Detroit Evening Report: Obama visits Detroit, Pistons start new season + more

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover Barack Obama’s visit to Detroit, the start of a new season for the Pistons and more.

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Obama campaigns for Harris in Detroit

Former president Barack Obama made a stop in Detroit last night. He spoke to thousands at Huntington Place as part of a presidential campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris. Obama criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for trying to divide the country.  

Both presidential candidates have visited Detroit in the past few weeks. Michigan is a key battleground state in the election, and both the Democrats and the Republicans are working to get out the vote in the last few weeks before Election Day on Nov. 5. Early voting is already underway in Detroit, and begins statewide on Saturday. 

AI to detect lead in Detroit pipes

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is using artificial intelligence to find lead service lines in the city. The mapping software uses data from the Environmental Protection Agency and other sources to identify homes most likely connected to the lead lines. Deputy Director Sam Smalley says the predictions have been extremely accurate, which helps keep contractors in concentrated areas.

City officials say the mapping tool has saved the department $185 million by predicting locations instead of digging up every water service line in the city. The department is on track to replace 10,000 lead service lines by the end of this year.

GM reports strong profits

General Motors is reporting strong profits for the third quarter of the year. The Detroit automaker had net income of $3.1 billion between the beginning of July and the end of September. That’s down 0.3 percent from the same period last year. The results beat Wall Street analysts’ average expectations. GM posted revenues of $48.7 billion, which is up 8 percent from the previous year. The company credits strong demand for its mid-size SUVs for leading the way to improved quarterly revenues. 

MDOT to meet tonight 

The Michigan Department of Transportation is holding a virtual public meeting this evening on plans to improve Gratiot Avenue in Detroit. This will be the fourth and final scheduled meeting on the topic. MDOT is looking at making changes along the road from downtown to Eight Mile, including making the route safer for pedestrians and improving transit options. The virtual meeting takes place at 5 p.m. You can find more information at Michigan.gov/M3PEL. 

Pistons start a new season

The Detroit Pistons open the 2024-2025 season tonight at home. They’ll play the Indiana Pacers at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons have a new coach and several new players after disappointing seasons last year and the year before. The team won just 14 games and lost 68 last season, holding the worst record in the NBA. The Pistons hired former Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff to improve the team. They’ve also added several veterans, including Tim Hardaway Jr., to bolster a roster of young players, such as Cade Cunningham. Tip-off tonight is at 7 p.m.  

WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley contributed to this report.

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