This week, "Art and Soul" focuses on the local performance arts scene.  WEMU's Lisa Barry and Wendy Wright talk with the artistic director of the "Neighborhood Theatre Group," Kristin Anne Danko.

Our good friend, Michigan and State Theater executive director Russ Collins, is taking some time off, but we found someone more than willing to fill in for him for the next few weeks.  In this week's "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair and Michael Jewett discuss the latest movie news and all of the new flicks landing on the big screen this weekend.

Geneology helps people learn more about their families and their heritage.  Yet, it can be more complicated for African American families, especially when America's history with slavery is factored in.  From there, the Washtenaw County African American Geneological Society was born.  The society's founders, Omer Jean Winborn and Cheryl Garnett, talk about this project with WEMU's Lisa Barry and Concentrate Media's Sarah Rigg in this week's "On the Ground-Ypsi."

The Washtenaw County Road Commission has terminated its use of herbicides in dealing with weeds and overgrowth along area roads.  In this week’s "Issues of the Environment," WEMU’s David Fair talks with county commissioner Sue Shink about controlling roadside vegetation and what is being done to better address the myriad of chemicals that are a part of our daily lives.

A town hall meeting will be held Tuesday evening August 20th at Eastern Michigan University to address concerns over the man-made chemicals known as PFAS.  U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell from the 12th District is co-hosting the event with other local elected officials.  Dingell says that, while PFAS has been detected in the Huron River, the river is not the only concern.

Meet Anne Mondro, an artist whose creative practice is at the intersection of art and health and, specifically, memory loss disease.  She talks with David Fair and Deb Polich about how engaging in art can create meaningful experiences for people with memory loss and their caregivers on this edition of "creative:impact."

Opioid addiction is ravaging all parts of the country, and Washtenaw County is no exception.  Packard Health has launched a new Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program to help the addicted.  On "Washtenaw United" this week, WEMU’s David Fair will talk with Packard Health medical director, Dr. Ankoor Soni, about the shift in perspective, from addiction as a crime issue to one of public health.

Michigan residents could get a break on their back to school shopping.  As Cheyna Roth reports, recently introduced bills would create a back to school spending holiday.

This week, "Art and Soul" is about the art of well being.  WEMU’s Lisa Barry talks with Dr. Melissa Peet, founder of the Generative Knowledge Institute, who developed her methods through her research at the University of Michigan and teaches special workshops in Ann Arbor and all over the world.