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“Always look up” they say, but in Ann Arbor, you should always LOOK DOWN, so you don’t miss a chance encounter with Nadine the Mouse or another of artist David Zinn’s familiar characters who turn sidewalk imperfections into art. David Zinn's new book, "Chance Encounters," launches this month. He stops in for a catch-up with Deb Polich of Creative Washtenaw and host of "creative:impact."

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra scored a musical triumph when it named Earl Lee, a rising star in the international world of classical music, as its 14th music director and orchestra conductor. Maestro Lee joins "creative:impact" host Deb Polich days before his debut with the orchestra.

The Huron River has, once again, been put at risk because of a chemical spill. First it was PFAS contamination, and now it's Hexavalent Chromium. In both instances, the same Wixom-based company is responsible. Yet, the laws in Michigan do not allow for holding the company liable. That wasn't always the case. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, got together with the author of Michigan's original and now-dismantled polluter pay legislation. Former Ann Arbor State Senator Lana Pollack weighed in on the need to re-institute liability laws to better protect the environment.

Election Day is tomorrow, and one of the races to be decided is who will be Ann Arbor's next mayor. Local attorney Eric Lipson is running against incumbent Christopher Taylor as an independent candidate. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss his priorities if voted into office.

The future is going to be dropped off at your doorstep in 2024. Michigan Medicine is planning to begin using drone service for patients needing medications delivered. The air over Washtenaw County will be busier, but more fossil-fuel delivery vehicles will be taken off the road. What are the environmental implications? We'll find out together when Dana Habers, the Chief Operating Officer of Pharmacy Services and Chief Innovation Officer for University of Michigan Health, joins WEMU's David Fair for this week's "Issues of the Environment".

Food insecurity is growing in Washtenaw County, and your local postal worker is doing something about it. On Saturday, May 13th, letter carriers in our community will participate in "National Stamp Out Hunger Day." When delivering your mail, postal workers will pick up the non-perishable food items you leave out and turn it all over to Food Gatherers for distribution. John Odegard is president of Local Branch 434 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the program and why letter carriers are working to make a different kind of difference for the people they serve.

Julie and Scott Halpert know all too well what it means to lose a loved one to self-inflicted harm. Their son Garrett took his own life in 2017. Ever since, the Halperts have been working to provide support to others in hopes of preventing more grief. Now the plan is to have a brick-and-mortar facility on 76-acres of land in Superior Township to provide holistic and non-medical support and care services for young adults struggling with life. And, it's to be called Garrett's Space. The Halperts joined WEMU's David Fair to share their story.

What do Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, John Legend and Gwen Stefani have in common with Ann Arborite Angelina Nazarian? They appeared together on the 24th season of The Voice. Hear about Angelina’s experience as a contestant and being on Team Reba when she joins host Deb Polich on the next edition of WEMU’s "creative:impact."

There are a great number of positives when people operate and work on urban farms and community gardens: access to fresh and healthy foods, community building and reduced transportation needs in areas known as food deserts. A new study from the University of Michigan discovered some areas where improvement is needed with some urban farms and gardens creating a carbon footprint much greater than conventionally grown produce. WEMU's David Fair checked in with Benjamin Goldstein to learn more about the research and why it caused such an uproar. Goldstein is co-lead author of the study.

Imagine hitting the stage for a performance without ever seeing a script! That’s what an improv artist like Tony DeRosa does…gets on stage, is given an idea or phrase and runs with it. Tony is bringing improv to a new venue soon to open in Ann Arbor. We meet Tony and learn about hear.say brewing + theater opening in Ann Arbor this summer when he joins Deb Polich on this edition of WEMU’s "creative:impact."