News

Lost Voices is an organization that helps kids, who are victims of trauma, find hope and healing through the power of music.

WEMU's Jeremy Baldwin speaks to Lost Voices founder Mike Ball about the history of the group and their involvement in this weekend's Ann Arbor Marathon.

There is a place in Ann Arbor that offers flotation, cryotherapy and salt rooms as a way to reduce stress and increase a sense of wellness.  WEMU's Lisa Barry talks to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Kelley and his sister Peg Kelley who operate "The NeuroFitness Wellness Center" hoping to optimize the mind-body connection to reduce stress and boost a sense of well being. 

A number of Ann Arbor's top jazz musicians are playing Friday night, October 22nd at The Blue LLama Jazz Club to raise funds and awareness for the National Kidney Foundation. Among those performing is club owner Don Hicks, who talks to WEMU's Lisa Barry about who and what to expect.

WEMU's Michael Jewett steps in for David Fair once again to chat about the world of cinema with Russ Collins, president and CEO of the Michigan Theater Foundation. Plus, they celebrate this weekend's University of Michigan football game honoring Michael's great grandfather, George Jewett!

There a number of threats to the health and safety of drinking water in Ann Arbor, and there are some major decisions to be made in the near future. The discussions center on whether to keep the city’s water autonomous and invest in local facilities or create the infrastructure needed to get water from the Detroit system. Either way, there will be a hefty price tag. WEMU’s David Fair looked at where it is stands and where it’s headed with Brian Steglitz, the manager of Water Treatment Services in Ann Arbor.  

Just in time for Halloween, we meet one of several horror fiction writers who live in the Ypsilanti area. In this week’s "On the Ground Ypsi," WEMU’s Lisa Barry and Concentrate Media’s Sarah Rigg talk to Ypsilanti horror fiction writer Ken MacGregor about his scary stories and writing career. 

A leading expert on cultural audience behavior, Alan Brown returns to "creative:impact" after his first appearance in April 2020 just weeks after COVID-19 shut down cultural venues. He announced then that he was launching the Audience Monitor Outlook, a study of COVID’s impact on audiences and when they would comfortably return to cultural venues. He gives an update on his findings to "creative:impact" host Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw.

College football history is being made this coming weekend as the first George Jewett Trophy is being played for in Ann Arbor at Michigan Stadium.

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Michael Jewett, whose great grandfather the trophy is named in honor of.

The need for mental health care in the Ann Arbor area and across the country continues to increase due to the many challenges in our world today. WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Ann Arbor psychologist Dr. Sharon Gold-Steinberg about "The Resourced Therapist," a collaboration with Carryn Lund providing an online platform that helps therapists and other helping professionals feel more effective, supported, and nourished in their work especially during these challenging times. 

An Ann Arbor woman followed her dreams and pursued her passions by creating "Wonderland Cookies."  Using her great grandmother's recipe, Tammy Jones bakes sugar cookies that look like edible works of art. Her cookies will be included in the upcoming Westside Art Hop taking place this weekend in Ann Arbor. She talks with WEMU's Lisa Barry about her cookie business.

As cases of the COVID-19 virus decline around the country, Michigan remains one of a handful of states continuing to see a surge in the number of cases.

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Michigan Medicine infectious disease specialist Dr. Payal Patel to get an update on how the pandemic continues to impact the Ann Arbor medical system and whether or not much has changed as to how we move through the world as the global health crisis drags on.

It's another great movie week with a slight change in the voices that you hear every Thursday. WEMU's Michael Jewett will be filling in for David Fair for the foreseeable future, but he'll still bring you the latest movie news and previews with Michigan Theater Foundation executive director Russ Collins.

Nestled on the eastern side of Ypsilanti Township is a neighborhood park that is largely grass-covered and is an underutilized resource. That is changing. Tajalli Hodge is an elected member of the Ypsilanti Township Parks Commission and has taken initial steps to make the park a community gathering place that also enhances the area’s environmental health. WEMU’s David Fair spoke with Hodge about the present and future of Sugarbrook Park. 

Founded in 1911, the Zal Gaz Grotto is steeped in the history of masons wanting to cultivate sunny cheerfulness and indulgence in healthy merriment and joyful laughter. A simple building on West Stadium, it is a home for local jazz and rock bands and attracts an eclectic audience. Bob Hospardaruk is a master mason and serves as secretary of the club. He joins Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw on this edition of "creative:impact."

