Detroit News Watch crowd-funded, crowd-sourced and crowd-fact checked.

Ever since Mayor Duggan took office and hired Maurice Cox to be director of the Planning and Development Department, they’ve spoken about “20-minute neighborhoods” — pedestrian-friendly commercial corridors that contain amenities like grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants.  With its recent announcement, the city has taken a major step towards that goal. Crain’s Detroit Business reports that the city of Detroit ...

The Detroit Pistons are enjoying one of their best stretches of the season. Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond are rolling. Drummond had 32 points and 17 rebounds, and Griffin had 31 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to lift the Pistons to a 121-112 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night. Detroit has won four in a row, one ...

YPSILANTI (Detroit News Watch/AP) — Eastern Michigan University is investigating after a black doll was found hanging from a shower rod in a campus dormitory. In a statement, the University said that a resident adviser in Best Hall found the doll Monday in a bathroom shared by suite mates and a guest of one of the suite mates told investigators it ...

Like a lot of farmers in Michigan, Kelly Vallelunga, from Long Valley Farm outside of Comstock, struggles with the vagaries of the seasons. That’s especially true in the spring when her soil can remain cold and wet long after winter has passed. Along with other growers she has turned to passive solar hoophouses to extend her growing season. The difference ...

The Detroit Lions have signed linebacker Steve Longa and defensive end Mitchell Loewen. Detroit made the moves Monday before coach Matt Patricia and team executives answered questions from season-ticket holders at Ford Field. Longa had a season-ending knee injury last year during the preseason after being a key player on special teams for the Lions in 2017. Longa played in ...

(Detroit News Watch/AP) — Hundreds of Michigan schools are closed as more snow and icy weather hits the state, knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses. Driving conditions were slippery Tuesday as snow, sleet and freezing rain fell. Crashes were reported. The potentially damaging weather is expected to continue Wednesday and ice storm warnings were issued in parts ...

When Jefferson Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1923, it was the centerpiece of a thriving community. The Jefferson Avenue thoroughfare was a bustling business center and, a few years later, iconic buildings like the Vanity Ballroom would also be erected. The Great Depression was still years off and the Roaring 20s brought an economic boom to Detroit. Jefferson ...

Martin Truex Jr. was just one of many Philadelphia Eagles fans bummed when Nick Foles’ pass deflected off a receiver and was intercepted to end a playoff push toward a second straight Super Bowl. “They had a shot,” Truex said. “Without that interception, I think they could have pulled it off.” The Eagles were smacked with the same forlorn reality ...

LANSING (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she will discuss the magnitude of Michigan’s problem with shoddy roads in her first State of the State speech and encourage residents to share their own stories. The Democrat said Monday that bridges are being held up with temporary supports, and potholes are forcing drivers to pay for repairs with money they need ...

This article is part of State of Health, a series examining health disparities, how they affect Michigan’s children and seniors, and the innovative solutions being developed to address them. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Understanding a doctor’s diagnosis or an insurance company’s explanation of benefits can be difficult for many who grew up ...