There’s a new educational program that's literally transforming the landscape around Ypsilanti Community Schools, sometimes one sweet potato or pawpaw tree at a time. YCS has launched a new agriscience and botany career technical education program. It's part of a countywide push to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students. Lee Van Roth discussed the program and what it hopes to achieve with Ypsilanti Community High School biology teacher Laurel Wiinikka-Buesser.

Originating in Flint, Rx Kids is a program designed to provide new and expectant mothers and families below the poverty line with financial assistance—no strings attached. Starting this month, the program is expanding to Ypsilanti, and registration is now open. Lee Van Roth discussed the expansion and its local impacts with State Senator Jeff Irwin (D-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.

Earlier this year, Eastern Michigan University chemistry professor Dr. Ruth Ann Armitage and her students presented groundbreaking research on mummies at the World Congress on Mummy Studies in Peru. They're now back at EMU continuing to further the work. Dr. Armitage joined Lee Van Roth to discuss her South American experience, as well her ongoing studies.

Reports of mold at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility are creating difficult living conditions. The Ypsilanti-based organization Survivors Speak has been working to address these problems and to have inmate Krystal Clark released because of the health issues created by the prison conditions. Learn more in the conversation Lee Van Roth has with Survivors Speak founder, Trische' Duckworth.

LEAF Harm Reduction is a organization designed to help people recovering from substance abuse disorder. The program provides wellness checks and helps create community connections. Lee Van Roth shares more about LEAF's mission with the organization's director, Corn Williams.

At Eastern Michigan University, the Speech and Hearing Clinic has been quietly transforming lives in Ypsilanti and beyond. The clinic is housed in the College of Education and helps everyone from young children learning their first words to adults recovering from strokes. Lee Van Roth discussed the clinic's work with its co-director, Karen Parish-Foster, and with EMU graduate student Mollie Spencer.

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.

We're getting closer to Halloween, and there's nothing like a good ghost story! Ypsilanti author Ken MacGregor is a master storyteller of the macabre and is a releasing a new collection of stories entitled "Some People I Have Killed." He talked all about his latest anthology of terror with Lee Van Roth on this week's "On the Ground Ypsi."

Ypsilanti Community High School has officially been authorized as an international baccalaureate career-related program school. It's a milestone that expands college credit opportunities, hands-on learning and career pathways for students. This designation is also a key step in the district's broader magnet school vision aimed at preparing scholars for life success. Lee Van Roth talked all about it with YCS director of special projects and magnet schools, Turquoise Neal.