The Metro Events Guide: Story Fest, the Senate Theater at 100, Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and more

Michigan's secretary of state oversees license renewals, car registrations and elections — the voter rolls, the rules clerks follow, and the certification of results. Jocelyn Benson is term-limited. Two candidates are running to replace her. Anthony Forlini is the Republican. He's the Macomb County clerk and register of deeds, and he spent six years in the state House and six as Harrison Township supervisor. The Metro's Robyn Vincent spoke with Forlini about how rare noncitizen voting is and what he'd do as secretary of state.

Hark! In this week's Metro Events Guide, Story Fest returns Oct. 8 to the Detroit Opera House. Wanting to delve into culture and history? Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Detroit Historical Museum! Also: Hallowe'en at Greenfield Village, a Planet Ant original play of tricks and treats, the Senate Theater turns 100 years old, Sonic Memory Circles, the Woodbridge Porch Concert Series returns and much, much more!

Many couldn’t tell you what an attorney general does. But in Michigan, a lot of people know the name Dana Nessel. She was the lead lawyer in the Michigan case that helped bring marriage equality to the nation. Then she became this state's top attorney. For eight years she’s been unabashed about her politics and about who she is. Dana Nessel’s office won convictions against nine clergymen for abuse going back decades. It won more than $1.5 billion from opioid manufacturers. It fought utility companies over the cost of electric bills. And it sued the federal government — many times over. To some, Nessel's become one of Michigan’s strongest defenders. To others, she’s gone too far. A new Michigan law says whoever replaces Nessel in January cannot sue the federal government without permission from state lawmakers. Republican state House Speaker Matt Hall pushed for the law. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed it. Attorney General Dana Nessel spoke with host Robyn Vincent about the battles she’s fought and why.

In Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood, front steps turn into mini concert venues. Think dozens of short sets, and neighbors wandering from stoop to stoop. The sixth Annual Woodbridge Porch Concerts returns with the same goal, connecting with people in real life. The porch series is organized by Woodbridge Neighborhood Development. The nonprofit is working to keep the neighborhood eclectic, diverse and affordable.  Jai Singletary is the executive director of the organization.  He says preserving a neighborhood’s sense of place means making room for both homes and harmony. Jason Rho is a musician who’s played every year at the porch concerts since their inception.  Both join The Metro to talk more about the Woodbridge community and why it's important to simply talk to your neighbor.

The Michigan Arts and Culture Council is a state agency that distributes grants to creative and cultural projects.  While the core components of the MACC include economic development, education, and engagement, the group also forms strategies on funding, leadership, resources, outreach and research. Recently, the MACC cut three positions from its seven person staff. Nafeesah Symonette, vice-chair of the MACC board, said they were not notified of any staffing cuts.  This comes as grant proposals are being collected through the end of October, with funds  being distributed to grant recipients by Jan. 1. Symonette says the cuts will directly impact the MACC’s ability to process and distribute grants. It's important to note that the MACC answers to The Michigan Economic Development Corporation.   Symonette joins The Metro to discuss what happens behind the scenes and the waning interest of arts and culture in Lansing.

Among college-educated women in their prime working years, Black women are the most likely to be working, yet they make up about 2% of private sector managers. Marketplace Morning Report host Kimberly Adams joins Robyn Vincent to talk about why, and about the unpaid work that holds women back. She also traces her own path, from reporting in Cairo the night Egypt's military seized power to the host's chair, and explains why she still believes better information can lead to kinder choices.

For about a year, Mayor Mary Sheffield seemed to be riding high. To get elected, she mounted an impressive campaign, taking 77% of the vote. Many have commented on her leadership skills, balancing confidence and intellect with openness, and a willingness to listen. Now, the mayor’s office is under scrutiny. Sheffield’s ex-boyfriend, Marvin Walker, says when she was council president, she took $200,000 in kickbacks from city real estate deals. She denies that. Walker also had private photographs of the two of them. Detroit activist Jahdante Smith posted them on Facebook. Sheffield calls it harassment.  Then Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison called the two men and asked them to take the photos down. Weeks later, police seized Smith's phone during an allegedly unrelated arrest. The city's Inspector General is now investigating Bettison. There's a lot of speculation surrounding these events...so what do we actually know?  Detroit Free Press investigative reporter Violet Ikonomova has been looking into this. She spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

In March 2025, President Donald Trump passed an executive order to “restore truth and sanity” to American history. His administration has pressured the removal of "negative history"— which often surrounds the historic struggles of people of color—while restoring Confederate statues. That's part of why Mario Moore's efforts to erect a statue of Civil Rights leader Malcolm X feel more important than ever.  He joins The Metro to discuss his work and how art serves to preserve history and start conversations.  

As the Iran war continues, gas prices hit a weekly average of $4. 88 in Metro Detroit. The average price of diesel is $2 more than that. The stock market is strong, but inflation is at least 1% than the federal reserve’s target. And the U.S. is in a trade war with Canada. This hasn’t caused a recession, but all of this does make it harder for small businesses to operate, like the corner bar on your street, and the auto repair shop in your suburb. Mark Lee runs The Lee Group, where he’s been advising small businesses in this region for nearly 20 years. He spoke with The Metro’s Sam Corey.

WDET listeners may be familiar with “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!”  It’s the NPR news quiz that we air every Saturday morning. One of the frequent panelists on that program is comedian Paula Poundstone. She’s currently on tour and has a couple of stops coming up in Michigan. Poundstone will perform at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts in East Lansing at 7:30 p.m. this Friday night.  On Saturday night she’ll be at the Flagstar Strand Theater in Pontiac at 8:00 p.m. Paula Poundstone spoke with The Metro’s Alex McLenon about how she got involved in public radio and about doing comedy.