Erica Banas: Writing Samples

Hour Detroit Magazine • 12th January 2026

Dittrich Furs Closing After 132 Years in Business

Dittrich Furs, the iconic Detroit fur retailer, has announced it is closing on April 30 after being in business for 132 years.The Dittrich Family announced this news in a statement via the Dittrich Furs website. They said, in part, “Since 1893, Dittrich Furs has been honored to serve Detroit and Southeast Michigan and to hold the title of the city’s oldest privately held business. For 132 years and five generations, our family has been proud to provide the finest fur and natural material fashion...

Hour Detroit Magazine • 17th December 2025

Detroit Opera, Yuval Sharon Parting Ways at End of 2025-26 Season

Detroit Opera has announced that the contract with Artistic Director Yuval Sharon will come to a mutual end with the close of the 2025-26 season.Sharon’s six years with Detroit Opera has been met with great praise. His innovative production choices and settings led to Yuval being included in Time‘s 2022 Next list of emerging talent in the world. Yuval was also included in our 2023 Hour Detroiters list.Yuval is credited for helping expand Detroit Opera’s audience, both in size and diversity. In a...

Hour Detroit Magazine • 12th December 2025

'Spirit of Detroit' Sculpture Studio: Details on the Latest 'Little Village' Addition

“Little Village,” the unique arts and culture center in Detroit’s East Village neighborhood, is set to expand with the addition of the “Spirit of Detroit” Sculpture Studio.This studio is an extension of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum located on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU). Fredericks was a renowned Detroit-based sculptor with over 150 public and corporate pieces on display worldwide. Locally, he is best known for “The Spirit of Detroit” statue located outsid...

Hour Detroit Magazine • 9th November 2025

The White Stripes Inducted into the Rock Hall by Iggy Pop

The White Stripes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday night (Nov. 8) before a capacity crowd inside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Hour Detroit Magazine • 6th November 2025

GALLERY: Detroit's Christmas Tree Arrives in Campus Martius Park

The holiday season is officially underway with the Nov. 5 arrival of Detroit’s Christmas tree in Campus Martius Park.

Hour Detroit Magazine • 5th November 2025

Mary Sheffield Wins, Becomes First Woman Elected Mayor of Detroit

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield defeated Rev. Solomon Kinloch and has made history as the first woman elected Mayor of Detroit.

100.1 WJRZ • 29th July 2025

FireAid Fund Spending Questioned, Organizers Respond

In January, the FireAid benefit concert raised over $100 million for short-term and long-term Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts. Months later, the allocation of those funds has been questioned by a California congressman Kevin Kiley and others.

WDHA FM • 8th July 2025

Matt Cameron & Other Major Drummer Shake-Ups in 2025

Apparently, 2025 is the year of drummer news!

93.3 WMMR • 5th July 2025

Back To The Beginning: Setlist from Final Black Sabbath Show

After months of waiting, Back To The Beginning, honoring Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne arrived in all its heavy metal and hard rock glory.

X1075 Las Vegas • 17th April 2025

Can You Believe It? Fyre Festival 2 Has Been Postponed

For those who were looking forward to Fyre Festival 2 (and we assume this group is in the dozens), it appears you'll have to wait a bit longer to experience its wonder.Yes, the sequel to the hilariously catastrophic 2017 Fyre Festival, which inspired a Netflix and a Hulu documentary, has been postponed. According to ABC News, Fyre Festival 2 ticket holders received an email stating, "The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced. We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is...

Sunny 106.3 • 19th October 2024

Cher Kicks Off 2024 Rock Hall Ceremony with Joy and Defiance

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony kicked off by honoring the iconic Cher.

98.7 The Shark • 19th October 2024

Rock Hall Comes Alive with Peter Frampton Induction

Peter Frampton, much like Foreigner, is an artist who was long overlooked by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Finally, as part of the 2024 class, another major wrong was made right.

WRIF Rocks Detroit • 19th October 2024

Ozzy Osbourne Finally Becomes a Rock Hall Double-Inductee

Ozzy Osbourne became the latest double-inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after he was finally recognized for his storied solo career.

105.7 WROR • 19th October 2024

Foreigner Takes Their Long Overdue Place in the Rock Hall

Foreigner continued a trend at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that’s been happening for many years now: Finally honoring a band years after they’ve been eligible for induction.

102.9 WMGK • 23rd May 2024

Live Nation Lawsuit: What to Know About the DOJ’s Attempt to Breakup Ticketing Giant

The U.S. Department of Justice and 30 states have filed a lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, which owns Ticketmaster. The lawsuit alleges that the ticketing giant has an illegal monopoly over the live music industry.

93.3 WMMR • 21st May 2024

Graceland Foreclosure: What to Know About the Drama Around Elvis Presley’s Home

Graceland foreclosure news broke on May 20 to the shock of many Elvis Presley fans. Here's a current breakdown of what is known about it.

98.5 The Sports Hub • 11th April 2024

O.J. Simpson Dies at 76

O.J. Simpson — the former NFL great, actor and defendant in one of the most high-profile murder cases of all time — has died. He was 76.

95.9 The RAT • 21st April 2024

Rock Hall 2024 Class: Classic Rock Fans Rejoice!

The Rock Hall 2024 class is a fun mix of classic rock icons, R&B/soul legends, hip hop influencers and one of pop's biggest stars ever.

93.3 WMMR • 16th April 2024

Courtney Love Says Taylor Swift Isn’t ‘Important’ or ‘Interesting’

Courtney Love is certainly not one to hold back on anything, so it should be no surprise that the controversial rock said some controversial things about pop superstar Taylor Swift.

105.7 WROR • 25th January 2024

Vince McMahon Accused of Sex Trafficking, Brock Lesnar Implicated

Vince McMahon is being hit with a new lawsuit accusing the WWE leader of sex trafficking. The suit also implicates Brock Lesnar, one of the wrestling promotion’s biggest stars. The lawsuit is broken down in detail by The Wall Street Journal, which has been the publication breaking news related to McMahon's alleged sexual misconduct since June 2022. WSJ reports that Janel Grant is the former WWE employee who filed the sex trafficking lawsuit. Up until now, all former WWE employees who signed non