Detroit Launches Rx Kids as Data Center Debate and Missing Person Case Draw Attention

Rx Kids Expands in Detroit

Detroit has officially launched the Rx Kids program citywide, marking the largest expansion yet of the state’s prenatal and infant cash assistance initiative.

The program provides expectant mothers with a one-time $1,500 payment during pregnancy, followed by $500 per month for the baby’s first six months. City leaders say the goal is simple: reduce child poverty and improve health outcomes by giving families flexible support for essentials like rent, food and utilities.

While the rollout has drawn praise locally, the program’s long-term funding remains a point of debate in Lansing. Lawmakers have clashed in recent weeks over budget allocations tied to the expansion.

DTE Data Center Deal Faces Scrutiny

DTE Energy is moving closer to finalizing a major agreement to supply power to a large-scale data center project in southeast Michigan. The deal, tied to a planned facility in Washtenaw County, would deliver up to 1.4 gigawatts of electricity under special service contracts.

State regulators previously approved the contracts with conditions designed to shield residential customers from added costs. Still, questions persist about oversight and ratepayer protections as Michigan positions itself as a hub for high-energy tech infrastructure.

The issue is drawing attention across Metro Detroit, where communities are weighing the economic benefits of data centers against concerns about power demand and utility bills.

Police Seek Help in Missing Woman Case

Detroit police are asking for the public’s help in locating a woman who went missing on Valentine’s Day. Authorities say she was last seen leaving her home on the city’s southwest side and has not been heard from since.

Investigators continue to follow leads and are urging anyone with information to contact law enforcement. Community members have shared the alert widely on social media as the search continues.

Sources

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2026/02/17/michigan-lawmakers-clash-over-future-of-rx-kids-cash-assistance-program/
https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/02/10/rx-kids-program-cash-aid-new-mothers
https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/commission/news-releases/2025/12/18/mpsc-approves-dte-electric-energy-contracts-for-data-center
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/nessel-files-reopen-dte-data-002630372.html
https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/2026/02/detroit-police-asks-public-for-help-in-finding-woman-who-went-missing-on-valentine