Finance

Interest rates, loans and investment strategies—it all plays into the health of individual businesses and the Washtenaw County business community as a whole. How are we doing right now? WEMU's David Fair and Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber Executive Vice President Andy LaBarre check in with Erik Bakker from Bank of Ann Arbor for a better perspective on well-being of our local business community, now and in the near-term future.

The Ann Arbor School Board will hear the district‘s annual financial audit at tonight’s meeting. Recent changes have made it a much smoother process. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

There are four candidates running for three spots on the Chelsea City Council this fall. That means we can expect a lot of change with only one incumbent on the ballot. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

The Ypsilanti City Council created a stabilization, or “rainy day”, fund to help deal with financial emergencies. But it still needs to set the guidelines for the conditions it can be used. The issue is expected to be discussed during today’s Council Finance Committee meeting. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

When the Ann Arbor Schools Board meets tonight, it is expected to add a graduation requirement. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Representatives of the Secretary of State and a contractor were grilled Tuesday by a state House committee. They were called to testify on a malfunctioning financial disclosure system for elected officials. Rick Pluta reports.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bills Wednesday to give state officials another month to file financial disclosure reports as the state tries to fix its filing website. Otherwise, the deadline would be today. Rick Pluta reports.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is trying a new approach in the long search for a new head of finance. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Ann Arbor Public Schools are getting ready to make changes in graduation requirements that all students complete a course in personal finance. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

As part of WEMU’s recognition of Black History Month, we will be having conversations with distinguished members of our community. That includes community financial executive and Eastern Michigan University alumnus, Michael Pugh. He hails from a family of health care workers and grew up with a single mother. That experience led him to the personal realization that financial health is just as important as physical health. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor discussed with Michael his passion to help underserved communities find opportunities to build generational wealth.