(CBS DETROIT) – Hundreds of thousands of people are making their way to Detroit for the 2024 NFL Draft. Some will be coming by private plane.
Local airports have been preparing for the draft for months, coordinating private flights and planning with the Federal Aviation Administration. Officials said the Detroit Metro Airport is expecting a 5% to 25% increase in traffic.
“What that looks like is anywhere from one to 400 extra operations for the NFL Draft,” said Michael Fawaz, the director of Willow Run Airport.
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Willow Run is about 15 minutes from the metro airport. It hasn’t seen an uptick in private flight traffic yet, but that could change quickly.
“They can file their flight plan last minute, they can do it today or tomorrow.”
Fawaz said the area is expecting the brunt of the plane traffic on Thursday and Friday. And they don’t just have to coordinate landings and take-offs. They also have to have places to park all of the planes.
“We will close one of our runways if needed,” said Fawaz.
However, he said it’s nothing they haven’t faced before.
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“When Ohio State and Michigan play, it gets very busy at Willow Run. We are only 15 minutes from the Big House, so we’re used to that type of traffic.”
Detroit Metro is also prepared for commercial travelers, who will have an easier time getting to the draft activities with the new express bus service.
“The Detroit Airport Express will take folks right from the airport to downtown Detroit,” said Zachary Kolodin, Michigan’s chief infrastructure officer.
He said the city and the Michigan Department of Transportation have done a lot of work to prepare for the draft, including improving highway access and the people mover.
“Work that the city, and in some cases the state, have planned for many years. But we were able to accelerate it in anticipation of the draft.”
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Kolodin said the draft isn’t just an event for athletes and sports fans. through it, there’s been added greenery, signage, storefront upgrades, and artwork that benefit all Michiganders.
Kelly Vaughen
Kelly Vaughen is a reporter and weekend evening anchor for CBS News Detroit. She is thrilled to make Michigan her home!
Some of the city’s top music stars will headline the new Hart of Detroit Summer Festival set for June 19 at Hart Plaza.
The riverside party is 12 hours of hip-hop music, DJs, gospel karaoke, food trucks and a chance to shop small businesses. Headliners include Detroit rappers Kash Doll, Babytron, Icewear Vezzo, Trick Trick, Bruiser Wolf, Babyfxce E, 1UpTee and more, plus New Jersey’s Fetty Wap and Atlanta’s Boldy James.
The concerts will start at 5 p.m. and span two stages.
“Expected to draw attendees from across the Midwest, the festival blends music, culture, entrepreneurship and community into one of Detroit’s defining summer experiences,” reads a press release announcing the event.
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The festival runs from noon to midnight. General admission tickets start at $75.63 with VIP access ranging $139.49-$239.40.
Tickets and a full schedule can be found at 313summer.com.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
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4Warn Weather – After multiple rounds of severe weather to start the week, southeast Michigan is finally getting a break from the storms.
The break comes after powerful winds, hail, downed trees, and scattered power outages once again swept across the region Tuesday afternoon and evening.
The latest round developed in hot, humid air as temperatures surged into the mid- and upper-80s Tuesday, helping fuel another active severe weather day across Metro Detroit and much of Southeast Michigan.
While hail was reported, damaging straight-line winds were the primary threat as storms raced eastward.
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The severe weather came just one day after violent storms on Monday afternoon and evening, leaving many residents already cleaning up debris and dealing with outages before Tuesday’s storms arrived.
Numerous storm reports were received on Tuesday across Southeast Michigan.
In Oakland County, several trees were snapped at Kensington Metropark near New Hudson around 2:30 p.m.
Additional reports described large trees and limbs blocking roads near White Lake and Keego Harbor, including damage to a camper from a falling limb.
Farther east, emergency managers reported trees and power lines down across portions of Macomb County, including near Washington Township and Stony Creek Metropark.
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Wind gusts approached or exceeded severe limits in several areas. Detroit City Airport recorded a 54 mph gust, Monroe’s Custer Airport measured a 59 mph gust, and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club along Lake St. Clair measured a powerful 76 mph marine thunderstorm wind gust shortly before 5 p.m.
Hail was also reported in Wayne County, including dime- to quarter-sized hail in Northwest Detroit.
Even late Tuesday night, drivers should remain alert for lingering hazards.
Some roads may still have ponding after downpours, especially in low-lying areas.
Utility crews also continue working to clear downed branches and restore power in spots hit by the strongest winds.
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Drivers are urged to use caution overnight and avoid any downed power lines or barricaded streets.
The good news is that a dramatic pattern change is now underway.
After highs climbed well into the 80s on Tuesday, much cooler air is spilling into the Great Lakes behind a strong cold front.
High temperatures on Wednesday will struggle to reach the mid-60s across Metro Detroit, several degrees below the seasonal average of around 70 degrees for this time of year.
Wednesday
High temperatures Wednesday will struggle to reach the mid-60s across Metro Detroit, several degrees below the seasonal average of around 70 degrees for this time of year. (WDIV)
Wednesday will feel noticeably different from the summerlike heat earlier this week. North to northeast winds and cooler air off the lakes will keep conditions crisp through the day, with some communities near Lake Huron staying in the 50s.
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For Tigers fans heading to Comerica Park on Wednesday evening as Detroit hosts the Cleveland Guardians for a 6:40 p.m. first pitch, weather conditions look much quieter.
Temperatures will likely fall through the upper 50s during the game with a light breeze and dry conditions.
Fans may want to bring a light jacket or hoodie after the sharp drop from Tuesday’s heat.
The cooler pattern continues through the rest of the work week with highs mainly in the 60s on Thursday and Friday.
Memorial Day Weekend
The forecast for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend remains a mixed bag.
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Rain chances return Friday afternoon and continue at times Friday night into Saturday as another system moves into the Great Lakes.
A few showers could linger into parts of Sunday, meaning portions of the holiday weekend may be wet at times.
Despite the rain chances, temperatures will rebound into the 70s over the weekend with Memorial Day itself currently looking mainly dry and comfortable.
Monday is expected to feature partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies with highs in the upper 70s, which is favorable weather for parades, cookouts, and outdoor ceremonies.
After damaging winds and cleanup efforts across Southeast Michigan, many residents will likely welcome the cooler and quieter stretch ahead.
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If you have storm or damage photos, share them with Local 4 at MIPics.
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A police chase that began in Southfield ended in a fiery crash in Detroit early Tuesday morning. (WDIV)
DETROIT – A police chase that began in Southfield ended in a fiery crash in Detroit early Tuesday morning.
The chase began on May 19, just after 3 a.m., when Southfield police responded to a reported car theft in progress. When they arrived, they found three suspects who immediately left the scene — one running and two in a car driving away.
The suspect who ran off was arrested and released to a guardian, police said.
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Police saw the car traveling south on the Lodge Freeway near Evergreen Road. Officers began chasing after the suspect, which continued into Detroit. The car was seen exiting the Lodge at Grand River Avenue before crashing on Southfield Service Drive.
Shortly after the crash, the car caught fire. Both people in the car were safely pulled out and were taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. They were later taken to the Southfield Detention Center.
Details on the suspects were not released.
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About the Authors
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Samantha Sayles
Samantha Sayles is an Oakland University alumna who’s been writing Michigan news since 2022. Before joining the ClickOnDetroit team, she wrote stories for WILX in Lansing and WEYI in Flint.
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Shawnte Passmore
Shawnte Passmore joined WDIV in August 2024 after working at KOVR in Sacramento, California, WFSB in Hartford, Connecticut and KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska.