new year

Happy New Year from WEMU and from Marquee Arts! In this special, New Year's Day edition of "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair and Marquee Arts cinema programming director, Nick Alderink, look back on 2025 and ahead to what this year will bring.

Ann Arbor State Senator Jeff Irwin says he wants to make the most out of 2026, his final year in the state Legislature. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District is hoping to weather past potential future funding cuts with new enriching programming through the new year. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

2025 is wrapping up, and one of the primary issues raised over the past year is the proliferation and impacts of data centers. In 2026, we're likely to see some of these centers move toward becoming operational. Weighing economic benefit against potential environmental harm will continue, and there will be more vocal support and outrage for each proposed center. WEMU's David Fair got together with Washtenaw County Resiliency Office Director Beth Gibbons to try and compute the impact of data centers in Washtenaw County.

The Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) is investing more than $8 million in road improvements next year. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

Ozone House in Ann Arbor is seeking alternative solutions to secure funding for its youth sheltering programs after this year’s federal cuts have impacted them greatly. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

Washtenaw County’s Avalon Housing is looking forward to a productive 2026. As WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports, the organization has several projects ongoing.

County officials worked this year to connect the Border-to-Border (B2B) Trail in Chelsea between North Territorial and Boyce Road and completed the Barton-Bandemer Tunnel in Ann Arbor. They’re now focusing on filling a key piece of the trail for 2026. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

For more than 40 years, the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum has filled the space of a former firehouse at 220 E. Ann Street in Ann Arbor. As we close out 2025, we can look forward to another fascinating and intriguing year. Susan Westhoff is President and CEO of the Museum and of the Leslie Science and Nature Center. She joined WEMU's David Fair to reflect on the current year and let us know about all of the new things we’ll get to learn in 2026!

As the year is drawing to a close, Ann Arbor Public Schools are looking forward to a busy 2026. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.