Sarah Cwiek

Blacks are 3.3 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession in Michigan, according to a new report from the American Civil Liberties Union.

The study shows Michigan’s racial discrepancy is close to the national average, despite the fact that blacks and whites use marijuana at roughly equal rates.

Some students and staff at Detroit’s Catherine Ferguson Academy say their education is so lackluster, it violates their civil rights.

The Detroit Public Schools handed the school for pregnant and parenting girls over to a charter operator in 2011, after students and teachers fought to keep it from closing.

As expected, Governor Snyder has confirmed that Hamtramck faces a financial emergency.

Now, the question is what to do about it.

Hamtramck’s financial problems are nothing new. The city was in state receivership from 2000-2007. And in 2010, city officials asked to file for bankruptcy.

And they asked for this state review, too—which found the city is still running continuous deficits, and can’t make pension payments on time.

The trial of a Detroit police officer who fatally shot a seven-year-old girl began today.

Officer Joseph Weekley shot Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a botched raid for a murder suspect in 2010. 

Weekley is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors say he showed "gross negligence" in shooting the little girl. 

Attention civic-minded techies: Detroit needs your help.

That’s the message organizers are putting out ahead of the National Day of Civic Hacking on Saturday.