City Planning Commissioners’ Removal of Hundreds of Acres of Public Parkland From New City Land Use Plan Is Improper, Says Neighborhood Group
The unexplained deletion paves the way for development, subverts the will of the voters, and exposes the city to potential legal and financial fallout, says Ann Arbor Neighborhood Network group in its "Ann Arbor’s Parkland and Public…
Washtenaw County Appeal of A2Indy FOIA Case Win Gets Shot Down in Michigan Court of Appeals
by P.D. Lesko
Miller Johnson attorney James A. Buster faced three incredulous Michigan Appeals Court judges. The first question asked of Mr. Buster was telling: "Why isn't this moot?" Buster offered no arguments why his appeal on…
Since Implementing Single-Stream Recycling, Ann Arbor’s Landfill Diversion Rate Has Plummeted
In 2009, half of materials collected by Recycle Ann Arbor from Ann Arbor residents were diverted from the landfill. Between 2019 and 2024, two-thirds of the materials collected within Ann Arbor by Recycle Ann Arbor went to the landfill.
…
Reducing American Antisemitism Requires More Than Condemning Opposition to Israel and Targeting Elite Universities
by David Mednicoff
Violent antisemitism in the U.S. isn’t limited to the far right wing of the political spectrum. This was tragically obvious in two recent events – the June 1, 2025, attack using Molotov cocktails…
Michigan ACLU Settles Lawsuit Against Secretary of Homeland Security for Revoking F-1 Student Visas
The ACLU of Michigan announced on June 2, 2025 that it had reached an agreement to dismiss the federal lawsuit it filed in April against the Trump administration for abruptly and illegally terminating the F-1 student immigration status of…
County Prosecutor Charges Former Ypsilanti City Manager Frances McMullan With Financial Crimes
Correction: The spelling of Ms. McMullan's name has been corrected. On August 28, 2025 an update was posted. Ms. McMullan's case was adjudicated. Read about that here.
by P.D. Lesko
On June 4, 2025, the City of Ypsilanti sent out a…
Suicide Among Southeast Michigan’s Youth: A Health Crisis Call to Action
by Stephen Modell, M.D. and Sarah Hartzell, Ph.D.
Youth suicide prevention in Southeast Michigan and nationally has, this last year, experienced fits and starts. In October 2024, Superior Township leadership voted its final approval…
Now “Anti-DEI” Santa Ono Faces GOP Headwinds at Univ. of Florida Over UM DEI 2.0 Program
by Jay Waagmeester
University of Florida President-elect Santa Ono could receive $3 million per year if the Florida State University System’s Board of Governors confirms him this week.
The proposed contract between UF and…
Trump Administration Removes List Targeting Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County As Refusing to Cooperate with Federal Immigration Law
by P.D. Lesko
“Sanctuary” has no legal definition. The term encompasses a range of protection for immigrants, particularly those living in the U.S. illegally. Most often, the laws put legal limits on how law enforcement in those…
Scio Township Has Spent $103K in Legal Fees For Sup. Jillian Kerry, Now Trustees Tighten Purse Strings
by P.D. Lesko
Between Dec. 2023 and October 2024 in the matter of State of Michigan v Kerry, Scio Township paid $103,677.25 for reimbursement of Supervisor Jillian Kerry's cost of two attorneys’ services she incurred. Kerry's case stems…