Payouts for nearly 20,000 claims received by Detroit’s Water and Sewerage Department will be determined by findings from an investigation into the cause of the flooding.
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 inEnvironment
Stellantis project tests strength of Detroit’s benefits law
Community benefits ordinance doesn’t authorize Detroit to issue fines or injunctions.
Posted inHealth and Welfare
Food rescue group expansion helps Detroiters cope with hunger, food costs
Forgotten Harvest has a new setup that will enable it to help thousands more Metro Detroiters. In Detroit, an estimated 39% of residents experience food insecurity.
Posted inEnvironment
Southwest family runs city’s first ‘zero waste’ store
Detroit shop offers all-natural products from local vendors, free from artificial chemicals and plastic packaging.
Posted inEnvironment
The joys and perils of bird watching while Black
Walks in Detroit were held Saturday as part of Black Birders Week, a national campaign to bring attention to the risks and obstacles Black, Indigenous and people of color face while enjoying nature.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Get out on the Detroit River
Kayaking, sailing, and rowing classes are a few options.
Posted inEducation
Detroit public schools have $125M plan to cope with ‘extreme’ weather
Vitti said the district is also negotiating a plan to end the next school year earlier to avoid weather concerns and provide a more consistent flow of learning.
Posted inEnvironment
Detroit farms give neighbors chance to buy-in on quality food
Residents can support Detroit’s community farms by purchasing “shares” ahead of the growing season. In return, they receive portions of the harvest.
Posted inEnvironment
Federal bill would help defend communities from pollution
The federal legislation would help Detroiters overburdened by pollution.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Detroit to raze incinerator, a symbol of ‘so much pain’
The power will be permanently cut this week and in the next two weeks the complex will start to come down.