Perhaps you’ve heard that, because people are driving so much less and accident claims have plummeted during the coronavirus lockdown, your benevolent automobile insurance carrier is planning to give you a big wet kiss in the form of a refund. Well, our guest today not only gives us the lowdown on why this might be happening, but he suggests that in reality, it’ll more likely be a credit rather than a check for cash. Steven Gursten is the managing partner at Michigan Auto Law. He tells us that t...
Apr 14, 2020•14 min•Ep. 483
Today's show is in three parts. 1) Coronavirus updates. The latest numbers, with some hopeful signs the curve may be starting to flatten. A quarter of Michigan's workforce has filed for unemployment, and $350 million distributed. There are bodies piling up at DMC Sinai-Grace, according to photos and eyewitness accounts. 2) Should we allow restaurants to sell to-go spirits during the pandemic? Robyn Cleveland thinks so and his online petition is gaining steam. Link to that here. 3) Ford and 3M ha...
Apr 13, 2020•18 min•Ep. 482
On today’s podcast, we have an in-depth conversation with Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II around Michigan and the Coronavirus. We talk about a wide variety of topics with the Lt. Governor: Lt. Governor Gilchrist is leading a new task force to examine the causes and find ways to lower the higher rate of African Americans dying due to COVID-19. How the state is mobilizing on things like unemployment benefits. Where Michigan is at in flattening the curve. What are the thoughts arou...
Apr 11, 2020•16 min•Ep. 481
Well, so much for a possible reprieve in the coronavirus spread in Michigan. The state on Friday reported 205 deaths in the last 24 hours, an increase of 43%. There were 1,279 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, good news for the Uber drivers, freelancers and other independent contractors of the world: You’ll be able to file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance starting Monday at michigan.gov/UIA . That brings an extra $600 a week on top of the maximum $362 in state unemployment benefits...
Apr 10, 2020•18 min•Ep. 480
After bouncing around this town for a couple of decades, I can tell you that if you cover Detroit and ignore the faith community, well, you’re not covering Detroit. Regardless of the denomination or belief system, they are ties that bind much of our city and region. So today’s show is a conversation with pastor Jonathan Merritt of Straight Gate International Church. Located on Grand River just west of Livernois, the non-denominational gospel ministry has been switching gears to deal with the cor...
Apr 09, 2020•17 min•Ep. 479
On today’s show, we bring you a slew of short updates on the coronavirus situation in and around Detroit. The state on Wednesday reported 1,376 new confirmed cases and 114 deaths, bringing the overall total to 20,346 confirmed cases and 959 deaths. That might not seem like much to celebrate, but it’s the smallest jump in new daily cases since March 31. In Detroit, the epicenter of the outbreak in Michigan, Mayor Mike Duggan says testing at the former State Fairgrounds site is way ahead of projec...
Apr 08, 2020•16 min•Ep. 478
If you’re listening to this podcast, you’re listening to local media. And the Coronavirus pandemic has brought to the front something that you may not realize. Most Americans — according to a 2019 Gallup poll — not only think that their local news outlets are an important part of American democracy, but they also think they’re financially healthy. And that’s completely wrong. Cuts are happening across the industry. Not just at newspaper outlets, but radio... and even TV is feeling the hit. This ...
Apr 07, 2020•25 min•Ep. 477
On today’s show for Monday, April 6, 2020: Detroit Tiger legend Al Kaline has passed away, at the age of 85. The cause of death was not confirmed at the time of recording. Michigan’s confirmed Coronavirus cases continue to rise. Statewide there are now 17,221 cases and 727 deaths. In other Coronavirus news, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a news conference today that almost as many people are filing in one day for unemployment as those who did during the worst week of the Great Recession. The ...
Apr 06, 2020•12 min•Ep. 476
Today we have a special narrative edition of the show for you. We take you out of your coronavirus confines to Minsk, the capital of Belarus in far eastern Europe. It’s where I recently traveled to talk about Daily Detroit and podcasting at the Press Club Belarus, an organization promoting an independent, free press in the former Soviet republic. Belarus has also been in the international news lately as the only country in Europe that is continuing to play professional soccer and letting fans cr...
Apr 03, 2020•23 min•Ep. 475
On today’s show: The latest news locally around the Coronavirus, including when we might see an apex to cases, schools closed for the year, dismal unemployment numbers and people doing some good. Plus, if you’ve been online and followed national news, you know about the phrase, “That Woman From Michigan.” It was said by President Donald Trump about Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Well, it’s become an extremely popular shirt. And it originated right out of metro Detroit. Artist, Amanda Burden...
