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

THERE IS WIDESPREAD dissatisfaction among students and parents nationwide concerning state-mandated student testing. Students and parents point to the fact that extensive testing causes stress and anxiety; school administrators drive home…

by Donna Iadipaolo JEFF GAYNOR IS what you might call the epitome of a veteran teacher. Gaynor has worked for the Ann Arbor Public Schools for more than 30 years: 20 years as an elementary teacher and the last 17 years at Clague Middle…

by Christian Usera IT’S JUNE IN Ann Arbor which means the ubiquitous Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF) is set to kick off on June 12 with over 140 events. The much anticipated 32-year-old festival has featured music legends such as Johnny…

by Maddie Fetchiet THE ANN ARBOR Independent investigated the Ann Arbor Public Schools, examining athletic participation and district spending dedicated to athletics and activities. According to records from the U.S. Office of Civil…

by Ari LeVaux ANYONE FOLLOWING California’s deepening water crisis has heard about the state’s thirsty agriculture industry, which uses 80 percent of the state’s water. And they’ve probably had a crash course in almond farming, which…

On June 1, I took an initiative in behalf of the many of the Ann Arbor Public who have spoken for keeping the entirety of the Library Lot as a Public Space. The City Council has contracted with a broker to solicit and evaluate private…

THE LAST TIME the Tipped Minimum Wage was increased, the year was 1991 and George H.W. Bush was in the White House. That wage currently stands at $2.31 per hour. In the U.S., 3.3 million workers are employed in sectors that use the tipped…

by Madeline Fetchiet AFTER NEARLY A year of presentation and debate over Ann Arbor’s Community-Endorsed Deer Management Plan at City Council meetings, the Humane Society of Huron Valley, some city residents, and city officials still…

THIS AUGUST, VOTERS will go to the polls and choose from among candidates running in the City Council Democratic primary elections. In Wards 1, 3, 4 and 5, incumbents’ and challengers’ websites are up and populated with a variety of…