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We train and pay hundreds of people to attend under-reported public meetings and publish the results.

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Your elected officials are making big decisions. Keep tabs with original notes, live-tweet threads and multimedia reports from Documenters in your area—updated daily

Detroit

Criminal Justice
Dec. 19, 2024

Deputy Chief Mark Bliss said the police department would publicly release video from the Sherman Lee Butler shooting on Dec. 20. At the end of the meeting, the board went in and out of closed sessions to discuss and decide on various administrative leave requests.

Detroit Board of Police Commissioners Board of Police Commissioners

Live reporting by

Amanda Absher

Detroit

Housing
Dec. 19, 2024

HUD’s Detroit field office director reported 7 of 19 DHC properties failed to meet HUD standards, meaning potentially 648 families live in units that are unsafe and/or unsanitary. And DHC is losing millions annually with a 78% occupancy rate that is among the nation’s lowest.

Detroit Housing Commission DHC, Board of Commissioners

Live reporting by

Heather Alder

Detroit

Environment
Dec. 16, 2024

The Southeast Michigan Flood Mitigation Risk Study is in the first 6 months of a projected 8-year timeline. In this public scoping phase, GLWA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are collecting feedback from stakeholders to identify flooding concerns and priorities.

Great Lakes Water Authority GLWA Workshop on Regional Flood Mitigation Study — IN-PERSON ONLY

Live reporting by

Nathaniel Eichenhorn

Detroit

Education
Dec. 10, 2024

The board honored top schools, scholars, and athletes. Student reps reported increased school spirit. The district hired 200+ academic interventionists with literacy lawsuit funds. And a state Treasury Department opinion could alter the district’s early debt repayment plan.

Detroit Public Schools Community District DPSCD REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Notetaking by

Talia Gordon

Detroit

Utilities
Dec. 11, 2024

The committee approved and amended some large contracts, including an additional $8.9 million for reservoir rehabilitation and an extra $20 million for "water transmission main, valve, emergency and other urgent repairs."

Great Lakes Water Authority Operations and Resources Committee

Notetaking by

Paige Rollins

Detroit

Criminal Justice
Dec. 12, 2024

Community members demanded the release of body worn camera footage in all use-of force incidents, and a ban on bailiffs carrying firearms during evictions. Police department officials responded to questions about unlicensed police officers, DPD’s mass deportation policy and more.

Detroit Board of Police Commissioners Board of Police Commissioners, Evening Community Meeting

Live reporting by

Kayleigh Lickliter

Detroit

Education
Dec. 11, 2024

Students presented a "Responsible Investment Proposal" to the Board of Governors, identifying the university's history of divestment from South Africa and tobacco, and corporations found complicit in Gazan genocide. The governors seemed uninterested; one refused to take a copy.

Wayne State University WSU, Board of Governors

Notetaking by

Christiana Beckley

Detroit

Utilities
Dec. 11, 2024

The committee approved and amended some large contracts, including an additional $8.9 million for reservoir rehabilitation and an extra $20 million for "water transmission main, valve, emergency and other urgent repairs."

Great Lakes Water Authority Operations and Resources Committee

Live reporting by

Heather Alder

Detroit

Education
Dec. 11, 2024

Students presented a "Responsible Investment Proposal" to the Board of Governors, identifying the university's history of divestment from South Africa and tobacco, and corporations found complicit in Gazan genocide. The governors seemed uninterested; one refused to take a copy.

Wayne State University WSU, Board of Governors

Audio by

Travis Peterson

Detroit

Education
Dec. 11, 2024

Students presented a "Responsible Investment Proposal" to the Board of Governors, identifying the university's history of divestment from South Africa and tobacco, and corporations found complicit in Gazan genocide. The governors seemed uninterested; one refused to take a copy.

Wayne State University WSU, Board of Governors

Live reporting by

Perry Sylvester

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