Briana Rice
@brianarice.bsky.social
Civic life reporter at Outlier Media. I write about how Detroiters are engaging with government and civic institutions - and whether they’re getting what they need. Read my reporting: https://outliermedia.org/author/briana-rice/
Are you struggling to afford your water bills? Have you experienced a shutoff for nonpayment? I’m working on a story now about water affordability and what’s being done to keep water on for Detroiters. I’d like to talk with you! Please DM me or email me at briana@outliermedia.org. @outliermedia.org
Are you struggling to afford your water bills? Have you experienced a shutoff for nonpayment? I’m working on a story now about water affordability and what’s being done to keep water on for Detroiters. I’d like to talk with you! Please DM me or email me at briana@outliermedia.org. @outliermedia.org
A lawsuit brought by Detroit tenants challenging the way evictions are handled could have major ramifications for Detroit's rental market, forcing thousands of landlords to address unsafe conditions. It could also destabilize the city’s already fragile rental market. outliermedia.org/detroit-tena...
Detroit tenant lawsuit seeks to block evictions in unsafe homes
The Detroit Tenants Union is suing to change how evictions are handled in court and force landlords to address unsafe housing.
outliermedia.org
Charlene Richardson has applied for Detroit’s home repair assistance four times. She’s been denied each time. Nearly 9,700 households applied for the city’s latest assistance programs. No more than 350 will receive help this year, officials say. Applications reopen Sept. 9:
Detroit home repair help: Applications open in September
Detroit’s goal is to help 350 households with critical home repairs this year. Nearly 9,700 households applied for the latest round of assistance.
outliermedia.org
Here’s how many pools some other Midwest cities have: Cleveland has 22, Cincinnati has 24, Pittsburgh has 17 and Indianapolis has 14. @outliermedia.org
Outlier Media@outliermedia.org · 2mo agoDetroit has just one city-run public outdoor pool, and it’s closed for the summer. Recreation experts say that’s unusual for a city this size. Cleveland has 22 public outdoor pools. Indianapolis has 14. Should the city invest in more public pools? The latest from @brianarice.bsky.social:
Detroit has just one city-run public outdoor pool, and it’s closed for the summer. Recreation experts say that’s unusual for a city this size. Cleveland has 22 public outdoor pools. Indianapolis has 14. Should the city invest in more public pools? The latest from @brianarice.bsky.social:
Detroit’s only city-run outdoor public pool is closed for the summer
Detroit only has one city-run outdoor public pool — and it’s closed this summer for renovations.
outliermedia.org
Do you have election questions? We’re here to answer them. This year, Detroiters’ ballots will include races for Congress, the state Legislature, Michigan governor and so much more. Got ballot brain freeze? Ask us your burning questions, and we’ll (try to) find the answers you need!
Detroit’s 2026 elections: Send us your questions
Detroiters will weigh in on federal, state and local races in the 2026 primary and general election.
outliermedia.org
Let me know if you have any questions about how local media is reporting ICE, how we should be or if there’s anything you want to know about ICE in Michigan.
Outlier Media@outliermedia.org · 3mo agoJoin @kobylevin.bsky.social and @brianarice.bsky.social , along with panelists from @michiganpublic.bsky.social, 482Forward and @michiganimmigrant.bsky.social for a discussion on reporting, transparency and public information. Hosted by @spj-posts.bsky.social. 🗓 Wednesday, June 10 | noon | Zoom
Join @kobylevin.bsky.social and @brianarice.bsky.social , along with panelists from @michiganpublic.bsky.social, 482Forward and @michiganimmigrant.bsky.social for a discussion on reporting, transparency and public information. Hosted by @spj-posts.bsky.social. 🗓 Wednesday, June 10 | noon | Zoom
Signal Chats and Public Records: Tracking Trump's immigration crackdown
Join us for a discussion of challenges and best practices for gathering and disseminating information about the immigration crackdown in MI.
eventbrite.com
🧵 Sixteen-year-old Ortez Matthews thinks what Detroit teenagers want to do this summer is simple: Meet other teens, flirt and have new experiences. “Be outside,” he said. “Everybody is going outside. They want to have fun. They want to have something to do besides stay in the house.”
🎶 Teens just wanna have fun. 🎶 Behind the headlines about Detroit’s teen takeovers is a simpler story: Teens just want a reason to get out the house! Young people say they want places to gather, meet new people and have something to do this summer. The latest from @brianarice.bsky.social:
‘Teen takeovers’: Detroit’s response vs. what teens want
The city is trying to keep youth engaged amid “teen takeovers.” Here’s what Detroit teens actually want.
outliermedia.org
Detroit movie buffs, let’s see if you actually deserve the title. 🍿 No Googling. Senate Theater trivia thread below. Comment your score. 1. What year did the Senate Theater open? A) 1955 B) 1963 C) 1926 D) 1941
Sharing this again! Come with a team or come alone and we'll set you up with a team. It's always a really cool event and this one is at one of my favorite Detroit venues - the Senate Theater!
Briana Rice@brianarice.bsky.social · 5mo agoI'll be hosting a Michigan movie-themed trivia next month! Questions will be about movie made by or starring Michiganders or set or filmed in Michigan. Join us at the Senate Theater on May 19! @outliermedia.org outliermedia.org/listings/eve...
