The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development is funding a survey of small and home-based businesses in our area to find out what they need to be successful. 

WEMU's Bob Eccles spoke with Jessica Meissner about the survey.  Jessica is an economic anthropologist and an advocate for sustainable, community-based economies with The Shed, a business and employment collaborative.

Here's a link to the survey:
http://theshedbec.com

Rattlesnakes in Washtenaw County! They're here, and they serve a purpose. Unfortunately their habitat has been threatened, but a project is underway to help. Joining WEMU's David Fair on Issues of the Environment is Steven Parrish, Steven is the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Habitat Restoration Project Manager and Natural Areas Specialist at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum.  Together, David and Steven discuss  work in Washtenaw County on the Eastern Massasauga Habitat Restoration and Education Project.

Ypsilanti City Council has approved a purchase agreement for a portion of the Water Street Property. As WEMU's Bob Eccles reports, the action will result in a new, Family Dollar Store.

There has been no shortage of input from the community at public forums on the Ann Arbor School District's budget proposal. The latest hearing was held Tuesday night at Pioneer High school. The budget proposal calls for eight-point-seven million dollars in cuts for the upcoming academic year. As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports, attendees are also suggesting ways to enhance district revenue.

Residents in the Village of Dexter have voted to continue on the path to becoming a city. WEMU's Andrew Cluley has more on the vote in Tuesday's election.

Ypsilanti City Council has approved a purchase agreement for a Family Dollar store to be built on the northeast corner of the Water Street re-development area.

The approval came after the developer agreed to some changes to make the store fit better with the city’s vision for the property, including moving the store to the northwest corner of the point-eight-five acre parcel.

The city is selling the parcel for $210,000. 

A light ballot in Washtenaw County on Tuesday day means relatively quick results. The results, keep in mind, are unofficial until certified by the Board of Canvassers.

Voters in Dexter Village have opted to continue moving forward with the process of becoming a city. The measure passed on a vote of 460-to-408. The next step will be the election of a nine-member charter commission. Once a draft charter is adopted and passed by the state, incorporation into city-hood will go before a vote of the people.

Washtenaw Community College is the first community college in Michigan to put a textbook-free learning program in place. 

The Kaleidoscope Project uses open educational resources - basically online textbooks - to help make higher education more affordable. 

Linda Blakey is WCC's Vice-President of Student and Academic Services.  She says the fall semester will be WCC's first time participating in the program, but the Kaleidoscope Project is in its second year.

Lengthy public hearings on a proposed apartment complex development at 413 East Huron have prevented Ann Arbor City Council from taking action on the matter. As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports, for a second meeting in a row, council last night halted its session prior to finishing up the nights agenda.

A decision on ordinances effecting the way the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority operates has been postponed until September. As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports, Ann Arbor City Council last night voted unanimously to delay consideration of the issues.