Lee Van Roth

Back in the fall of 2024, Eastern Michigan University added a new, four-legged staff member. Tinker, a PAWS facility golden retriever, provides emotional comfort and relief to students and the campus community. Lee Van Roth shared Tinker's story and what her ongoing duties will be with her handler, Alexis Braun Marks.

For half a century, the Ypsilanti-based Student Advocacy Center of Michigan (SAC) has made it its mission to help students facing disciplinary issues get back on track with their education. Lee Van Roth was joined by the center's co-executive director, Peri Stone-Palmquist, to talk about the SAC's legacy and what new programs will be introduced in the near future.

There’s a new educational program that's literally transforming the landscape around Ypsilanti Community Schools, sometimes one sweet potato or pawpaw tree at a time. YCS has launched a new agriscience and botany career technical education program. It's part of a countywide push to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students. Lee Van Roth discussed the program and what it hopes to achieve with Ypsilanti Community High School biology teacher Laurel Wiinikka-Buesser.

Originating in Flint, Rx Kids is a program designed to provide new and expectant mothers and families below the poverty line with financial assistance—no strings attached. Starting this month, the program is expanding to Ypsilanti, and registration is now open. Lee Van Roth discussed the expansion and its local impacts with State Senator Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor).

After the 43-day federal government shutdown briefly cut off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) support for thousands of Washtenaw County households, the Ypsilanti Farmers Market launched a program to ensure residents could still access high-quality local foods. Lee Van Roth talked all about the program known as "SNAP Gap" with Ypsilanti Farmers Market manager, Claire Austin.

Earlier this year, Eastern Michigan University chemistry professor Dr. Ruth Ann Armitage and her students presented groundbreaking research on mummies at the World Congress on Mummy Studies in Peru. They're now back at EMU continuing to further the work. Dr. Armitage joined Lee Van Roth to discuss her South American experience, as well her ongoing studies.

Reports of mold at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility are creating difficult living conditions. The Ypsilanti-based organization Survivors Speak has been working to address these problems and to have inmate Krystal Clark released because of the health issues created by the prison conditions. Learn more in the conversation Lee Van Roth has with Survivors Speak founder, Trische' Duckworth.

LEAF Harm Reduction is a organization designed to help people recovering from substance abuse disorder. The program provides wellness checks and helps create community connections. Lee Van Roth shares more about LEAF's mission with the organization's director, Corn Williams.

At Eastern Michigan University, the Speech and Hearing Clinic has been quietly transforming lives in Ypsilanti and beyond. The clinic is housed in the College of Education and helps everyone from young children learning their first words to adults recovering from strokes. Lee Van Roth discussed the clinic's work with its co-director, Karen Parish-Foster, and with EMU graduate student Mollie Spencer.

Are you interested in werewolves, Bigfoot, space aliens and other mythical creatures? Then, the upcoming Ypsilanti Cryptid Festival is the place for you! On October 24, the Ypsilanti Freighthouse will welcome all fans of these supernatural beings or "cryptids". Lee Van Roth shares more about this event with local paranormal researcher and filmmaker Krista Kangas.