New mental health facility opens at the Islamic Center of Detroit

In Oakland County, local leaders have gotten more attention in recent months. That’s because reports have shown potential conflicts of interest when some have voted on matters that affect their side jobs. Discussions arose about hiring an ombudsman to oversee county officials' operations, or having commissioners disclose their financial information. But in a recent Oakland County meeting, neither of those things happened.  Instead, county commissioners kicked the responsibility to the state legislature, urging those lawmakers to pass a bill mandating local officials to publicly disclose their assets. Why didn’t commissioners pass an ethics resolution?  Oakland County Commissioner Michael Spisz was originally advocating for the county to pass an ethics resolution, but changed course. He spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

Double Up Food Bucks is a statewide program through the Fair Food Network. It matches SNAP benefits used to buy fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables at participating grocers and farmers markets. Back in November, SNAP benefit recipients were on edge, wondering if money would be available to feed themselves and their families.  The program extended its offerings in November, introducing Double Up bonus bucks, offering $40 vouchers for fresh fruits and veggies. Those incentives end December 31st.  Rachel Hoh is director of Double Up Food Bucks. They spoke to me about the program and its significance to shoppers and local grocers. 

Social media companies are distracting people, sowing division, and preventing kids from experiencing normal childhoods. Those are the big takeaways of the book, “The Anxious Generation”, by Jonathan Haidt. That book is a big reason countries, states and classrooms have been restricting social media and phone use.   The superintendent of the Novi school district gave copies of Jonathan Haidt's “The Anxious Generation" to anyone who wanted it. About one year later, how has the book influenced Novi students, teachers and parents? The Metro’s Sam Corey spoke with Novi Community School District Superintendent Ben Mainka to find out.

After decades of decay, the city announced a letter of intent with a developer to give Detroit’s historic Packard Plant new life. The plant as a whole has seen the heights of the automotive boom and the consequences of disinvestment and neglect. So which moments deserve to be preserved in its next chapter? Dave Marchioni, the industrial and automotive curator at the Detroit Historical Society, and John Lauter, historian of the Packard Plant, revisit key moments throughout it’s history to provide perspective. 

A child has been diagnosed with measles in Oakland County. DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce Township has been identified as the likely site of exposure. People who were in the Emergency Department of the hospital on Dec.  7, 2025  between 7:20 p.m. and 11:10 p.m. may have been exposed. Kate Guzman, Oakland County Health Officer, told The Metro the child was not vaccinated for measles and had recently traveled domestically. Vaccine recommendations changing at CDC, FDA This follows a series of major changes to federal vaccine recommendations and guidelines, made under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is a vaccine skeptic and his views are becoming policy at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) both of which are under his supervision. These changes include loosening recommendations for infants and toddlers regarding hepatitis B, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). More: New flu variant, vaccine guidance worry MDHHS’s top doctor At the FDA, Vinay Prasad, the chief medical officer and head of evaluation and testing, issued a statement forecasting a more time and cost-intensive process for new vaccine approvals. Members of the medical community including former FDA officials, have shared concerns for public health, saying the proposed changes would make thoroughly tested and safe annual vaccines like the flu shot too expensive and time consuming to adapt to new versions of the virus. Guests: Dr. Teena Chopra is a professor of infectious diseases and Assistant Dean of professional development in the School of Medicine at Wayne State University . Kate Guzman  is Oakland County’s health officer.

The winter months are often marked by the holidays and the new year. Yet, it's often lost on most people that domestic violence incidents trend up during this time of year.  The warning signs for domestic violence intensify during winter. So what are the signs and how can we as community members step in to protect survivors of domestic violence? Co-Executive Director of the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence Cheree Thomas joined Tia Graham on The Metro to talk more about domestic violence during the winter months. 

Detroit Salon is a new initiative produced by the woman-led organization Salonnière that puts Detroit artists in front of global audiences, curators and museums by touring exhibitions that carry their pieces.  The collective’s first show was in Paris at Art Basel, where they installed three different exhibitions. Each one highlighted different areas of life in Detroit. Juana is an artistic creative director and chief curator for Detroit Salon. KESSWA is a vocalist, producer, filmmaker who musically curated the exhibitions in Paris.  Juana Williams and Kesswa joined Tia Graham in the studio to discuss Detroit Salon’s efforts. 

This Thursday, Dec. 18, Holiday Detroit will showcase professional dancers, singers and musicians alongside students from Voyageur College Preparatory High School in a festive performance.  Renowned choreographer Lisa McCall and The Temptations lead singer, Tony Grant joined the show to talk about working with students and more. 

On Sunday, a father and son killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia. It was one of the deadliest attacks on Jewish people in that nation’s history. The attack is part of a larger trend of rising antisemitism. Since October of 2023, American Jews have reported a rise in antisemitism, including an uptick in violence against Jewish people. This past year alone, high-profile attacks happened in Pennsylvania, Washington DC, and Colorado.  All of this has happened amid what scholars say is Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. What is the connection between Israel’s violence and violence targeting Jewish people around the world? The Metro’s Sam Corey spoke with Jewish scholars and community leaders to learn more. 

The Robocop statue commemorating the 80s sci-fi film was finally installed in Eastern Market after over a decade of planning. The movie centers Alex Murphy, a Detroit police officer who was killed on the job by criminal. A corporation tasked with reducing the city’s crime rate then uses his body to create a crime fighting cyborg.   The concept spawned multiple sequels, comics, an animated series, action figures and more. But what about the movie resonated so deeply with fans in Detroit that they were willing to help fund a sculpture to honor it? Curtis Sullivan, owner of the Vault of Midnight comic book stores, is a huge fan of Robocop. He joined the program to discuss the significance of the film, its relevance to Detroit, and the new sculpture.