The Ann Arbor Independent - A locally owned newspaper in Ann Arbor

A2PNotes: This is filed under "Scoops & Scores" because you read it here first by P.D. Lesko Collectively, Ann Arbor residents own about 2,000 acres of parkland. A conservative estimate of the value of the land, according to city…

by P.D. Lesko The Boomers on Ann Arbor City Council are fixated on turning the city into a mecca for Young Professionals. After all, 35,000 wanna-be YPs study at the University of Michigan, and if all of them would just stay put, in less…

By Kristina Lakes I am the mother you shun in Wal-Mart. Your disapproving eyes flit from my unbrushed hair to focus upon my four-year-old son, who is dressed in a long-sleeved, fatigue shirt and tight, black-wool leggings, even though it’s…

There are few people in Michigan more qualified than Dan Gilmartin to talk about what it will take to return Michigan and its varying municipalities to prosperity. On his blog, Gilmartin covers everything from what makes municipalities…

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Borders executives are getting in one last punch below the belt of the company's 10,000 workers who lost their jobs. As laid off workers battle for their remaining compensation,  and on the…

by Betsy McMillin My five-year-old son and I were playing Star Wars charades. Again. Same thing, every time.  He played out some scene or action. I, with little emotion, tiredly went through the few characters I knew at the time: Luke.…

by Chris Savage Unknown to many Americans outside of Michigan, our state is hardly one of just auto manufacturing, Motown, snow, and sports. In addition to these things, we have some of the most beautiful natural places in all of America.…

by Erika McNamara Now. Replace "puppies" with "children," and "shelters" with "public assistance." One morning last week while I made coffee and semi-listened, Good Morning America announced its exclusive new series HUNGER AT HOME: CRISIS…

Representative Jeff Irwin, a Democrat, served for a decade as a Washtenaw County Commissioner. In January 2011, he began his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives. In his regular column, House Calls, A2Politico will pose a…

by Wilson Diehl We just returned from a mini-vacation with friends who have a daughter the same age as ours wherein we drank some wine, played in the sand, ate tons of berries, sang many rounds of “Take me out to the ballgame,” polished…