Jer Staes

Moving to Detroit? Know it's under construction (Plus 3 stories to know around town)

On today's show: - More shifts when it comes to electric vehicles. Ford is making some moves, changing timelines and offerings. - There's a mulch fire on Detroit's west side, so that's why the air quality might be bad today and for the next few days. - Some of Metro Detroit's most beloved pizza spots are among the top in the country. We go through them, and want to know your favorites! Then our feature conversation is about the idea that moving to Detroit is kind of like moving into a constr...

Democratic National ConventionPresident Trumppurple states

Trump will try to get attention in Michigan while Democrats take center stage in Chicago

Welcome back to the podcast! Journalist Steve Friess joins me again this week to talk politics – local, state and national. We discuss the recent white supremacist demonstration in Brighton, the third such event in Livingston County this year. Local businesses have condemned these actions, and we explore the historical context of racism in the area. Former President Trump's upcoming visit to Howell has raised concerns among local officials. We analyze the strategic implications of this visit a...

Metro Detroit workforceJayme PowellDetroit Regional Workforce Partnership

Metro Detroit's workforce crisis: 500,000 people who could work, but can't

Welcome back to Daily Detroit, your podcast for everything Metro Detroit! Today, we’re talking about the crisis of talent attraction and retention in Southeast Michigan. With me is Jayme Powell, the executive director of the Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership. Jayme talks about how her organization connects employers with local schools and community partners to build a strong talent pool in Southeast Michigan. We discuss the challenges and benefits of this approach, like the need for last...

Look inside a new Royal Oak coffeeshop + 9 Stories Around Town

Hey friends and happy Thursday! Jer here. My travels take me all over the region, and I often need caffeine to get through it all. The latest stop I made was checking out the new Lucky Detroit Coffee location in Royal Oak. It's on Woodward just north of 13 Mile. The building is a unique one — and has roots, according to podcast listeners, as a Roy Rogers restaurant back in the day. It also was an arcade, for a long time a Starbucks (in fact, one of the first ones in the Metro Detroit market),...

Trying Detroit's "Autonomous" Shuttle, Corn on the Corner, and MJ's Ice Cream

Detroit has a new shuttle service, Connect AV, and we tried it (and not during the press tour). Boy, do we have thoughts. For "where we've been," Devon talks about Corn on the Corner in West Dearborn. Turns out Devon loves corn, and a restaurant specializing in it is exactly what he was looking for. https://www.cornonthecorner.com/ And Jer talks about MJ's North End Ice Cream shop, where he drowned his not so great weekend in a strawberry sundae. https://mjsnorthendicecream.com/ You can liste...

Detroit ZooAuburn HillsPrimark

PODCAST: New Baby Gorilla, Primark, Downtown Development Haircut, and New Riverfront Homes

Welcome to your all-local daily news podcast serving Metro Detroit! We kick off with the heartwarming news of a baby gorilla born at the Detroit Zoo, the first in nearly 100 years. Bandia, a first-time mom, and her baby are doing well, although the Great Apes building is temporarily closed to guests to give them a calm and quiet space. Next, we discuss the upcoming opening of Primark's first Michigan store at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills. Set to open on September 12, the new loc...

Will That Church at Woodward and 7 Mile Ever Happen? Plus 5 Things Around Detroit

Happy Tuesday and welcome to your all-local news podcast, Daily Detroit. Fletcher Sharpe kicks off talking about the Olympics, especially the electric performances from Team USA's basketball stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. They share amusing anecdotes about foreign sports broadcasts, highlighting the unique passion and energy that different languages bring to the games. The conversation then shifts to some concerning local news. Stellantis is laying off up to 2,450 workers at their...

poll workersMichigan primaryKamala Harris

Working a polling place and talking the Presidential race in Michigan

Welcome to your Daily Detroit for Monday, August 12, 2024. On the all-local podcast today: Steve Friess shares his recent experience working the polls in Superior Township, offering a firsthand account of the election process and the importance of bipartisan poll workers. He highlights the challenges and intricacies involved, and learned a lot. The conversation then shifts to the national political scene, focusing on Vice President Kamala Harris's recent surge in swing states according to...