We are approaching the end of  the year, and soon, we'll be meeting with friends and family for special meals at Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays. Of course, we can't forget the many elderly folks who don't have access to healthy and good food. That is a situation made more difficult by the ongoing pandemic. Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels continues to meet the challenges, but it isn't easy. WEMU's David Fair talked it over with its president and CEO, Alison Foreman. 

This week, "Art and Soul" is about the visual arts.  WEMU's Lisa Barry and the executive director of CultureSource, Omari Rush, talk with artist Rashaun Rucker about his current exhibit at the University of Michigan Institute for the Humanities Gallery. It compares the life and origins of the rock pigeon to the stereotypes and myths of the constructed identities of Black men in the United States. 

The leaves are starting to fall, and more movies are falling in to theaters! WEMU's David Fair checked in with Michigan Theater Foundation executive director, Russ Collins, to chat about the week's movie news and the new films hitting the silver screen.

It’s been over a month now since Ann Arbor public school students have been back in the classroom as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Ann Arbor school superintendent Dr. Jeanice Swift about the many challenges they are dealing with to keep kids still learning in the classroom despite the continuing global health crisis.

All across Michigan, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge. More cases and hospitalizations have been reported, while hospital staff members are leaving in protest of vaccine mandates. As the colder months are upon us, state health departments need to adapt. Washtenaw County Health Department spokesperson Susan Ringler-Cerniglia gives a local perspective on these developments with WEMU's David Fair.

For many, Monarch butterflies symbolize some of nature's beauty. Yet, you may have noticed fewer of them around in recent years. Erin Zylstra is a postdoctoral researcher in Michigan State University's department of integrative biology. She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the human impact that has put the monarch on a path toward extinction. 

The organizers of "Writers of Ypsilanti," a program sponsored by community writing lab YpsiWrites believe everyone's a writer and writing matters.

WEMU's Lisa Barry and On The Ground Ypsi project manager Sarah Rigg talk to the co-founder of YpsiWrites, Ann Blakeslee, about their mission and belief that the art of writing...in any form...still matters in 2021.

President Joe Biden traveled to Michigan Tuesday to pitch his Build Back Better and infrastructure plans to swing-state voters in a politically critical region. His destination was a union hall in Howell. Rick Pluta reports. 

Sitting at the intersection of art and technology, local entrepreneur Don Hicks wondered how SaganWorks 3-D technology could make it possible for anyone to view the work of artists from anywhere. Being one to take action, he started the nonprofit CultureVerse to figure it out. Aubrey Martinson was enlisted as executive director, and she explains it all when she joins co-hosts Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and WEMUs David Fair on this edition of "creative:impact." 

Music director Adam Riccinto and the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra are returning to the stage after 20 months of being unable to perform together due to COVID-19. The YSO is relaunching its regular performing season with a “Welcome Back” concert at the Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center on Sunday, October 10 at 3:30 p.m. The family-oriented concert is focused on reconnecting the local community with Ypsilanti’s hometown orchestra and will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Franz Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture, and special features highlighting the orchestra’s string, woodwind, and brass sections.

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Riccinto about the upcoming performance and the pandemic experience on the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra. 

The Washtenaw County-based Community Action Network (CAN) is taking a neighborhood approach to help those most in need and to build better and more equitable futures. CAN executive director Derrick Miller joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the successes to date and the work that remains to be done. 

Although founded in 1849, Homecoming celebrations did not begin at Eastern Michigan University for many years after that. This year, Eastern is celebrating "100 Years of Homecoming."

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with EMU president Dr. James Smith about the many activities taking place and the meaning of this annual event.

Organist Joey DeFrancesco returns to our area. He's at the Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor this weekend. He spoke to 89.1 Jazz host Michael Jewett about his new recording, the state of the music scene in the age of COVID, and the lasting influence of the late Dr. Lonnie Smith.

The federal government narrowly avoided a shutdown this week after President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill to keep afloat through December 3rd. There are several major hurdles to overcome in Congress and a limited time to get it done. 12th District Representative Debbie Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to share her insights on the process, the goals, and the work that remains. 

October 1st kicks off a new fiscal year for both the state and federal governments. As with any new budget, there are many concerns. Among them is access affordability of clean and safe water. Mary Grant is the Public Water for All campaign director for Food and Water Watch. She addresses the issues with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday tried to stop speculation that local governments and state universities risk losing funding if they have COVID-19 vaccine or mask mandates. Republicans put language to that effect in the state budget the governor signed this week. The governor did not veto the language, but she also said it’s not enforceable. Rick Pluta explains.