Apr 02, 2020•12 min•Ep. 474
On today’s show: Sven and Jer talk about falling sales for the auto industry (including Ford, FCA and GM) and how Ford is making respirators out of repurposed car parts. Also: The most recent official Coronavirus case numbers. Michigan cases continue to rise. A recent survey shows a $491 million dollar hit to the restaurant industry, with 72,000 jobs and more layoffs to come. Amazon workers walk out of a facility in Romulus. National Coney Island is temporarily closing its locations, so no Hanis...
Apr 01, 2020•14 min•Ep. 473
It’s Tuesday, in the decent chance you need a reminder of what day it is today, and we’ve got another full episode worth of coronavirus updates. I also speak with Anson Smuts, a senior economist at O’Keefe, a Bloomfield Hills business consultancy, about the historical implications of the massive unemployment filings in the wake of the outbreak. Also on today’s show: The state of Michigan reported that the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 climbed above 1,000 for the first time, at 1,117....
Mar 31, 2020•22 min•Ep. 472
On today’s show for Monday, March 30, 2020: As of this recording the state numbers for confirmed Coronavirus cases in the state is 6,498 with 184 deaths. The city of Detroit is a major center, with Oakland county's deaths doubling overnight. Field hospitals are being considered for three locations in Oakland County. On Sunday MIchigan State Representative Isaac Robinson, who served Detroit, died. Coronavirus is the suspected cause of death. He was 43. Updates from Governor Gretchen Whitmer: The ...
Mar 30, 2020•22 min•Ep. 471
On today's show: Matt Roling from Wayne State's Office of Business Innovation joins us to talk about tips to help make sure your business stays afloat or pivots to adapt to the Coronavirus today and the new reality afterward. Plus, we do some top-level updates on what's happening out there locally, as this was the largest spike in new cases in Michigan since the pandemic started and half of the cases statewide are within Wayne County.
Mar 28, 2020•19 min•Ep. 470
The coronavirus pandemic is intensifying in Michigan on multiple fronts. The state reported a jump of 801 new cases, Detroit Police Chief James Craig has now tested positive for COVID-19, and Ford and GM spent much of Friday on the firing lines of President Trump’s Twitter feed. Even Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wasn’t spared POTUS’ wrath. To recap, GM and Ford in the past week have both announced partnerships with medical device manufacturers to help increase production of critically needed ventilator...
Mar 27, 2020•16 min•Ep. 469
On today's show: Guest Angela Rogensues from Playworks Michigan joins us to talk about play-at-home tips while you're cooped up. https://www.playworks.org/michigan/ Also: A ton of local Coronavirus-related updates, including the passing of a law enforcement officers and the possible permanent shuttering of a popular downtown Detroit nightspot. Plus, the city of Detroit is building a large, temporary dam on Detroit's east side as it's expected the river will be even higher this year. More on that...
Mar 26, 2020•15 min•Ep. 468
On today’s show: We update the top-line Coronavirus case numbers across the state. Drive-thru testing is going to start Friday at the State Fairground in Detroit. We have the details on this bold program to test between 40 and 50 people an hour. A second DPD member has died of COVID-19. There’s going to be a new testing regimen put in place. Detroit community leader Marlowe Stoudamire has died of COVID-19 at the age of 43. He had no underlying health issues. He left a major impact, and we rememb...
Mar 25, 2020•30 min•Ep. 467
Dr. Joel Fishbain, an infectious disease specialist with Beaumont, Grosse Pointe, joins the show today and tells us about what’s happening on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus. Fishbain tells Daily Detroit that he was initially among those who thought this was simply a version of the common flu. But now he’s seeing alarming numbers of people in their 40s and 50s who have to go on ventilators — as well as a phenomenon he called “robust diarrhea.” Beaumont has reported 333 conf...
Mar 24, 2020•28 min•Ep. 466
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday issued a stay-at-home order to all Michigan residents, ordering non-essential businesses and workplaces closed and outlawing all public or private gatherings between people who aren’t part of the same household. It sounds, and is, extreme, though it’s necessary to minimize the worst effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. And if you’ve already been following best-practice advice, then it frankly isn’t a big departure from the new norm. Just don’t go out and hoard toilet...
Mar 23, 2020•27 min•Ep. 465
We're doing seven days a week through the COVID-19 crisis. Our featured guest is Dr. Joel Young of the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine . He's a psychiatrist and has tips on how to get through all this mentally. Here's a link to a video with his tips for explaining this all to children that he talks about. But first: - An update on COVID-19 confirmed cases, that now numbers more than 1,000 in Michigan - Bars and restaurants to be closed through April 13 - Oakland County has two new execu...
