BridgeDetroit food reporter Jena Brooker has the scoop on dollar store blight, an upcoming restaurant week and a slew of food pop-ups.
Jena Brooker
Jena Brooker is BridgeDetroit's environmental reporter, covering food and agriculture, pollution and climate change. She has held three fellowships: a ProPublica fellowship, where she led an investigative project on heavy industry in Detroit neighborhoods; a Data Fellowship at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, where she produced award-winning coverage of Detroit's automotive industry and environmental racism; and a Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowship through CASW, AHCJ and SEJ. Her work has also earned the Michigan Press Association public service award three years in a row and recognition as Young Journalist of the Year in 2023. Before joining BridgeDetroit, she covered environmental issues across the Midwest as a Reporting Fellow for Grist.
Jena holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in The Guardian, Mother Jones, Salon, Slate, Grist, Next City, Chalkbeat and Planet Detroit.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Detroit council member calls for moratorium on new dollar stores
Detroit Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway called for the moratorium following a BridgeDetroit analysis on the impact of dollar store on blight and food access in Detroit.
Posted inTransportation
Some Detroiters say I-375 design ignored them, call for a restart
A third of the way into the planning process, project details were formally presented to Detroit’s City Council for the first time. Some residents say the plan seems to be a ‘done deal’ but hasn’t factored in enough of the community.
Posted inJobs & Economic Development
Can Detroiters afford more dollar stores?
Dollar stores have been linked to blight, increased crime, and worsened food access nationally and in Detroit. A settlement reached last week requires Dollar Tree to pay Detroit $150,000 to settle one-fifth of the company’s outstanding blight fines.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
DTE to double spending on energy efficiency in low-income areas
The utility agreed to increase its transparency and improve its rebate programs for multifamily in a new settlement.
Posted inJB's Bites
JB’S Bites: Detroit food and farming
BridgeDetroit food reporter Jena Brooker has the latest stats on food and farming systems in Detroit.
Posted inEnvironment
Dearborn steel company to pay $100 million in violations settlement with EPA
The agreement also requires Cleveland-Cliffs to provide local residents with indoor air purifiers.
Posted inJB's Bites
JB’s Bites: Detroit’s grill culture
BridgeDetroit food reporter Jena Brooker teamed with WDET to uplift some of Detroit’s streetside grillers.
Posted inArts & Culture
Smoking meats on Detroit’s streets
A look at a few of Detroit’s informal pop-ups, and the man behind it all.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Shell Shock’d Tacos opens for carry out in Cass Corridor
The Detroit-style taco spot will be open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with a limited menu.