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

Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje has a track record of making it up as he goes along, particularly where the issue of crime in the city is concerned. Over the past several months, there have been multiple armed robberies of banks. In…

I am so sick of charts. If I draw up, Google, copy, fill out or even see another chart, I may just hop on the next AATA bus that conveniently goes by my house every 20 minutes, and  go to the nearest martini bar. Confession: There is one…

March has not been a good month for Ann Arbor's 18-month-old digital media extravaganza AnnArbor.com. Today, the digital site was lambasted by national media for a perceived ethical lapse and conflict of interest in appointing a U of M PR…

On March 3, 2011 A2Politico posted a piece about a poll conducted by the Freep in which it was reported that 27 percent of Michigan voters polled disapproved of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's performance. In particular, during his first…

A2PNotes: Ann Arbor is home to some 16,000 public school students, and approximately 1,700 students who attend the city's various private schools. Those students are parented by tens of thousands of women and men who haven't a clue about…

Less is more. Tell that to any American kid and see what kind of a response you get. If for some reason, you are having a hard time picturing entitled kids (which I doubt), think of the book/film Willy Wonka with the lovely Miss Varuca…

On March 11, 2011 A2Politico broke the story (with some help, of course) about the layoff of 14 newsroom staff at AnnArbor.com. MichiganRadio followed up with a short blurb, and by this beginning of this week, local bloggers, including Mark…

Sometimes, other people beat A2Politico to the punch, and that's perfectly fine. In fact, sometimes it's a bit of a relief. The Weekly Whopper this time around goes to AnnArbor.com Kontent King (Chief Content Officer) Tony Dearing for…

A2PNotes: In 2010, John Hieftje and First Ward Council member Sandi Smith both ran for re-election and patted themselves on the back for "doubling beds at the homeless shelter." If you count a chair as a bed, Hieftje and Smith were…

On March 14, 2011 the Michigan 15th District Republican Party held a fundraiser in the heart of Ann Arbor, at Weber's. The sold-out event, attended by some 385 people, was organized by 15th District Republican Party Chair Margy Van Houten,…