Michigan Bar Association Needs to End the Legal Careers of Judges and Lawyers Who are Domestic Abusers
by Sterling George
A recent video showed Jason Kolkema, a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan and nominee for a judicial candidate for the Circuit Court judge in Muskegon County, allegedly whipping his girlfriend with his belt.…
Ann Arbor Restauranteur Sava Lelcaj Farah Attacked by Knife-Wielding Man in Downtown Ann Arbor
by P.D. Lesko
On Oct. 25, a knife-wielding man allegedly attacked long-time downtown restauranteur Sava Lelcaj Farah near Sava, her restaurant on State Street in Ann Arbor. According to an email sent by William Farah (Sava's husband) to…
County Commissioners Defend $1.2M ARPA Grant to Felon Who Executed 24-Year-Old EMU Grad
by P.D. Lesko
In 1976, Billy Cole was found guilty of felony murder and armed robbery and sentenced to life + 60 years by Washtenaw County Judge Ross W. Campbell. In 1985, while in prison, he was found guilty of felonious assault,…
City Adding New 1,4 Dioxane Monitoring Wells in Garden Homes Park
A July 2021 map of dioxane contamination in the Ann Arbor area's groundwater. Pink is where readings are above 7.2 parts per billion, the state limit for dioxane in drinking water. The map shows the boundaries of the Gelman Sciences…
22M Have Applied, But Student Debt Forgiveness on Hold After Appeals Court Ruling
by Ariana Figueroa
A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily blocked the Biden administration from carrying out its student loan forgiveness plan, until the court makes a determination on a request for an injunction brought by six…
District 4 County Commissioner Caroline Sanders Criticized For Defending $1.2M ARPA Grant to Murderer on Parole, and Registered Sex Offender
Editor's Note: Robert Zimmerman is an accountant and a candidate for the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners in District 4. The seat is currently held by Commissioner Caroline Sanders. In July 2022, Sanders voted in favor of awarding a…
State Sen. Aric Nesbitt calls on Sue Shink to Explain Grant to Convicted Murderer, Registered Sex Offender
Sen. Aric Nesbitt, chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, today called on Democratic senate candidate Sue Shink to explain a troubling report that the Washtenaw County Commission she chairs provided taxpayer funds to a…
Public Records Suggest County Commissioners Defrauded the Federal Government By Awarding $1.2M Grant to Supreme Felons, Inc.
by P.D. Lesko
Public records, including from the State of Michigan's Business Licensing Bureau (LARA), the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the Michigan Dept. of Education, comments from superintendents of the Ypsilanti Public Schools and…
Watch: Infant Mortality Rate for Black Babies in Washtenaw County 4x Higher Than for White Babies
https://youtu.be/7NpYswbCoAU
"This math ain't mathin'."--Shannon McFall
Note: These videos contain profanity, marijuana use and may not be suitable for children.
Ann Arbor Independent "Urban Exile" columnist Shannon McFall…
Letter to the Editor: The Ability to Fundraise is not the Best Qualification for Elected Office
by Bob Van Oosterhout
If you were hiring someone for an important job, would you pick the person who was most effective at attacking other candidates and people he or she will need to work with?
Would the person who spent the most…