Where have we been?listener feedbackAutonomous Vehicles

Up at Kamper's, Rhode Island thoughts, "Devon Downer" and New Autonomous Shuttle Launching

Hosts Jer and Devon dive into a rich discussion, starting with Devon's recent trip to Providence, Rhode Island. Devon shares how he enjoyed the charm of this New England city, from its historical architecture to its seafood delights, and reflect on how it compares to Detroit's vibrant scene. Devon shares his admiration for Providence's old-world charm, but notes the city's lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and its surprisingly abandoned tallest building. Back in Detroit, Jer had a bir...

New autonomous shuttle launches next week, Birthday thoughts + 8 Things to know

Hey friends, Jer here. It was my birthday this week. I think back to the Detroit I knew, lived in, and worked in 25 years ago. How much change there has been to the city I know, live in, and work in today. An example. My birthday drink was at Kamper's Rooftop Lounge. That's atop the pedestal of the Book Building and Tower, built more than 100 years ago. The bar was straight out of a high-end architectural centerfold, complete with wide views of downtown. That view includes the Hudson's Tower...

PODCAST: Will Detroit turn out for Kamala Harris? // The Race Hill Harper could have won

Welcome to your Daily Detroit for Wednesday, August 7, 2024. In this episode, Jer and Norris dive into the crucial races, including Elissa Slotkin's dominant performance in the US Senate primary, Hill Harper's missed bid (and which race he could have won). They discuss the implications of these results on the political landscape, particularly the need for new leadership and deeper community engagement. How changing demographics mean you can't just show up and assume a demographic is going to s...

Moosejaw's Final Chapter, NewsNet Shuts Down, and Unpopular Opinions

Welcome to your Daily Detroit for Monday, August 5, 2024. Hosts Jer and Fletcher dive into their unpopular opinion, the end of beloved outdoor retailer MooseJaw, and the abrupt closure of NewsNet. We open with a pair of unpopular opinions about coney dogs and pedal pubs. Then in our segment on endings, we talk about the closure of MooseJaw’s final three stores, including the last Michigan location in Birmingham. Acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods in early 2023, Jer and Fletcher discuss the miss...

PODCAST: Should Detroit make an Olympic bid? // Hulk pushback // Corktown controversy

Happy Friday! Today - a busy show. A local man held prisoner by Russia was freed as part of a swap. We discuss. We get into a question some of you had about whether Detroit should bid for a future Olympics - and get into if that's something we even want to go for? Plus, some listeners weren't happy with an earlier episode where Fletcher Sharpe had strong feelings about Hulk Hogan. FYI. Devon also has strong feelings. Plus how media and audiences need to not just include voices of color, but a...

Joe Louis GreenwayGreen spacesPublic space

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Joe Louis Greenway (ft. Leona Medley)

The Joe Louis Greenway has gotten a lot of buzz locally and nationally. But what's the bigger vision? What's ahead? How will this integrate with the communities it serves? Joe Louis Greenway Partnership Executive Director Leona Medley joins us to discus the formation and goals of the newly formed nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Joe Louis Greenway project in Detroit. The partnership focuses on community engagement, ongoing beautification, programming, and maintaining the greenway to ensur...

Three stories on one city block, Everything you wanted to know about the Joe Louis Greenway + 8 Things to know around town

Plus... Where can you find sustainable meat?

Polls shift in Michigan, Dueling Whitmer book reviews, Michigan Senate battle, and Early voting (ft. Steve Friess)

Welcome back to Daily Detroit, your go-to podcast for all things happening in Southeast Michigan. In today's episode, Jer Staes is joined by journalist Steve Friess to dive deep into the current political landscape leading up to the general election. They kick things off with a discussion on early voting in Michigan, expressing confusion over the lack of a coordinated push from election officials and candidates alike. The conversation then shifts to the national stage, examining the recent pol...

How a historic marker can be part of healing a community: The Algiers Motel

Join us for an important episode of Daily Detroit as we talk abouit the history and impact of the Algiers Motel incident during the 1967 Detroit uprising. Our guest, Dr. Danielle McGuire, a civil rights historian and author, shares her insights on the tragic events that unfolded and the significance of the newly erected state historical marker at the site. We explore the harrowing night when Detroit police, National Guardsmen, and Michigan State Police officers raided the Algiers Motel, leadin...

This Video Game was Made in — and Inspired by — Detroit

Meet Aerial_Knight, behind "We Never Yield"