David Fair

When the newly elected are sworn into office in January, the Michigan House of Representatives will have Republicans in the majority. The GOP took back control of the House in November while Democrats retain control of the Senate and Governor’s office. The Democratic Caucus has chosen State Representative Ranjeev Puri to serve as House Minority Leader in the new session. In the meantime, there is a lame duck session to finish up. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak were joined by Representative Puri to look at environmental policy and governance.

We are officially into the month of December, so there's plenty of holiday classic films coming up and some one-night offerings, too! WEMU's David Fair and Marquee Arts cinema program director Nick Alderink give you the full rundown of the films coming to the Michigan Theater, the State Theatre, and your favorite multiplex!

What do you think one single animal can tell you about the health of the environment? It turns out quite a bit. Innovative research at the U-M’s School of Environment and Sustainability is using animal tracking data to document environmental and ecological threats and to advance conservation strategies. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Dr. Scott Yanco about the research and what it is telling us so far.

You may have noticed that the weather is getting colder, and there are a good number of people in Washtenaw County struggling to pay heating bills. Michigan residents have long relied on the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) for utility bill assistance. MEAP provides funds to help low-income households afford energy costs and avoid harmful shutoffs, but many of the working poor can’t qualify. But there are efforts to change that in the state Legislature. Charles English from the United Way for Southeastern Michigan joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss all of that.

Before you sit down for your turkey dinner, listen to what's going on in the world of cinema! WEMU's David Fair met up with Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins to talk about the cinematic servings coming your way this Thanksgiving weekend and in time for the holiday season!

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, food insecurity is on high in Washtenaw County. Eileen Spring is president and CEO of Food Gatherers, and she says, since the pandemic, the demand for food assistance has skyrocketed and continues to go up. What is being done to address this glaring community need? Part of the solution also provides some rather amazing environmental benefits. Eileen joined WEMU's David Fair for a discussion on dealing with food insecurity and how food rescue also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

There are a great number of organizations working in Washtenaw County and southeast Michigan to combat unequal power dynamics and systemic racism. These social sector organizations have become increasingly important amid rising inflation and a divided political climate. Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW) has always put these issues at the fore. Now it is working to build collective power in the social sector to more effectively create the visions and strategies to better provide needed services and to remove the barriers to change. NEW president and CEO Yodit Mesfin-Johnson and Vice President of Strategy Will Jones III joined WEMU's David Fair for a look at how to build that infrastructure.

WEMU's David Fair meets up again with Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins to chat about everything going in the cinema world, including the new films and special screenings coming to Ann Arbor! Plus, get some details on a special event celebrating the work of Ann Arbor's favorite arts couple, Russ Collins and Deb Polich!

There are some new faces in office in Washtenaw County government following the November general election, and that includes a new Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner. Former Saline Mayor and Democratic State Representative Gretchen Driskell won election to the office after Evan Pratt decided against running for reelection after three terms in the position. WEMU's David Fair talked with Evan about his 12 years in office and the challenges his successor will face in her first term.

November is National Adoption Month, and there are so many children that need families and homes. It is about human connection that provides support and a sense of belonging. Hands Across The Water is an adoption and foster care agency that has been in Ann Arbor for 25 years now. WEMU's David Fair talked about the importance of adoption and fostering kids with executive director Katie Page Sander.