Dave Boucher

Big news for us at the Detroit Free Press: Union ratifies 2-year deal w/Gannett.

In addition to across-the-board raises in both years of the contract (our 1st in years) we secured 10 weeks paid parental leave, AI protections + no cuts to health care or pension freep.com/story/news/l...

We asked 100 Michiganders about Trump’s first 100 days: Here’s what they said Residents across Michigan’s cities, suburbs, and small towns reflect on the impact of President Donald Trump’s early days in office.

Please spend time today w/this ambitious @freep.com project!

We asked 100 Michiganders about Trump’s first 100 days: Here’s what they said.

A Trump-leaning independent/contractor in Brighton told me he's "screwed" by tariffs. www.freep.com/story/news/p...

These metro Detroiters owe taxpayers millions — but some refuse to pay it back A Free Press investigation found millions owed in restitution to public entities, despite convictions years in the past. Some are paying, others not.

But Kilpatrick and Beatty owe far less than others. Some owe millions to the the Detroit Public Library, Detroit Public Schools, the city and other institutions that seemingly could use the money.

Check out our list (and subscribe to @freep.com while you're at it!) www.freep.com/story/news/i...

These metro Detroiters owe taxpayers millions — but some refuse to pay it back A Free Press investigation found millions owed in restitution to public entities, despite convictions years in the past. Some are paying, others not.

In the past, Wayne Co. Prosecutor Kym Worthy vowed to go after the money.

But now, her office says it's on the city to get it, saying "surprisingly" they haven't shown interest.

The city pushed back, saying this decision puts the "burden on victims" www.freep.com/story/news/i...

These metro Detroiters owe taxpayers millions — but some refuse to pay it back A Free Press investigation found millions owed in restitution to public entities, despite convictions years in the past. Some are paying, others not.

That includes former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty, his ex-chief of staff.

Kilpatrick owes at least $868K, according to the city. Beatty owes ~$78K and hasn't paid on her debt in years -- despite earning a $100K salary at a local nonprofit www.freep.com/story/news/i...

These metro Detroiters owe taxpayers millions — but some refuse to pay it back A Free Press investigation found millions owed in restitution to public entities, despite convictions years in the past. Some are paying, others not.

New, w/Christine MacDonald: A former Detroit non-profit leader must repay ~$40 million he stole. But in reality, it's unlikely he delivers most of what he owes.

He's in good company: many others owe taxpayers millions — and some refuse to pay it back freep.com/story/news/i... via @freep.com

She told Michigan cops she was attacked. Now she faces deportation by the feds A woman told Van Buren Township police a co-worker attacked her. But federal immigration officials also learned about her; they plan to deport her.

Plain-clothed ICE officers swarmed the car of a 49-yr-old mother of two. They broke her window before pulling the 4-ft-10 native of Mexico from the vehicle so quickly she didn't put it in park.

How'd they find her? She'd told local cops a colleague beat her up at work www.freep.com/story/news/l...

She told Michigan cops she was attacked. Now she faces deportation by the feds A woman told Van Buren Township police a co-worker attacked her. But federal immigration officials also learned about her; they plan to deport her.

A woman reported an assault; the cops turned her over to ICE for deportation. <correcting a previous post>

www.freep.com/story/news/l...

She told Michigan cops she was attacked. Now she faces deportation by the feds A woman told Van Buren Township police a co-worker attacked her. But federal immigration officials also learned about her; they plan to deport her.

Local law enforcement worries that if immigrants fear being reported to ICE, they won't report crime, raising public safety risks. Here's how that played out in Michigan, via
@freepress.bsky.social @daveboucher.bsky.social

This is bad. @daveboucher.bsky.social reporting

Threats, money problems and cops: Alleged 'cover-up' may cripple Detroit's Irish epicenter An audit warns the longtime Corktown establishment could lose tax-exempt status and face other problems if it doesn't shore up financial practices.

For my latest @freep.com investigation, we take a deep dive into the finances and people at the heart of a beloved Corktown institution: the Gaelic League of Detroit.

Threats, money problems and cops: Alleged 'cover-up' may cripple Detroit's Irish epicenter www.freep.com/story/news/i...

Dan Gilbert's Rocket Companies to buy real estate brokerage firm Redfin in $1.75B deal The acquisition is one of the biggest for Rocket Companies since it went public nearly five years ago.

New, from @freep.com: Dan Gilbert's Rocket Companies to buy real estate brokerage firm Redfin in $1.75B deal www.freep.com/story/money/...

Detroit sees surge in missing person reports in 2024 More than 3,100 reports of missing people have been made to the Detroit Police Department so far this year — an 18% increase over 2023, as of Dec. 13.

Critical community story from @freep.com: Detroit sees surge in missing person reports in 2024 www.freep.com/story/news/l...

Michigan health department website included broken link for suicide prevention tool A hyperlink on a Michigan health department site intended to take users to a website designed to aide those in crisis instead led to an error page.

New: A Michigan health dept suicide prevention website prominently featured a broken link -- instead of a path to a tool to help those in crisis.

The state quickly fixed the issue after @detroit-free-press.bsky.social notified them, but couldn't say how long it was up www.freep.com/story/news/h...

Mayor Mike Duggan to leave Detroit after term, run for Michigan governor in 2026 election Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is pursuing a run for governor in the 2026 election as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer heads out the door.

The fact Duggan is choosing to run as an independent, not a Democrat, is fascinating.

Last time the governor of Michigan wasn't a Republican or Democrat? 1841, when the Whig Party's J. Wright Gordon became the third governor of the state www.freep.com/story/news/l...

Mayor Mike Duggan to leave Detroit after term, run for Michigan governor in 2026 election Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is pursuing a run for governor in the 2026 election as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer heads out the door.

Big news from @danaafana.bsky.social and @detroit-free-press.bsky.social⁩: Mayor Mike Duggan to leave Detroit after term, run for Michigan governor in 2026 election.

Not unexpected, but huge for Dem primary, state politics ahead of a race for an open seat www.freep.com/story/news/l...

Whitmer signs bills restricting firearms at Michigan polling places, vote counting centers Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation restricting guns at election locations in Michigan. Republican lawmakers uniformly opposed the bills.

New, from @detroit-free-press.bsky.social: Gov. Whitmer signs bills restricting firearms at Michigan polling places, vote counting centers www.freep.com/story/news/p...

Hi everyone! Sharing a recent piece for my first post on Bluesky: www.freep.com/story/news/p...

What could Gov. Whitmer do if President-elect Trump wants to use the Michigan National Guard to effectuate a mass deportation plan? Little.

What, if anything, will Gov. Whitmer do to prepare? Unknown.

Ex-Dancer Accuses Shen Yun of Forced Labor and Trafficking in Lawsuit The former performer, who was recruited to join Shen Yun at age 13, said the prominent dance group coerced children into making money for it.

A former Shen Yun Performing Arts dancer, who was recruited at age 13, filed a lawsuit on Monday that accuses the group’s leaders of trafficking vulnerable children to work for little to no pay, describing Shen Yun as a “forced labor enterprise.”