washtenaw county

This week on “In The Public Interest," our bi-weekly conversation with the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area, we meet and talk with the winner of the student art poster contest encouraging people to vote.  89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with senior Jack Weddell and his art teacher at Ann Arbor's Pioneer High School Helen Bunch.

For some people, just getting out to vote takes a lot of effort.  They may never think about or realize exactly what goes in to putting a local election together.  89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry takes you behind the voting curtain to learn about just how much time and preparation goes in to putting together an election in Washtenaw County, so residents can exercise their right to vote.

Snow plows operated by the Washtenaw County Road Commission will be a bit more decorative this winter.
 

The mid-term elections are about a month away, now. Typically, turnout for mid-terms is much lighter than in presidential election years. This year, the political climate is tense and polarized. That appears to be manifesting itself among younger voters with a new sense of interest. In looking at Washtenaw County, if newly registered young voters turn out, it could help determine outcomes in November. 

Former Ypsilanti school superintendent Dr. Benjamin Edmondson announced on WEMU that he has taken a new position not far from his old job.

Many events are coming up in the world of local politics, including meetings on several business developments in Ann Arbor and the possibility of a new Ann Arbor police commission.  These are just a few of the topics discussed by WEMU's David Fair and the CivCity Initiative's Mary Morgan in this week's "Civic Matters."

This week on “In the Public Interest," our bi-weekly conversation with the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area, 89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry talks to several guests about candidate and issue public forums organized by the league.  Jeanine DeLay coordinates the events and is joined by local high school debate teachers Shelly Venema and Debora Marsh.

89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan discovered there are businesses in Washtenaw County contributing to the vision of buying products for life.

Gypsy moth caterpillars have completely stripped the leaves of trees in portions of Chelsea and caused significant defoliation in portions of Ann Arbor.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair talks about the infestation with Bob Bricault,  horticulture educator for Michigan State University Extension in Washtenaw County.  

The arts are an essential part of living here in Washtenaw County and all over Michigan and the area's creative talent drives the economy.  That is why organizations like the Arts Alliance and Creative Many Michigan exist.  Jennifer Goulet is the  outgoing president and CEO of Creative Many Michigan. She discusses arts advocacy with WEMU's David Fair and Arts Alliance CEO Deb Polich in this week's "creative:impact."

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has awarded $300,000 to the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority. 
 

There are many opportunities to becoke more civically engaged in the weeks ahead. There is a plan to establish a Washtenaw County Youth Commission and mid-term elections are right around the corner and there are a number of ways to get involved. WEMU's David Fair and the CivCity Initiative's Mary Morgan will discuss these and other topics in this week's edition of "Civic Matters."

Glass ceilings are being broken in many industries that have long been male-dominated.  To this day, there are businesses built on what many perceive to be a man’s job.  For instance, who do you picture when you think of a barber?  In our latest installment of “Hidden in Plain Sight,” 89.1 WEMU’s Jorge Avellan reports on female barbers in Ann Arbor who are helping change that perception.   

With classes getting underway, the superintendent of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Scott Menzel, talks with WEMU's Lisa Barry about what they will be focusing on as the new academic year begins.

Whether crude oil or natural gas, once these fossil fuels are extracted from the ground, they can present flammable and toxic hazards.  Safely transporting them is a major challenge.  In this installment of "The Green Room," we have the second in our series on pipelines. 

The state of Michigan this month issued, then expanded, a “Do Not Eat Fish” advisory for portions of the Huron River.  It cited unusually high levels of PFAS in the fish it tested.  PFAS are a compound of chemicals known to cause cancer and other medical issues.  In this week’s “Issues of the Environment,” Huron River Watershed Council executive director Laura Rubin dispels some misconceptions about the advisory and discusses the concerns the contamination raises for the present and future health of the river.

The impacts of exposure to lead are costly to both public health and Michigan's bottom line.  While the Flint Water Crisis brought greater awareness of lead exposure hazards, lead-based paints continue to damage children throughout the state.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair speaks with Rebecca Meuninck, Deputy Director of the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, to discuss new EPA standards for the amount of lead permitted in household paint, dust, and soil.  

History gives us the opportunity to better understand the past and predict the future.  A missing piece of Washtenaw County history, dating back to 1898, was recently discovered sparking a community effort to share the local piece of history with area residents.

89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry follows the path to the past and the future of dozens of historic beams from inside an old log cabin in Ann Arbor that, until recently, were…hidden in plain sight.

Nearly 35-percent of registered voters in Washtenaw County exersized their right on Tuesday. Voter turnout exceeded expectation and the county elections division was prepared. Still, no election passes without a slowdown, or two. Washtenaw County Clerk and Register of Deeds Larry Kestenbaum spoke with o WEMU's David Fair about turnout and the process of getting timely and accurate results. 

It is primary election day today across the country and in Washtenaw County.  89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with the Executive Director of CivCity Initiative and co-host of Civic Matters on 89.1 WEMU Mary Morgan about today's elections and how it's been going at local poling places.

It's that time of the year when Washtenaw County employees are asking you to help them with their "Stuff the Bus" campaign to benefit students from Washtenaw County public school districts.  

Tuesday is primary election day!  Polls will be open from 7am-8pm.  Because of the election, Ann Arbor City Council has moved its meeting and crowded agenda to Thursday.  And, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners will continue looking at an equity ordinance when it meets this week.  Civic engagement oppotunities abound and WEMU's David Fair and the CivCity Initaitive's Mary Morgan have it covered for you in this week's edition of "Civic Matters." 

We all know the chocolate bars we grew up with and tend to pass out at Halloween.  There is  Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, and a host of others.  Now, there’s another chocolate company puttings its product to market and it's based right here in Washtenaw County.  89.1 WEMU’s Jorge Avellan reports on the high-end chocolate maker that is making its mark, but remains "Hidden in Plain Sight."  

This week, Art and Soul is about the culinary arts. 89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry is joined by Jessica Webster, local food writer and host of 89.1 WEMU's The In Crowd, and special guest Patti Smith.  The three talk about the craft beer scene in Washtenaw County...