I'll be hosting a Michigan movie-themed trivia next month! Questions will be about movie made by or starring Michiganders or set or filmed in Michigan. Join us at the Senate Theater on May 19! @outliermedia.org outliermedia.org/listings/eve...
Trivia: Outlier Media x Senate Theater · Outlier Media
Senate Theater6424 Michigan AvenueDetroit, MI 48210 Join Outlier Media for a Michigan film–themed trivia night at Detroit’s historic Senate Theater,
outliermedia.org
@outliermedia.org is reporting on DTE electric rate hikes and shutoffs. If you’ve experienced difficulty with affordability, billing or shutoff and would be willing to talk to a reporter, please reach out to me at briana@outliermedia.org or text Detroit to 67485*.
Goooood afternoon, Detroit! 🥰 I’ll be live-tweeting the Detroit City Council Executive Session meeting today at 2 p.m. for @detdocumenters.bsky.social #DetDocumenters
Detroit officials have spent the past month presenting how they want to spend more than $1.55 billion of the city’s money. How well do you know the budget? Take our quiz to find out; bragging rights to the best score in the comments ⬇️
Detroit budget quiz: See how much you know about city spending · Outlier Media
outliermedia.org
Surreal moment: Rashida Tlaib brought up my reporting on RealT in a congressional hearing on tokenization! "The only reason we know about RealT is not because of our oversight work in Congress, but ... from local reporting in our city by a nonprofit news organization called @outliermedia.org"
Mayor Mary Sheffield plans to spend $6.5 million on home repair. But it doesn’t come close to what’s needed, leaving many Detroiters living in unsafe conditions. Here’s what you need to know, from @brianarice.bsky.social:
Detroit plans to spend more on home repair, but it’s not enough
Mayor Mary Sheffield’s proposed budget includes an increase in home repair funding — but it doesn’t come close to what’s needed.
outliermedia.org
Got a question about home repair in Detroit? @kobylevin.bsky.social, @brianarice.bsky.social and I will be doing an AMA in the r/Detroit subreddit today at 2pm. Ask a question, chat with us. Hope to see you there! www.reddit.com/r/Detroit/co...
From the Detroit community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Detroit community
reddit.com
Mayor Mary Sheffield has many new initiatives in her first budget: an office for older Detroiters, another one for youth and education affairs, and a department focused on human and homelessness service. A breakdown from @brianarice.bsky.social:
Mayor Sheffield’s budget proposal includes focus on youth, older adults
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield presented her budget proposal, which includes an office dedicated to older adults and youth affairs.
outliermedia.org
Need a good interview to power through this rainy Thursday? 🎧 Listen to civic life reporter @brianarice.bsky.social talk about our reporting series, Beyond Repair, which explores Detroit’s home repair crisis on @wdet.bsky.social:
The Metro: Too broken to live in, too expensive to fix. Detroit's unique housing crisis - WDET 101.9 FM
Briana Rice is a civic life reporter at Outlier Media, whose "Beyond Repair" series explores Detroit’s home repair crisis.
wdet.org
There are no city-run home repair programs accepting applications. But thousands of Detroiters can't afford essential home repairs. The problem is so widespread that the total cost across the city likely exceeds $1 billion. Where will the money come from? The latest from @amondry.bsky.social:
Home repair programs lacking in Detroit with estimated $1B need
Available funding doesn’t come close to meeting Detroit repair needs, and no city-run programs are accepting applications.
outliermedia.org
Regina Hendricks and Mary Golson need new roofs. Daisy Jackson’s bathroom leaks into her living room, and Gail Mitchell has a pipe that sprays water. Older Black residents in Islandview say they can’t afford repairs — as new buyers seem to manage easily. The latest from @brianarice.bsky.social:
Home repair: Detroiters need urgent help fixing their houses
These longtime Detroiters have held onto family homes in Islandview for decades. Will they get help with home repair before it’s too late?
outliermedia.org
As of Jan. 21, just 1,827 households had signed up for the 5,000 slots available in Lifeline H2O. That’s left many Detroiters with bills they are unable to afford, racking up debt that is locking them out of the very program intended to help them. @outliermedia.org outliermedia.org/lifeline-h2o...
Lifeline H2O: Detroiters report struggles signing up for DWSD program
Detroiters are struggling to sign up for Lifeline H2O, DWSD’s new water affordability program.
outliermedia.org
If you think you know Detroit geography, streets and landmarks, come to trivia next month hosted by @detroitography.com and me! @outliermedia.org outliermedia.org/listings/eve...
Trivia Event · Outlier Media
Brewery Faisan1087 Beaufait StDetroit, MI 48207 Detroit trivia meets map magic! Join Outlier Media & Detroitography for a night of Detroit history,
outliermedia.org
This line about reductions in Detroit's water affordability plan really hit home: “My health insurance premiums are doubling, and all the copays are quadrupling, and nothing goes down.” outliermedia.org/dwsd-lifelin...
DWSD’s new water payment plan is smaller and more expensive
DWSD opened applications for its new water payment assistance program, but it’s more exclusive and expensive.
outliermedia.org
I love this at the bottom of @kobylevin.bsky.social story. Such a great bit of transparency to help develop trust in the reporter's work.
