Upcoming Natural Area Preservation (NAP) Volunteer Opportunities
THE CITY OF Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation (NAP) works to protect and restore Ann Arbor’s natural areas. This involves conducting plant and animal inventories, ecological monitoring, and stewardship projects in Ann Arbor parks. These…
Blaming Debbie Dingell—Rep. John D. Dingell Jr.’s Hire of Scandal-Tainted Former Local Pol Angers Dems
by P.D. Lesko
On June 11, Rep. John D. Dingell, Jr.’s office announced the hire of Leigh Greden as Mr. Dingell’s chief of staff. The former Ann Arbor News revealed in 2009 that Greden and others on Council had been vote-rigging via email…
Michigan Health Officials Confirm West Nile Virus Found in State
by Courtney Bledsoe
THE MICHIGAN Department of Community Health has found this season’s mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus in Saginaw County – and with perfect conditions for mosquito breeding, that may be just the beginning.…
EDITORIAL: No Swimming Allowed—Weekly Tests of the Huron River Necessary
IT’S TIME FOR the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department to start weekly testing of the Huron River’s water between Barton Pond and the Dixboro Dam. The Huron River Watershed Council pointedly does not test the river’s water within the…
More of Us Are Walking, but We’re Still Not Getting Enough Exercise
by Jeannine Stein
AMERICANS MAY BE walking more, but we’re still not meeting weekly fitness recommendations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
A recent Vital Signs report from the agency found that the percentage…
EDITORIAL: Eager to Interpret the Law, But Unclear on Following it
SEVERAL OF THE the eight candidates running for two seats on the Washtenaw County Trial Court have their campaign yard signs planted on public property. The signs appear on public property throughout Ann Arbor, including one at the…
EDITORIAL: Overpaid Teachers and Underpaid Administrators
THE AUDIT RELEASED by Ann Arbor Public Schools officials was prepared in part by an auditing firm and in part by a human resource consulting firm from Birmingham. The June 22 document draws on data compiled by the Michigan Department of…
Retaliation for Airing Dirty Laundry? WCC Student Journos Fear “Autocratic” Prez May Shutter The Voice
by Rob Smith
IN 2005, WASHTENAW Community College President Dr. Rose Bellanca found her institution, Saint Clair County Community College in Port Huron, embroiled in an ACLU lawsuit over a gag order imposed on the college’s Board of…
EDITORIAL: “I Can’t Explain What SPARK Does.”
WARD 1 COUNCIL member Sabra Briere has repeatedly said she (and by extension, the public) cannot be certain that Ann Arbor SPARK is responsible for the jobs the entity’s employees claim their programs and services help create and retain. In…
The Ann Arbor Independent’s Inaugural Fourth of July Candidate Event Draws Pols, Public & Performers
EVEN THOUGH THE event ticket said the party was set to begin at 6 p.m., curious, excited party-goers began showing up early. By 6 p.m., there was a line to enter the Top of the Park North Tent and by 6:45 p.m. the venue was packed.…
