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U-M Livingston Awards Announced for Young Journalists—No Michigan Journo Wins
STORIES ABOUT THE misuse of taxpayer money to fund private schools, life-threatening delays in blood testing of newborns and the plight of political asylum seekers won the Livingston Awards today.
The $10,000 prizes for journalists under…
83 Drug Crimes Reported by AAPD to Date in 2014—26.5 Percent for Heroin, Crack, Narcotics
IN HIS EARLY 2014 presentation to City Council and the public, Ann Arbor Police Chief John Seto reported that Part I crime in Ann Arbor was down over the previous year. While the report included numbers for burglaries and larcenies, it did…
Forbes.com Writer—MEDC Report Proves Ann Arbor SPARK is Exaggerating Job Creation Claims by 90 Percent
Please note: Kai Petainen is a member of The Ann Arbor Independent’s Editorial Board
by P.D. Lesko
ANN ARBOR SPARK is once again under fire for discrepancies in its job creation claims. Forbes.com writer Kai Petainen uncovered a…
Mayoral Candidate Alleges Opponents’ Affordable Housing Resolution “Pandering” and “Politicking”
WARD 3 COUNCIL member Stephen Kunselman repeatedly alleged that a resolution brought to Council’s June 2, 2014 meeting by Mayor Hieftje, Ward 1 Council member Sabra Briere, Ward 3 Council member Christopher Taylor, Ward 4 Council member…
Corruption Allegations Shake Michigan Education Authority
by Muhammad Kahn
A DETROIT NEWS report revealed that Education Achievement Authority (EAA) Chancellor John Covington used credit cards issued to him by the EAA for personal expenses. Nearly $240,000 has been charged to two credit cards,…
26 Home Invasions Reported by AAPD in the Month of May, 90 Thus Far in 2014
ACCORDING TO DATA compiled by the Ann Arbor Police Department, during the month of May there were 338 crimes, total, reported. The homes of 26 residents were invaded by thieves. Of those break-ins, 12 were forced entries, or almost half of…
An Interview With Lily Tomlin—Ernestine, Existentialism & Hope
by P.D. Lesko
“PLEASE, CALL ME Lily,” says the woman on the phone, with a warmth that doesn’t betray the obvious fact that she has extended the same invitation to scores of interviewers. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 1,…
Large Crowd, Gary Peters & Debbie Dingell Turn Out to Celebrate Ann Arbor African American Downtown Festival
by David Alexander
DURING THE MIDDLE of the last century, the intersection of Ann Street and North Fourth Avenue, in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, was the crossroads of the African American business district. Saturday, it played host…
In Two Separate Rulings U.S. District Judges Blast City Attorneys’ Legal Arguments
by P.D. Lesko
ANN ARBOR City Attorney Stephen Postema was dressed down in a 17-page opinion penned by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Zatkoff in May. The judge concluded city officials had no legal justification to keep Bob Dascola…
City Administrator Once Again Refuses to Turn Over Records to a Council Member
CITY ADMINISTRATOR Steve Powers answers directly to City Council. The city’s Charter requires the 11-member group to annually review the City Administrator’s performance. Council sets his pay and has the ultimate authority to fire him. …