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In December, all-cash purchases accounted for more than 40 percent of home sales. Here are a few reasons so many people are buying houses without getting a mortgage.

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.

Let's look at long-term land management and environmental sustainability through the lens of the Catholic Church. A young New York native asked herself how to help the church achieve sustainable land use and greater social justice and ended up founding a non-profit called GoodLands. Its mission is to mobilize the church toward that end. Molly Burhans is going to bring her message and methodology to Ann Arbor with an appearance at St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor this Sunday, July 16th but, today, she gave a sneak preview in her conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

The Michigan Department of Transportation intends to build fencing along the Amtrak railroad tracks passing through Ann Arbor along the Huron River Corridor. MDOT says it will protect pedestrians and wildlife, but city residents are unhappy, contending it will cut off parts of the Border-to-Border Trail and adversely impact deer and other wildlife. Ann Arbor City Council has passed a resolution opposing the MDOT plans. 5th Ward councilperson Erica Briggs joined WEMU's David Fair with the latest news and a look at what happens next.

The Michigan fuel tax is no longer sufficient to fund needed road repairs and maintenance. As more electric vehicles hit the streets, the tax will raise less money, but the need for road and bridge revenue will only increase. Conversations are underway about alternative possibilities. WEMU's David Fair talks about what that might look like with Denise Donohue, CEO of the County Road Association of Michigan.

As we continue the process of mapping out our energy future, there are a number of issues to address, from energy generation and storage to how our electric grids are developed, secured and controlled. State Senator Jeff Irwin is a proponent of virtual power plants as a part of the comprehensive solution. It would divert control of the grids away from the major, centralized utilities. The 15th District Democrat believes virtual power plants can give power to communities in determining their energy futures while saving ratepayers money. Learn more in his conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

Losing a loved one is never easy. It can be even more difficult if you are a child or teenager. Add in the holiday season, and it can hit hard and cause a sense of loneliness. For the affected, you don’t have to go through it alone. Ele’s Place is a Lansing-based organization with a branch office in Ann Arbor. It is a healing center for grieving children and teens. WEMU’s David Fair talks with executive director Kate Powers about loss, grief and healing for affected youngsters in Washtenaw County.

Land preservation is important to the agricultural community in Washtenaw County. It’s also a part of the strategy to get Ann Arbor and the county to its carbon neutrality goals. One man has spent about 30 years on local land preservation. Barry Lonik has been a part of 100 projects preserving more than 10,000 acres of land that might otherwise have been developed. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Barry about his three-decade journey and about the impact he still wants to make.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has put her proposed budget before the state Legislature, and it includes a significant investment in environmental initiatives. The state Legislature is now divided, and it's unclear what the final version of the budget will look like. Additionally, there is uncertainty from the federal level as what kind of money will be allocated to support protections and clean-ups. WEMU's David Fair spoke with 15th District State Senator Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor about how things are playing out in Lansing.

In the last couple of years, the nation’s shelters and rescues have seen a decline in the number of dog adoptions. Our Washtenaw County community is no different. 2024 was a 10-year low in dog adoptions at the Humane Society of Huron Valley. President Tanya Hilgendorf joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the problems with dog adoptions and what is being done locally.