the kid, if I’m being totally honest with you,” Campbell said back in 2021. “He’s just a little football player. And when I say that, I mean that in the highest regard. Look, he’s smart. He’s extremely smart. He knows where to go with the football, I love his timing. He knows how to command the huddle, he communicates well and on top of that, he’s a hell of a dude, by the way. He just is. So, he has not disappointed. He’s doing a good job. He’s out there competing with the rest of those guys.”

As of now, this is the only known candidate for the Lions’ offensive coordinator position, but it’s still early in the process. When more candidates emerge, we’ll have a tracker so you can see all of the names in one place.

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