A widespread power outage is affecting downtown Detroit, Michigan.  According to local media reports, the power went out in Detroit around 10:30 a.m. ET Tuesday.  Reports indicate that police, fire, municipal buildings, schools and jails are without power.

Traffic signals are reportedly not functioning and some people are trapped in elevators.

Public schools will close early due to the outage.  Wayne State University is also without power and is closed for the day.

The Associated Press reports that the city's public lighting department says "a major cable failure" caused the city's aging grid to lose power.

Power was being gradually restored to some buildings and traffic signals by early afternoon.

Detroit-based DTE Energy Co. say it's assisting the city.

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A migrant farmworker harvests Vidalia onions at a farm in Collins, in 2011. A coalition of farmworkers, including one based in Georgia, filed suit last month in federal court arguing that cuts to H-2A wages will trigger a cut in the pay and standard of living of U.S. agricultural workers. (Bita Honarvar/AJC)

Credit: Bita Honarvar