The Ann Arbor Independent Editorial Team 2257 posts 224 comments

by Rob Smith ACCORDING TO THE City of Ann Arbor’s log of FOIA requests submitted between January 2013 and May 2014 519 FOIA requests were submitted to the Ann Arbor City Clerk’s office. Thirty-three of the 519 requests came from The Ann…

CHARITY NAVIGATOR, AMERICA’S largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, has awarded the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) the prestigious 4-star rating for good governance, sound fiscal management and commitment to…

by Donna Iadipaolo About one mile from majority of Ann Arbor’s water supply, a Traverse-city based oil company—West Bay Exploration Co—is gearing up to start oil drilling. Correction: Senator Rebekah Warren took office in November…

“COUNTY TAXPAYERS PAY $345 per $100,000 in taxable home value to support Washtenaw Community College. In 2012-2013, county taxpayers paid $45.9 million to WCC officials. In return the two-year college’s President Bellanca graduated just…

DURING THE WEEK of June 16-June 25, the AAPD reported a total of 75 crimes. In comparison, Dearborn Police, who patrol a city with a population just slightly smaller than Ann Arbor’s (101,000), but which is also home to a U-M campus,…

by P.D. Lesko While AAPS Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift publicly challenges Gov. Snyder and legislators over cuts to K-12 funding, local economic development groups siphon away millions of public school dollars through tax…

Incumbent Judges It was a pleasant surprise to read that The Ann Arbor Independent doesn’t endorse in elections. I’m not sure, after years of Ann Arbor News endorsements of right-wing candidates including George Bush, how much trust the…

by Christina Farr FOR DECADES, MEDICAL technology firms have searched for ways to let diabetics check blood sugar easily, with scant success. Now, the world’s largest mobile technology firms are getting in on the act. Apple Inc,…

AT ITS JUNE 16th meeting, Ann Arbor City Council members once again approved a contract with Governmental Consultant Services Inc. for lobbying services. GCSI has been paid to lobby in Lansing on behalf of the city of Arbor since 2001. Kirk…

by Liz Dwyer TO THE AVERAGE American there’s only one Vergara that matters: “Modern Family” actor Sofia Vergara. But despite never gracing a single magazine cover, Beatriz and Elizabeth Vergara, two Los Angeles Unified School District…