Council Member Apologizes for Using Facebook and Twitter During Public Meetings
by Patricia Lesko
During four public meetings in early 2017, Ward 4 Council member Jack Eaton (D) spent a total of four hours accessing Facebook and a total of five hours accessing Twitter. Eaton, when asked to comment said: "I…
May 15 Last Day to Give AAATA Feedback on Proposed Bus Service Cuts & Adjustments
by Dave Alexander
In 2014, local voters approved a new five-year transit tax, pumping an additional $21 million into the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority's budget through 2019. The promise to voters was more buses, more places,…
Why it Matters That Your Kid Isn’t Getting More Playtime in Gradeschool
By Christopher Brown
Being a kindergartner today is very different from being a kindergartner 20 years ago. In fact it is more like first grade.
Researchers have demonstrated that five-year-olds are spending more time engaged in…
How Secure Are You? Happy World Password Day
by Megan Squire
The first Thursday in May is World Password Day, but don’t buy a cake or send cards. Computer chip maker Intel created the event as an annual reminder that, for most of us, our password habits are nothing to celebrate.…
U.S. House Passes Revised Version of the American Health Care Act—Michigan U.S. Reps. Respond
by Dave Alexander
The final vote was 217 in favor and 213 against. The House bill to revise Obamacare now goes to the Senate.
Here are key aspects of the House version of bill (per the AP):
Ends tax penalties Obama's law…
Parks Dept. Announces New Bandemer Park Boat Locker Rental Program for Residents
by The Ann Arbor Independent Editorial Team
The City of Ann Arbor has accepted a donation from the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) of six boat lockers that will be available for rent for the 2017 season at Bandemer Park (1352…
Emails/Texts Reveal Council Members Staged Homeless Support for Library Lot Sale Vote
by Patricia Lesko
The Ann Arbor Independent used FOIA to obtain emails, Tweets and text messages sent over several weeks prior to the April 17 City Council meeting between a trio of Council members and Caleb Poirier, founder of tent…
Local Students Win Over $43,000 in 2017 U-M Hopwood Contest
by Jared Wadley
On April 20, the University of Michigan announced the winners of the Avery and Jule Hopwood Awards during the 2017 Graduate and Undergraduate Hopwood Awards Ceremony at Rackham Auditorium.
The awards are funded by a…
Ballot Initiative Effort Expected in 2017 to Legalize Marijuana in Michigan
Josh Sidor
Last year, efforts fell short to get it on the ballot but the question of whether to legalize marijuana in our state just might be left up to voters to decide after all.
The push for a 2018 ballot initiative is expected to…
That Most Decadent of Vegetables
by Ari LeVaux
Once there was a man named Oscar, who took his steak with asparagus, Hollandaise sauce, and lump crab. That much we know.
I first enjoyed this triple-threat of decadence atop a 10,000-ft mountain in Albuquerque, where…