News

  Is the guitar today’s universal instrument? Actually, the voice is our first and most universal instrument, but the guitar could follow shortly behind it. In permutations from the oud to the cittern, zither, bouzouki and many others, portable stringed instruments are easy to transport and play while singing. These instruments including today’s modern guitars are versatile in all styles of music. 

Soon Ypsilanti residents will be able to have ice cream delivered at  home, with future plans to expand to Ann Arbor in the near future. WEMU's Bob Eccles sits down with Rob Hess,  of Go! Ice Cream to talk about his passion for ice cream and cycling.

It looks as though Ypsilanti City Council will go ahead and allow the city's firefighters union to make a presentation on why it believes a hybrid police and fire model is wrong for Ypsilanti. 

City Manager Ralph Lange has recommended cross-training police to also respond to fires as a way to make the best use of city employees. 

On this week's edition of "Cinema Chat"  WEMU's David Fair has a different co-host. While Russ Collins spent the morning toiling elsewhere, Michigan Theater Program Director Amanda Bynum filled in to provide all of the movie information you'll need.

Ann Arbor Public Schools are sending layoff notices to 233 teachers but are hoping the layoffs won't be necessary. 

Last night, the school board unanimously passed a layoff notices authorization. More from WEMU's Andrew Cluley:

The Ann Arbor Board of Education continues to grapple with exactly where to make about nine-million dollars in budget reductions. As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports, the board last night held a public hearing on it's proposed plan.

The City of Ypsilanti has made a formal request to join the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.  WEMU's Bob Eccles has the details in his report. 

As of today, there are six medical marijuana dispensaries in Ypsilanti and one grow facility. Some on city council believe that's enough. As WEMU's Bob Eccles reports, a proposed moratorium on new dispensaries went before city council last night, but no decision was reached. 

Artists reflect the unspoken needs of the viewers, readers and listeners. With A Different Time, pianist John Medeski takes us to that quiet, meditative place that is often out of reach given our frantic lives. Perhaps the age of the piano on which Medeski recorded the pieces has something to do with the classic, contemplative sound of A Different Time. The piano was built by the Gaveau piano manufacturers in central France in 1924. It was constructed in a style that predates the modern piano.

Severe weather season is here, and Washtenaw County Emergency Services is making sure the county is well prepared for any nasty weather.

Emergency Services Director Marc Breckenridge says Washtenaw County is better prepared than most Michigan counties.  He says the county has around 400 trained SkyWarn severe weather spotters, and also works closely with area broadcasters to get the word out about severe weather.

Breckenridge says the county adds outdoor emergency sirens every year.  By the end of this year, he says 75 percent of Washtenaw County will be covered by sirens.

The Washtenaw-Lenawee Chapter of the American Red Cross is preparing for possible deployments to Oklahoma, following Monday's tornado that devastated the city of Moore, just outside Oklahoma City.

Executive Director Donna Duvin says the local chapter hasn't yet received any direct requests for assistance, but stands ready to help.

Duvin says in the event local volunteers are called upon to travel to the tornado-ravaged area, the Washtenaw-Lenawee Chapter will still be ready to offer any help necessary to residents in this area.

Ann Arbor officials are looking to improve economic development efforts in the city. As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports, City Council is creating a new task force to better coordinate development strategies.

Ann Arbor City Council will dip into fund balance a bit further next fiscal year to give a boost to affordable housing and human services. As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports,  early this morning the City Council,  passed an 83.1 million dollar general fund budget for the 2014 fiscal year. 

Washtenaw Community College hosted a hearing of the Michigan House Community College Subcommittee on Appropriations Monday afternoon.

WCC President Rose Bellanca told the subcommittee that it would be helpful if the state would help community colleges pay for developmental programs for students who aren't quite ready for college. 

She also thanked the panel for a proposed two-and-a-half percent increase in funding for community colleges.

I admit it – I’m often skeptical regarding a concept CD from a new artist.  I think to myself - oh they need a gimmick to get to me to listen.  

Spring clean-up and community beautification projects will be found throughout Ypsilanti on Saturday.

Motorists in the Ann Arbor/Pittsfield Township should prepare for some new traffic delays as a new road construction project gets underway. As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports, work on a new roundabout at the intersection of State Street and Ellsworth Road will get underway in June.  

The new performing arts group Ann Arbor in Concert holds its inaugural performance Saturday night at 8 at the Michigan Theater.  WEMU's Bob Eccles spoke with a couple of the folks involved.