Detroit Evening Report: Michigan unemployment rates rose in November

Regional Michigan unemployment rates increased in November, according to data collected by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Regional jobless rates in the state ranged from 3.6 to 6.5 percent in November.

“Michigan regional unemployment rate gains were primarily due to workforce advances across most labor market areas over the month,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Payroll jobs also rose over the month in the majority of Michigan metro areas.”

All 17 Michigan regions had unemployment rate increases over the year, with a median increase of 1.4 percent.

Other headlines for Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025:

• The Detroit Fire Department is kicking off a Safety Series with webinars to help keep residents safe. The webinars will focus on many forms of fire prevention — from cooking safety to lithium-ion battery best practices. The webinars will also cover how families can create a fire safety plan and best practices when using open fire — like with grills, fire pits and fireworks. The webinar will kick off Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. Visit detroitmi.gov for more information.

• Cinema Detroit is screening the short-film collection ‘From Ground Zero: Stories from Gaza’ in Hamtramck this month. The collection features 22 short films by Palestinian filmmakers showing life in Gaza during the war. It is shortlisted for the Oscars’ Best International Film. The collection includes a mix of genres such as fiction, documentaries, animation and experimental cinema. The screening will take place Sunday, Jan. 12 at Planet Ant Theater in Hamtramck. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the screening begins at 5:30 p.m.

• Bowers School Farm in Bloomfield Township is opening its winter attraction, Winter Glow Tubing. The location features a 200-foot neon lit tubing hill. Visitors can enjoy other activities like sledding, snowshoeing and a winter bonfire. General admission is free to explore the farm and visit animals like Marty the calf and Kronk the llama. There is also a new winter playscape for kids. The grand opening is Saturday, Jan. 4 at noon. Tickets are $17 each with discounts for families purchasing four or more.

• Here’s a reminder for City of Detroit residents during snowy weather: Crews will plow a 16-foot path down residential streets, not curb to curb, during snowy weather. Residential streets are plowed only when snow is 6 inches or more. Contractors will plow residential streets by district. The City of Detroit is in charge of plowing over 650 miles of major roads and over 1,880 miles of residential streets. Wayne County clears freeways and county roads, and the Michigan Department of Transportation clears major arteries like Gratiot, Woodward and Grand River.

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