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Ann Arbor Government
Under Distracted Driving Bill, Cellphone Use While Driving Could Result in a Suspended License
by Scott McClallen
The Michigan Senate passed bills aiming to require hands-free cellphone use while driving.
The goal is to reduce distracted driving and, therefore, fatalities.
House Bills 4250, 4251, and 4252 aim to prohibit…
No Background Checks In This Local School District: Superintendent Welcomes Felon-Volunteers
by P.D. Lesko
Public records revealed that the Lincoln Consolidated Schools in Ypsilanti has no policies or procedures that require background checks on volunteers. State law requires public schools to background check employees,…
Ricky Dewayne McCain Didn’t Act Alone in the Murder of Jude Walton–He Had Help
by P.D. Lesko
According to Trial Court case files, on April 20, 2005 Hilary J. was a rising senior at the University of Michigan. With two roommates, she rented an apartment at 832 Packard Ave. On that evening, Hilary was in her…
County’s Chief Asst. Prosecutor Owes Thousands in Campaign Finance Fines Related to Failed Run
This article was made possible by donations to the Ann Arbor Independent FOIA Fund. Click here to donate.
by P.D. Lesko
Campaign finance statements show that Washtenaw County's Chief Asst. Prosecutor Victoria…
Chair of County Commission Slams Citizens Who Question Fraudulent $1.2M Grant to Felons’ Non-Profit
This article was made possible by donations to the Ann Arbor Independent FOIA Fund. Click here to donate. Washtenaw County charged a fee to release the pubic records used in this article.
by P.D. Lesko
At…
“Men Like Us” Club Founder Asked County for $70K Grant to “Deter Youth Violence”; His Ypsi Twp. Club the Site of Assaults, Shootings, Attempted Murder
According to police records, since late-2021, the Men Like Us club building owned by Ardis Lewis, Jr. has been the site of shootings, assaults, attempted murder and an alleged sexual assault. In Mar. 2022, Lewis applied to the County for a…
Michigan Senate Passes Red Flag, Safe Storage Gun Bills
by Scott McClallen
(The Center Square) –The Michigan Senate passed gun legislation on party lines Thursday.
The bill package aims to expand background checks, enact safe storage requirements, and add red flag laws.
The bills…
Ypsilanti Superintendent Says County Contractor Sent Felons to Middle School Without Permission
by P.D. Lesko
Correction: YCS School Board member Dr. Celeste Hawkins was inadvertently identified as the YCS spokesman who contacted The Ann Arbor Independent on March 14 by phone and spoke on the record. The article has been updated,…
In 2012, Council Decimated the Forestry Dept., Officials Now Ask for “Patience” as Branches Remain Uncleared
The City of Ann Arbor has contracted Davey Tree Expert Company to augment city staff efforts to pick up branches from the recent ice and snow storms. Streets, sidewalks, trash collection, trees in the right-of-way, water and sewers are all…
Seven Days After Ice Storm 11K DTE Customers in County Still Without Power –Who’s to Blame?
by P.D. Lesko
As of Feb. 28, DTE's outage map showed that 5.24 percent of its customers in Washtenaw County--some 8,836 customers--are still without power as a result of a record-breaking Feb. 22 ice storm that knocked out power to over…