News

Many people remember where they were 17 years ago on September 11th.  The anniversary of the terrorist tragedy has prompted many tributes and tears and reminders to "never forget."  89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with a local psychologist and University of Michigan professor Dr. Robert Pasick, who was among those searching for family members and offering help in the aftermath of the attacks.

To remember those who died as a result of the September 11 attacks, a ceremony has held Tuesday morning at Eastern Michigan University's Pease Park. 
 

As summer comes to a close, local astronomers and sky watchers have enjoyed some rare and interesting planetary displays.  89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with local amateur astronomer and member of the University of Michigan "Lowbrow Astronomers" group, Dr. Brian Ottum.

The arts are an essential part of living here in Washtenaw County and all over Michigan and the area's creative talent drives the economy.  That is why organizations like the Arts Alliance and Creative Many Michigan exist.  Jennifer Goulet is the  outgoing president and CEO of Creative Many Michigan. She discusses arts advocacy with WEMU's David Fair and Arts Alliance CEO Deb Polich in this week's "creative:impact."

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has awarded $300,000 to the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority. 
 

The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area is working to help seniors register to vote, apply for absent voter ballots, and get on the permanent absent voter list, but never with the actual ballot itself.  This week, on "In the Public Interest," 89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks to League of Women Voters member Kathy Whitaker about helping seniors engage in the democratic process.

There are many opportunities to becoke more civically engaged in the weeks ahead. There is a plan to establish a Washtenaw County Youth Commission and mid-term elections are right around the corner and there are a number of ways to get involved. WEMU's David Fair and the CivCity Initiative's Mary Morgan will discuss these and other topics in this week's edition of "Civic Matters."

Glass ceilings are being broken in many industries that have long been male-dominated.  To this day, there are businesses built on what many perceive to be a man’s job.  For instance, who do you picture when you think of a barber?  In our latest installment of “Hidden in Plain Sight,” 89.1 WEMU’s Jorge Avellan reports on female barbers in Ann Arbor who are helping change that perception.   

PFAS contamination of Michigan waters is growing.  It has forced a “Do Not Eat Fish” advisory for the Huron River and has been discovered in the Ann Arbor Municipal Drinking water supply.  More new contamination sites are being discovered throughout Michigan and the rest of the country.  WEMU has been exploring what is being done at the local and state levels over the past few weeks.  In this month’s “1st Friday Focus on the Environment,” David Fair and Lisa Wozniak of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters explore what is being done at the federal level with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.

Attorneys for convicted serial sexual predator Larry Nassar were back in court Thursday.  Nassar is the former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients under the guise of treatment for decades.

It's back-to-school time, but that doesn't mean there's no time to catch a good flick.  In this week's "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair talks to Michigan and State Theater executive director Russ Collins about the latest movie news and all of the new films coming to the silver screen this weekend.

This week, "Art and Soul" is about the culinary arts.  89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry is  joined by Jessica Webster and local organic farmer Kim Bayer to talk about “slow food” and growing pure organic fruits and vegetables.

Two measures that were headed to the November ballot are now law.  The state Legislature voted to increase the state’s minimum wage and allow employees to get earned sick time.  However, the laws do not take immediate effect.  Some supporters of the proposals are now concerned about what the Legislature will do next.

Last month, due to high levels of PFAS in fish, the state of Michigan issued a "Do Not Eat Fish" advisory for parts of the Huron River.  After further testing, that advisory has been expanded to the entire river.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair revisits this situation with Huron River Watershed Council executive director Laura Rubin.

Michigan’s Democratic lawmakers are demanding the state Legislature take action on contaminated groundwater found across the state.  The Legislature is back from its summer break this week with its first day of voting today.

Ann Arbor resident Cathy Gendron describes herself as "someone with a serious need to draw," and that need has led to quite a career.  She talks about her artistic journey with WEMU's David Fair and Arts Alliance CEO Deb Polich in this week's "creative:impact."

With classes getting underway, the superintendent of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Scott Menzel, talks with WEMU's Lisa Barry about what they will be focusing on as the new academic year begins.

A historic church in Ypsilanti will soon have a new mission and serve a different calling in the community.  The First Congregational Church on Adams Street in Ypsilanti has been for sale for over ten years with no prayer, really, of being sold due to the extensive work and repair it required.  That’s until Ypsilanti computer entrepreneur Steve Pierce and his surgeon wife Maggie Brandt decided to put their passion for restoring historic buildings into the facility.

89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry takes you inside the local church that is attracting musicians and performers much before its official opening...still hidden in plain sight.

A lawsuit seeking to reverse Eastern Michigan University’s decision to cut four of its sports programs has been dismissed.

Over 3,000 students will be living on Eastern Michigan University's campus this year.  89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan was there as they started moving in today. 

Whether crude oil or natural gas, once these fossil fuels are extracted from the ground, they can present flammable and toxic hazards.  Safely transporting them is a major challenge.  In this installment of "The Green Room," we have the second in our series on pipelines. 

Summer vacation is coming to a close, so let's get in another trip to the movies!  In this week's "Cinema Chat," WEMU's Patrick Campion talks to Michigan and State Theater executive director Russ Collins about the latest movie news and all of the new films coming to theaters this Labor Day weekend.