Sarah Rigg

Back in the fall of 2024, Eastern Michigan University added a new, four-legged staff member. Tinker, a PAWS facility golden retriever, provides emotional comfort and relief to students and the campus community. Lee Van Roth shared Tinker's story and what her ongoing duties will be with her handler, Alexis Braun Marks.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The University Musical Society (UMS) is partnering once again with the Ypsilanti Freighthouse to bring live musical events and fun activities this fall. Lee Van Roth spoke with UMS Community and Audience Programs Manager, Justine Sedky, about what to expect at the Freighthouse this month.

Dzanc House in Ypsilanti has given a home for writers and creatives for years. Starting this fall, Dzanc House will present a new project called "Beyond the Binary: Stories That Shift Culture." It aims to amplify the stories of LGBTQ+ youth through writing, poetry and podcasting. Learn more in Lee Van Roth's conversation with Dzanc House's director of development, programs and communications, Charlene Choi.

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.

There's nothing like the taste of fresh bread, muffins and other baked goods. B-Cubed Bakery is one of many bakeries in Ypsilanti ready to indulge your sweet tooth. Learn more about the business from this conversation Lee Van Roth (formerly Rylee Barnsdale) had with B-Cubed's owner and operator, Benjamin Brown.

Many in the LGBTQ+ community are feeling under attack as President Trump's first 60 days in office have brought a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ actions. But Ypsilanti-area organizations and community members are supporting their LGBTQ+ neighbors in a variety of ways. That includes supportive health care and queer takeovers of public spaces around Ypsilanti. Rylee Barnsdale spoke with Cheers to Queers (C2Q) co-founder, Danya Youssef-Agha, who organized the recent "Queer Prom."