This week on One Detroit: 

We’re taking a look back at some of our staff’s favorite stories from 2024. Check out reports on the renovation of Michigan Central Station and the giant Christmas tree in downtown Detroit. Plus, a look at Michigan’s independent movie theaters, how a local church helped Venezuelan migrants, a conversation with two local DJs and more.

DJ Minx and DJ Holographic discuss Movement Music Festival, queer culture in electronic music

Original Air Date: Dec. 5, 2024
Detroit is known as the birthplace of techno music in America. BridgeDetroit reporter Micah Walker sat down with two Detroit DJs, Jennifer Witcher who goes by DJ Minx and Ariel Corley known as DJ Holographic, to discuss how their friendship began, their musical influences, Movement Music Festival, and queer culture in the electronic music scene. This piece was produced by One Detroit’s Zosette Guir.  

Michigan Central Station reopens after historic six-year transformation spearheaded by Ford 

Original Air Date: June 6, 2024
For three decades, Michigan Central Station sat vacant in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, falling into deep decay. In 2018, Ford Motor Company purchased the station to begin transforming the iconic building and surrounding area into a campus for mobility and innovation. After a six-year renovation, the station finally reopened to the public this summer. One Detroit’s Will Glover and Chris Jordan toured the newly restored station to learn about its history and show how it has been transformed. 

Zekelman Holocaust Center’s newly renovated exhibit now focuses on local survivor stories

Original Air Date: Feb. 15, 2024
The Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills opened its newly renovated core exhibit, which puts Holocaust survivors’ and victims’ stories at the forefront. The exhibition uses new technology and updated historical information to recount their memories and honor their legacy. There are about 400 survivors living in Michigan currently. One Detroit’s Sarah Zientarski learned about the changes to the museum and heard from local survivors who attended the re-opening.

Detroit’s Church of the Messiah supports Venezuelan migrants with clothing, food

Original Air Date: March 21, 2024
Earlier this year, more than 60 Venezuelan migrants arrived in Michigan and were assisted by the Church of the Messiah, which provided footwear, clothing and food for them. Many of the migrants were fleeing economic hardships and political corruption at home. One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota spent a Sunday afternoon learning about the church’s efforts and talking to some of the migrants about the help they’re receiving.

Haunted Detroit: Searching for paranormal activity at the Orson Starr House

Original Air Date: Oct. 24, 2024 
Built in 1845, the Orson Starr House is the oldest existing house in Royal Oak. It is also said to be one of Michigan’s most haunted places. One Detroit’s Chris Jordan learned about the house’s history and the paranormal activity said to take place there. Plus, Jordan participated in a late-night paranormal investigation with colleagues Andrea Riley and Nate Turner to see if they could experience the ghostly activity. 

Michigan’s independent movie theaters are finding alternative ways to stay alive

Original Air Date: Oct. 17, 2024
Southeast Michigan has been home to hundreds of movie theaters over the years. Several of them have closed their doors but some remain open, finding new ways to bring in revenue and keep the foot traffic flowing. One Detroit’s Chris Jordan and Bill Kubota visited some of metro Detroit’s remaining movie theaters to learn how independent cinema is surviving in the post-COVID, streaming-centric world. 

A Christmas tree’s trek to Campus Martius: How it’s scouted, harvested and decorated for the holidays

Original Air Date: Dec. 19, 2024
The towering Christmas tree at Detroit’s Campus Martius Park downtown – it’s a holiday tradition going back more than two decades. But where does it come from and what does it take to get there? Months before the tree is cut down, craned onto a trailer, hauled to Detroit and decorated, work to find the tree is underway. One Detroit’s Elisha Anderson and Bill Kubota documented what went into scouting, harvesting and transporting this year’s massive Norway spruce. Read the full story here.