Mar 22, 2020•15 min•Ep. 464
A socially-distanced version of your Daily Detroit, from Detroit and Sven's basement in Ferndale. First, top-line numbers around COVID-19 in Michigan. There are now 787 cases. Our guest is Charyn Hain. She's here to help make sense of a recent memo that virtual learning will not count as instruction time to the state of Michigan. Also: Governor Gretchen Whitmer exempts religious gatherings from penalties for breaking her executive order banning get-togethers of 50 or more. GM is working with ano...
Mar 21, 2020•21 min•Ep. 463
There are now 549 confirmed cases, according to the state of Michigan at 3 p.m. Friday. That’s up 215 cases since yesterday. Detroit’s Police Department is suffering a wave of possible COVID-19 cases. Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order Friday that puts restrictions on non-essential medical and dental procedures starting tomorrow, Saturday March 21at 5:00 p.m. The Movement Festival has moved its dates away from Memorial Day weekend. The techno music festival has been moved to Sep...
Mar 20, 2020•22 min•Ep. 462
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases here in Michigan is now up to 336, with at least three deaths. More labs have come on board to help work through all of the tests coming in. We have more information on the U.S./Canada border closing that we mentioned on Wednesday’s show. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel and Ambassador Bridge could close late Friday or early Saturday morning. Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi and Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills are shut...
Mar 19, 2020•17 min•Ep. 461
On today's show: The number of COVID-19 Coronavirus cases in Michigan is up to 146, and the first death in the state occurred. 4 out of 5 deaths so far are those 65 and older, according to a new CDC report. GM, Ford and FCA shut the line down over health concerns and what looks to be less demand for vehicles. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is seeing if the state can get ahold of test kits from the World Health Organization. The foreclosure date on properties has been pushed back. Detroit-based Ally F...
Mar 18, 2020•16 min•Ep. 460
On today’s show, more on what’s happening with this extraordinary and still-unfolding situation involving the Coronavirus. The Detroit Department of Transportation had to shut down bus service Tuesday. The good news is service returns at 3am. Governor Gretchen Whitmer finds herself in president trump’s twitter crosshairs over coronavirus. Plus, the state will temporarily allow curbside medical marijuana pickup for licensed patients. Snd Sven speak with Dayne Bartsch, the managing partner of East...
Mar 17, 2020•26 min•Ep. 459
On today's show: Michigan's bars have been shut down to help blunt the spread of the Coronavirus, along with sit-down service at restaurants and a host of other places. We dive in. Unemployment benefits have been extended to cover more workers. Man about Devon O'Reilly calls in to talk about how he's going to celebrate this St. Patrick's Day. A host of local restaurants have set up GoFundMe pages to support their employees. Business was down as much as 54% in the restaurant industry before the o...
Mar 16, 2020•24 min•Ep. 458
On today’s episode of the Daily Detroit Podcast for Friday, March 13, 2020. More closures tied to the Coronavirus response, from all of the schools in the state to cultural institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts. John Hertel, the general manager of SMART (The Suburban Bus system) has resigned - and then ousted by the board - causing an unexpected leadership change. Starting in late March the Michigan Department of Transportation will be working on about nine miles of 8 Mile road. Work i...
Mar 13, 2020•12 min•Ep. 457
Our guest on the show today is Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health. We deep dive into why there is so much attention and effort being paid to COVID-19 and this Coronavirus compared to other diseases out there in the past. Also, we talk about what we can learn from how other countries responded to mitigate the problem. We also share some other postponements and closures around Metro Detroit.
Mar 12, 2020•13 min•Ep. 456
On today’s episode of your Daily Detroit for Wednesday, March 11, 2020: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that two cases of Covid-19 had been identified in the State of Michigan. We have updated information as of this recording. Amazon has opened a new brick and mortar store called Amazon 4 Star inside the Somerset Collection. We have the details in a conversation with Amazon's Celeste Donahoe. And finally, Jer and Sven break down Tuesday’s Primary election. How did Biden do so well? ...
Mar 11, 2020•20 min•Ep. 455
Michigan still has no confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, as we record this. But it’s inevitable it will come to our state. And frankly, there’s good information out there around it. But there’s lots of noise and not a ton of signal. So we turned to some smart people to help us make sense of it all. Today, we do a deep dive on what the dangers are from coronavirus with an infectious disease expert from Beaumont Health, Dr. Matthew Sims, including what you can do for yourself and how...
Mar 10, 2020•26 min•Ep. 454
