washtenaw county

If you've recently visited Gallup Park in Ann Arbor or Riverside Park in Ypsilanti, you probably noticed some beautiful, colorful billboard-sized art installations. These come from the non-profit "Embracing Our Differences Michigan." That organization will hold its 3rd annual Diversity Day Celebration on Sunday, May 18th at Washtenaw Community College. WEMU's David Fair spoke with executive director Nancy Margolis about promoting and advancing diversity in our community.

Today is Police Memorial Day. Law enforcement from across the area gathered at Washtenaw 100 Club Memorial Park to remember the 13 officers killed in the line of duty in Washtenaw County. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Washtenaw Community College is hosting a challenge on Friday for middle school students to engineer and code their own semiconductors. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.

A national partner of Food Gatherers, Feeding America, has released new data showing the number of people facing food insecurity in Washtenaw County has risen. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

Paper or plastic? We’ve all answered that question in the checkout line at the grocery store or supermarket. While reusable bags are growing in popularity, plastic bags remain ubiquitous in retail shopping. A movement to start banning plastic bags, or at least charge money for choosing them at the store, was thwarted in 2016 when the state Legislature banned local governments from passing such environmental measures. Now, Democratic State Representative Morgan Foreman of Ann Arbor is working to lift that ban. She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the legislation and what it aims to accomplish.

Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit is running to become Michigan’s next Attorney General. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Federal funding cuts have impacted the healthcare sector, leaving some caregivers feeling anxious about whether their work will be affected next. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.

When tragedy befalls a family, the grief never goes away. We all deal with it in different ways. Sometimes, loss gives birth to an action plan to spare others similar pain. That is where the Miles Jeffrey Roberts Foundation in Ann Arbor comes from. Kristen and Jeff Roberts are parents who continue to mourn the loss of their son Miles. He took his life in 2017 at the age of 15. Through the tears, and with purpose and dedication, the Roberts began a foundation aimed at empowering youth athletic communities to promote mental well-being and suicide prevention. They talked about their work with WEMU's David Fair.

Due to federal cuts, Washtenaw County's Food Gatherers has an urgent need for funding and is asking for help from the City of Ann Arbor. WEMU's Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Anastasia Tsioulcas is a correspondent on NPR’s Culture Desk and contributes as a classical music critic to The New York Times, the first journalist to hold such a dual role. She talked with WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor about her year in Washtenaw County where she just completed an academic program for accomplished journalists at the University of Michigan.