budget cuts

6th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell was joined by clean energy leaders this morning to talk about the negative impacts the Trump administration actions are having on the industry in Michigan. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The federal administration has laid off hundreds of staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the impact is already being felt locally and in region. Moving forward, there is the potential NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor could be shut down. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Nicole Rice about where it stands now and where it may be headed. Rice is among those already fired from the lab in Ann Arbor.

Eastern Michigan University created the "Bright Futures" after-school program to provide students area students with homework help and mentoring. It runs all year long. Like many education programs, it is facing uncertainty due to federal budget cuts. Lee Van Roth spoke with "Bright Futures" director Suzie Staley about the benefits of the program and what the future may hold.

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration announced possible cuts to federal education spending. Research from Ypsilanti was cited to push back against the prospect of eliminating the Head Start early childhood education program for low-income families. The nonprofit, HighScope, has played a major role in making this research more open to the public. Lee Van Roth discusses the findings with HighScope's President and CEO, Dr. Alejandra Barraza.

We all need a hand-up sometimes. Some of us need a little more. Since 1949, the Washtenaw Association for Community Advocacy has offered that support to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). A court decision in 2024 offered a boost in those services and changed the way the state approaches IDD. But the new federal administration’s policy changes and budget cuts put that progress at risk. WEMU's David Fair talked with the association’s President and CEO, Kristen Columbus, about all of it on this week’s "Washtenaw United".

Washtenaw County health officials say President Trump’s recently passed and signed tax and spending cuts bill could lead to devastating impacts across the area. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Republican state House Speaker Matt Hall says he would be OK with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a federal waiver to delay the full impact of cuts to Medicaid. We have more from Rick Pluta.

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County will have a new leader, beginning in September. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

A reversal in a federal funding initiative could end an effort to preserve another 4,000 acres of land in southeast Michigan. $24.6 million had been granted to the Legacy Land Conservancy and its partners for preservation of farmland, forests, wetland and waterways in our region, including Washtenaw County. But the Trump Administration has rescinded that grant. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak weigh the real and potential impacts with Legacy Land Conservancy executive director, Diana Kern.

The Legislature and Governor Gretchen Whitmer face tough choices now that the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act has reset the state’s budget picture. An independent study released Wednesday says Michigan needs to come up with $1.1 billion to balance the state budget. Rick Pluta reports.