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Ypsilanti's own Corner Health Center has partnered with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on their Child and Adolescent Health Center program for the past 30 years to provide physical and mental health care to Ypsilanti's youth. But a new opportunity from MDHHS is now allowing the Corner to take its services beyond their home and into the school system. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talks about this new initiative with Corner Health Youth Leadership Council president, Hasini Anand.

The University of Michigan is forging ahead and working towards being a leader in generative artificial intelligence with its U-M-GPT program. As it does, there are environmental concerns to be addressed. The initiative is part of Michigan’s broader effort to integrate AI into its academic and administrative infrastructure, enhancing learning, teaching, and research. But, AI consumes a great deal of energy. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at U-M, Dr. Ravi Pendse, about how U-M is dealing with the environmental ramifications of AI.

The Trump Administration has been slashing government in a variety of areas, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Region 5 of the EPA covers the Great Lakes area and includes Washtenaw County. The layoffs have the potential to impact the agency’s ability to steward the environment around the world’s largest body of fresh water. And the impact on public health could be significant. Loreen Targos is Executive Vice President of the American Federation of Government Employees-Local 704, which represents about 1,000 EPA workers. She spoke with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak about employee cuts and the implications.

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.

Envision a world where all people living with mental illness lead healthy productive lives and have equal opportunity. That’s the vision of Fresh Start Clubhouse in Ann Arbor. The non-profit emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and empower people living with mental illness and a desire for actions to speak louder than words. WEMU's David Fair talked about the people and the process with Fresh Start Clubhouse executive director Webb Lucas and member colleague Dan Seng.

The federal administration has targeted environmental agencies and protection programs in its efforts to reshape the government. The Environmental Protection Agency has seen layoffs and firings and budget cuts. Now, there is a government shutdown creating more issues. WEMU's David Fair discussed immediate and longer-term impacts with Greg Dick, the Director of the Cooperative Institute of Great Lakes Research in 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.

Social and educational stressors have increased for youngsters since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That's where Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan comes in. But there are challenges in finding mentors and volunteers. WEMU's David Fair checked in with interim president Dr. Joselyn Mitchell-Parker about Big Brothers Big Sisters' role in our community and how it is evolving.

Inside a shared commercial kitchen in Ypsilanti, Growing Hope is helping local food entrepreneurs turn ideas into sustainable livelihoods, offering not only space, but support, mentorship, and community. Among the graduates of Growing Hope's "Incubator Kitchen" program is Eric Kinsler-Holloway, owner/operator of EK's Cheesecakes. He shares his culinary success story with Lee Van Roth for this week's "On the Ground Ypsi."

Each month, we partner with the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber to look at how the news of the day impacts the local business community. For this month's "Washtenaw Business Lens," WEMU's Caroline MacGregor was joined by Andy LaBarre, Executive Vice President and Director of Government Relations for the Chamber, and Destination Ann Arbor Director of Community Engagement Jennifer Chizek to talk about the upcoming tourism season and what Destination Ann Arbor predicts for this summer and fall.