washtenaw county

For those who need to take a payday loan to help meet financial obligations, it can be crippling. With interest rates averaging 370% in Michigan, just paying the loan back creates a cycle of debt that can be near impossible to escape. The "Stop the Debt Trap" petition drive is seeking to limit those interest loan rates to a maximum of 36%. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the group's Josh Hovey about the effort to get the initiative on the November ballot and why it's so important for all too many in Washtenaw County and around the state.

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority announced today it will no longer require riders to wear face masks. WEMU’s Rina Miller reports.

Low income households in Washtenaw County and Southeast Michigan face an greater energy burden. That means paying for gas and electricity eats up a significant amount of the monthly budget. A coalition of groups, including the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center, has been working with the Michigan Public Service Commission and the utilities in the state to create programs of greater assistance. David Fair brings you the latest in his conversation with the Ecology Center's Alexis Blizman.

For five decades, the Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale has dedicated itself to preserving and performing traditional African American spirituals and showcasing contemporary African American music. Sharon Vaughters, the volunteer board president and a member of the Chorale, joins Creative Washtenaw’s Deb Polich, your host for "creative:impact," to look back over 50 years and hear how the Chorale is celebrating their 5Oth anniversary.

February is Black History Month, and WEMU's "Washtenaw United" will take time each Monday throughout the month to explore issues of equity and opportunity in our community. This week, David Fair talks with Versell Smith, Jr., executive director of the Corner Health System in Ypsilanti. The theme of Black History Month this year is "Black Health and Wellness." They discuss why that theme is so important here in Washtenaw County and discuss the center’s project to highlight people of color that have historically made a difference.

While WEMU's David Fair was on medical leave, much has happened in 12th Congressional District Representative Debbie Dingell's world. Recent redistricting…

Washtenaw County is launching its "Resilient Washtenaw" climate action plan. The goal is to get county operations to carbon neutrality by 2030 and…

The Washtenaw County Road Commission is urging residents not to drive anywhere Wednesday or Thursday, if you don’t have to.The county is expected to get…

A lot has happened in the three months that David Fair has been away on medical leave. On this week's "Washtenaw United," David checks in with Pam Smith,…

One person can make a difference! The Community Action Network (CAN) started its Art + Design program because one member of the community was concerned…