Hey friends, Jer here.

As I'm typing this, it’s nearly 50 degrees in February — which feels great, but it comes with a catch.

I've gotten a few questions about the fact our local air quality is a little out of whack the last few days.

Today I learned that our recent heavy snowfall, quickly warming temps, still air, and continued vehicle emissions mean melting snow is releasing trapped particulate matter — a recipe for temporarily bad air quality. [WCMU]

Let's get into the stories.

⚖️ DTE Energy was hit with a $100 million fine for Clean Air Act violations at its Zug Island coke plant. It's one of Michigan's worst sulfur dioxide polluters. [Planet Detroit]

A federal judge ruled DTE saved $70 million by dodging environmental rules, and now they're on the hook for compliance plus $20 million in community air quality projects.

Reportedly, the plant's lawyer literally said "So what?" when confronted with pollution data at trial. DTE plans to appeal the ruling.

🇨🇦 Ditch the Ambassador Bridge? A Windsor councillor is calling for people to use the Detroit-Windsor tunnel over the bridge whenever possible as the Moroun family continues to work to delay or stop the opening of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge.

They also hired the Trump‑aligned lobbying firm Ballard Partners in Washington as the new bridge nears completion. Ballard is deeply wired into Trump’s orbit, and current White House chief of staff Susie Wiles previously ran the firm’s D.C. office.

That raises fresh conflict‑of‑interest questions, even though there is no public record she has personally lobbied on the Morouns’ behalf. [CBC News]

🏘️ Michigan's latest housing fix? Cut the red tape. A bipartisan bill package aims to speed up homebuilding by overhauling zoning laws. It’d allow duplexes in single-family zones, cap parking requirements at one space per unit, and set a 60-day timeline for development decisions. [Michigan Public] [Bridge Michigan]

Supporters say burdensome regulations are pricing out first-time buyers (now 40 years old on average). Critics, including many local governments, call it a “disingenuous attempt” that ignores labor shortages and rising costs, and argue it still won’t guarantee affordability even if it works.

🧱 The historic art deco Highland Towers apartments in Highland Park are being demolished after more than two decades of vacancy. If you've driven down Woodward through HP, there's little way you could have missed it. The project is led by Detroit-based Adamo Group and should finish at the end of this year.

Photo by Jason Hutchison / Unsplash

💰 It's budget season in Detroit and Lansing, and the choices leaders make now will shape city services and state programs.

On our Daily Detroit podcast, I talk with Steve Watson of the consulting firm Watson & Yates about where Detroit’s money comes from and where it might go. [Daily Detroit] [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify]

How Detroit gets their revenue is unlike the suburbs. Steve breaks it into four big "buckets": income tax from people and businesses in the city, fast-growing casino and online betting taxes, state revenue sharing, and property taxes, which rank only fourth even though rates are high.

He explains how careful revenue forecasts, the lasting impact of remote work, and a growing labor force all change what Detroit can afford to do.

Then we shift to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s final proposed state budget.

We get into new cost pressures from federal rule changes, and proposed state tax hikes on tobacco, internet gaming, sports betting, and digital ads.

To wrap up, we share simple steps you can take to get involved, including who to call, key dates to watch, and why paying attention to budgets now can help your neighborhood later.

Daily Detroit

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