Search results for

The International Panel on Climate Change has issued a dire warning about inaction in addressing the climate crisis. The latest report spells it out but also provides some guidance on what local governments and communities can do to prevent catastrophic consequences. Climatologist and Huron River Watershed Council planner, Daniel Brown, joined WEMU's David Fair to look at the global, national and local measures that need to begin right now.

That’s the impact of Washtenaw County’s nonprofit arts + cultural organizations, according to the recently released national study from Americans for the Arts. Sarah Miller, president of Destination Ann Arbor, meets up with Deb Polich, host of WEMU’s "creative:impact". They discuss the findings and the ripple effect on our local economy, jobs, merchants, taxes and quality of life.

Early this morning, the Michigan Legislature approved a roughly $80 billion budget for the fiscal year. State Senator Jeff Irwin is chair of the Appropriations Committee for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The Ann Arbor Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak to provide a snapshot of the environmental implications of the budget.

There are efforts within city government to develop Water Street along the Huron River. Heather Wysor is an herbalist founder of the online shop Heathers on Earth. It focuses on foraged, natural medicines. She would like to "re-wild" the downtown property. WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Sarah Rigg speak with Wysor about her proposal to preserve the area's natural state.

Among the many resolutions people make to start a new year is to find ways to better protect the planet. Shelie Miller studies these things as a professor in sustainable systems at the U of M’s School for Environment and Sustainability. She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss how to improve our efforts at home and community sustainability.

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.

That’s the belief of Robin Robinson, a talented musician, Broadway musical actor, and singer/songwriter who now fills her soul helping children and their families discover the joy of music at Robinsongs for Kids. Join host Deb Polich on this edition of "creative:impact" to meet Robin and hear why she was inspired to leave New York to teach.

We are a society becoming increasingly dependent on disposable consumer products and it has a devastating impact on our environment. On "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair discusses the upcoming Zero Waste Challenge in Ann Arbor, with Live Zero Waste executive director Samuel McMullen. Find out what we can learn and how to make a difference.

The nature of transportation in America is changing. There is a strong move toward electric vehicles with the major automakers committing to the change. Most of that is about personal transportation. But the public transportation sector is adapting and evolving, too. The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority recently conducted a study looking into how best to create a fleet of zero emission buses. There are choices to be made and challenges to overcome. WEMU's David Fair explores those issues with AAATA CEO, Matt Carpenter.

Tom Cole is a senior editor on NPR's Arts Desk. He develops, edits, produces, and reports on stories about art, culture, music, film, and theater for NPR's news magazines Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, and All Things Considered. Cole has held these responsibilities since February 1990.