News

Eastern Michigan University officials congratulated and said goodbye to outgoing Athletic Director Derrick Gragg on Tuesday.  Hear more from WEMU's Andrew Cluley.

Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin assesses the past academic year at EMU, and her expectations for the school's future with WEMU's David Fair.

At a time of a national tragedy such as the Boston Marathon bombing, this music host’s first inclination is to present a program of supportive music to soothe you. But – life and new music goes on! Thus, I proceeded with my plan to premiere From Here On Out by the excellent Detroit quintet co-led by saxophonist James Hughes and trumpeter Jimmy Smith.

After a pair of lengthy public hearings, Ann Arbor's city council postponed votes on a majority of action items at Monday night's meeting.  Council made the unusual move  after it was unable to get a six vote majority on several votes relating to ordinance amendments impacting the Downtown Development Authority.  Hear more from WEMU's Andrew Cluley.

Ann Arbor City Administrator Steve Powers has given city council a preview of his proposed budgets for fiscal years 2014 and 2015.  Hear more on the spending plans from WEMU's Andrew Cluley.

One Ypsilanti city council member thinks it would be wise for the city to be ready to add some charter amendment issues to the ballot in the event the state puts a road construction funding issue up for a vote. 

Council member Pete Murdock has four charter amendments in mind, most of which have been previously recommended by the city’s Charter Commission. 

Ypsilanti residents have a chance to help design the city's future at a series of meetings this week.  It's part of the process for updating the city's master plan. Hear more from WEMU's Bob Eccles.

  Shape Ypsi

Now that the spring pledge drive is over, I can start the daily premieres again. This morning's premiere: "Louie's Dream: For Our Jazz Heroes" was appropriate for April which is Jazz Appreciation Month.

The new unified Ypsilanti and Willow Run school district is expected to hire nine principals, and six of those jobs have now been filled by internal candidates from both districts. 

Nearly two dozen internal candidates applied for the jobs, and some may find other positions with Ypsilanti Community Schools. 

Washtenaw Intermediate School District Superintendent Scott Menzel says there are three principal positions yet to fill, and those will likely go to external candidates.

The Ann Arbor school district will once more be looking for a new superintendent.  After less than two years on the job, Superintendent Pat Green has announced she will retire after the end of the school year.  Hear more from WEMU's Andrew Cluley.

The unified Ypsilanti-Willow Run school board has approved black and “Vegas” gold as the colors for Ypsilanti Community Schools. 

That was the recommendation from the board’s Name and Identity Advisory Group, which also suggested the board put three potential mascots up for a student vote: Trailblazers, Grizzlies and Flyers.  

Students in grades seven through 12 will vote on a mascot next week, with the winning choice to be approved by the unified school board at its April 24th meeting.

The budget situation for next year is not quite as bad as first projected for the Ann Arbor school district.  School administrators released the latest revenue projections Wednesday night.  Hear more from WEMU's Andrew Cluley.

The Ann Arbor school board has approved a series of policy changes designed to make the board more efficient and meetings shorter.  Hear more from WEMU's Andrew Cluley.

Environment Michigan Tuesday night made a presentation to Ypsilanti City Council on how the city could become a solar energy leader in Michigan, but its recommendation that the city set a goal of having solar panels on 1,000 roofs by the year 2020 was not immediately acted upon. 

Ypsilanti's city council has approved easements and a 20 year lease for the site the city hopes DTE Energy will choose to construct a large solar panel array.  Hear more from WEMU's Bob Eccles.

A new report says Ypsilanti could benefit both environmentally and financially from becoming a “solar destination”, and recommends the city set the goal of having solar panels installed on 1,000 city roofs by the year 2020. 

Environment Michigan says the city would benefit from revenue from permits that would be required to install solar panels. 

The group says a study in California showed solar panels added $20-thousand to the value of a home. 

The 13th annual Take Back the Night march and rally was held Monday night at Eastern Michigan University.  WEMU's Andrew Cluley was there. 

The majority of the disappointed University of Michigan fans behaved well following last night's loss in the NCAA championship game.  However, several small fires were set in student neighborhoods.  Hear more from WEMU's Andrew Cluley. 

Share your support for public radio music! 

Step 1: Download and print this image or the I heart WEMU image.
Step 2: Hold it up and strike a pose.
Step 3: Ask a friend to snap a photo.

"Without Public Radio there is no music" -Esperanza Spalding