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A good number of systemic obstacles remain as work towards equity and opportunity in Washtenaw County continues. The Interfaith Council of Peace and Justice is making efforts to build community power and the practice of democracy by adding more diverse voices to leadership positions throughout the area. The organization's co-director, Eleanore Ablan-Owen, joined WEMU's David Fair to share the plan for progress.

Straddling Washtenaw and Jackson Counties, the Waterloo Farm and the Dewey School Museum is a cultural heritage site that has preserved the way of life for pioneer farmers of Michigan, including their family life and their children’s schooling. Join Deb Polich on this edition of "creative:impact" to meet Ralph Schumacher, who has deep connections to the site and learn what you can discover from years gone past.

Most residential homes and commercial buildings rely heavily on gas power. It leaves a significant carbon footprint at a time when the community is rushing to become carbon neutral. The movement is gaining steam, and, this week, residents can learn more at an electrification expo. WEMU's David Fair got into the details of it all with Julie Roth from the City of Ann Arbor's Office of Sustainability and Innovations.

Mitigating inequity continues to prove difficult. That can be said for people of color, women, and those on the low-income side of the economic scale. Now, imagine trying to overcome those barriers fresh out of prison. Helping overcome those obstacles for convicts returning to society is the purpose of "A Brighter Way" in Washtenaw County. Adam Grant is a former inmate himself and now serves as its executive director. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss his story of redemption and the work underway to help others do the same.

New, and more sensitive, testing shows there has been further spread of the1-4 dioxane plume emanating from the old Gelman Sciences facility on Wagner Road in Scio Township. It has now gone about a mile beyond what was thought to be the edge of the plume. That is much closer to the Huron River and Barton Pond, which supplies Ann Arbor's drinking water. WEMU's David Fair discussed the latest developments with Kathleen Knoll, Scio Township trustee and Township representative on the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane.

Another 90 acres of land on the west side of Washtenaw County has been permanently preserved from development. The properties involved will help sustain and improve the environment in the Manchester area of the River Raisin Watershed. More preservation efforts are underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year. WEMU's David Fair discusses the efforts further with Diana Kern, the executive director of the Legacy Land Conservancy.

A progressive group is arguing the US Constitution bars a Michigan Republican candidate who was part of the January 6th uprising from holding the office of governor. Rick Pluta reports.

The two candidates running to serve as the next Mayor of Ann Arbor want what's best for the city - but have different visions on how best to to go about achieving those goals. WEMU's Cathy Shafran has more on the Democratic primary mayoral race in Ann Arbor.

There are three candidates seeking to serve as the Mayor of Ypsilanti in a runoff to be decided in August. All three have experience as elected officials, and all agree they have a good working relationship and similar goals and aspirations for the city. That leads some to beg the question: Why run against one another? WEMU’s Josh Hakala went in search of the answer.

The Michigan Reproductive Freedom for All campaign turned in petitions this week to put abortion rights into the state Constitution. That’s several hundred thousand registered voters who’ve put their names on paper as supporting the cause. And that support could extend beyond abortion rights and offer some help for Democrats and progressives going into this November’s elections and beyond. We have more from Rick Pluta.