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County Prosecutor Declines to Charge Officer Involved in Rosser Shooting—Releases 12-Page Memo
by P.D. Lesko
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie posted to the county's website a 12-page memo explaining his decision not to bring charges against Officer David Ried, a 15-year veteran of the Ann Arbor Police Dept., who shot and…
Washtenaw County Offers Half-Price Radon Test Kits During Radon Action Month
by Angela Parsons
JANUARY IS NATIONAL Radon Action Month. Half-priced radon test kits are available at Washtenaw County Public Health’s Environmental Health Division and the Ypsilanti Township Supervisor’s Office through January 30,…
Michigan Council for the Arts Awards Grants Worth $749K to Washtenaw County Organizations
by Rob Smith
THE MICHIGAN COUNCIL for Arts and Cultural Affairs recently announced that the organization had awarded $9.7 million to cultural organizations in Michigan. That’s up 27 percent over the $7.6 million in grant money awarded…
At Nov. 19 Meeting County Commissioners to Debate Policy That Gives Local Businesses Preference
The Washtenaw County Commissioners Ways and Means Committee recently gave the thumbs up to a proposal which gives a financial boost to local, county and state businesses which bid on contracts bid out by Washtenaw County.
The Local…
With New City Charter, Dexter Adopts Non-Partisan Elections
THE PROPOSAL THAT Dexter adopt a new Charter and move from a village in the State of Michigan to a city just barely passed on Nov. 5. The vote was a squeaker: 955-814. The new Dexter City Charter calls for non-partisan elections in Section…
Washtenaw County Clerk’s Office Lags Hours Behind Wayne, Oakland and Livingston Clerks in Posting Election Results
by P.D. Lesko
ANN ARBOR NEWS reporter Ben Freed posted a graphic of Cookie Monster tapping his fingers, then deleted the posting. Once again, the Washtenaw County Clerk finds himself at the center of a debate about handling ballots.…
Saline Mayor Announces Endorsements, Challenger Releases Statement Touting “Successes”
IN SALINE, THE race for mayor has been contentious. Just days after Mayor Brian Marl released a statement in which he announced the endorsements of several elected officials, including county commissioners.
Challenger Lee Bourgoin shot…
Washtenaw County Among Agencies That Will Receive a Portion of $6.8M in Michigan State Housing Development Authority Grant
ACTING EXECUTIVE Director Wayne Workman last week announced nearly $6.8 million in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) monies to help Michigan’s 92,000 homeless.
Washtenaw County is set to receive $310,975 in funding. The county has an…
County Employee Credit Card Records Show Las Vegas Trips, Stays at Luxury Hotels Curtailed
by P.D. Lesko
In 2013, The Ann Arbor Independent published articles detailing county employee stays at Las Vegas casinos, resorts and 4-star hotels at taxpayer expense. Analysis of 3,600 credit card charges made in 2014 show no trips to…
Restaurant Inspections Reveal Even Ann Arbor’s Priciest, Well-Known Eateries Cited By Washtenaw County Health Dept.
IT’S EASY TO conclude that pricey meals and national media coverage might guarantee that a restaurant would be free from the most serious violations of a state’s restaurant health code. In March 2014, New York’s Per Se, with its $310…