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

Shoppers who land on retail sites through Facebook or Twitter are less likely to make purchases. Their conversion rates average 1.2 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. Per average order, however, they spend more than those who come…

by P.D. Lesko Second Ward Ann Arbor City Council member Stephen Rapundalo has 25 friends on Facebook. Two of his 25 Facebook friends (Joe Upton and Carey Jernigan), according to information contained in a press release issued on…

by Chris Savage To say that Republicans are on a mission to destroy unions in this country is not an understatement. Across the country, and particularly in the Midwest, newly-elected Republican legislators and governors have spent the…

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.…