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The income gap continues to widen in Washtenaw County. The number of people with housing, food and transportation insecurity continues to climb, and there are enough gaps in social services that some are falling through the cracks. That’s where Ypsilanti-based Friends In Deed steps in. Joye Clute and Elisa Guyton from Friends In Deed joined WEMU's David Fair to talk about the work being done and measures being taken to address what is a worsening level of poverty in portions of our community.

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 efforts in the greater Washtenaw County area are about to expand. In 2024, The Legacy Land Conservancy received its largest-ever grant. It’s a $24.6 million infusion of money from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program. WEMU's David Fair was joined by the Conservancy’s Susan LaCroix to discuss the impact that will have in 2025 and beyond in a New Year’s Day edition of "Issues of the Environment."

It's day 2 of a new year, and the cinema world is ready to deliver a whole bunch of new movies for you! WEMU's Mat Hopson meets up with Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins to chat about the first round of new flicks and special screenings coming up in the first few days of 2025!

For the past year-and-a-half, Ann Arbor's David Uhlmann has been working for the Environmental Protection Agency on compliance and accountability issues. Progress has been made. With the new administration, Uhlmann will move out of his position. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak take a look back and ahead with Uhlmann as we transition into the new year and new leadership.

We're in a post-holiday, pre-New Year state of mind now, and a good movie always goes well with that! WEMU's Michael Jewett sits in for David Fair this week to chat about all things cinematic with Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins!

The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA) is looking for heavy metal. This past summer, the YCUA recieved funding as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's "Get the Lead Out" initiative. It's designed to remove lead water pipes that can impact drinking water. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale provides more details on the work being done in Ypsilanti area in a conversation with YCUA executive director Luke Blackburn on this week's "On the Ground Ypsi."

There is something rejuvenating by looking out the window and seeing the first robin of the year. For those taking a closer look, the robins are telling an important environmental story. A recent study out of Eastern Michigan University has found that robins can accurately predict areas with contaminated soil. How? WEMU's David Fair talked with one of the lead researchers, Dorothy Zahor, about her findings and its implications.

Film festival season has arrived, and film lovers are now converging on Park City, Utah for this year's Sundance Film Festival. That includes Cinema Chat co-host and Marquee Arts cinema program director, Nick Alderink. Nick checked in from Park City, Utah to preview the festival and discuss top films being screened at Ann Arbor theaters in the coming days!

At the end of 2024, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) announced that the state of Michigan had the highest pre-kindergarten enrollment numbers over the past decade and an increase of over 4,000 students from 2023 figures. The Ypsilanti Community Schools saw a 15% increase in pre-kindergarten enrollment. Rylee Barnsdale checked in with Washtenaw Intermediate School District executive director of early childhood, Edward Manuszak, to discuss the increase and what it weans to the community on this week's "On the Ground Ypsi."