David Fair

In 2025, there was a significant increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Washtenaw County. Federal immigration policy has created fear and uncertainty among the community's undocumented and documented immigrants. Federal funding changes have impacted some of the organizations that support immigrant people and families. That includes the Michigan Immigration Rights Center (MIRC) in Ypsilanti. What will the new year bring from ICE in Washtenaw County and Michigan? WEMU's David Fair put those questions before the MIRC's policy engagement and communications manager, Christine Sauve, on the first "Washtenaw United" conversation of 2026.

While we ring in the New Year, 2026 will see a continuation of many of the same environmental issues we experienced through 2025. But this year is also a mid-term election year, and that could further complicate issues. 48th District State Representative Jennifer Conlin discusses what may come in 2026. The Ann Arbor Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair and co-host Lisa Wozniak to explore current and new challenges.

Happy New Year from WEMU and from Marquee Arts! In this special, New Year's Day edition of "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair and Marquee Arts cinema programming director, Nick Alderink, look back on 2025 and ahead to what this year will bring.

2025 is wrapping up, and one of the primary issues raised over the past year is the proliferation and impacts of data centers. In 2026, we're likely to see some of these centers move toward becoming operational. Weighing economic benefit against potential environmental harm will continue, and there will be more vocal support and outrage for each proposed center. WEMU's David Fair got together with Washtenaw County Resiliency Office Director Beth Gibbons to try and compute the impact of data centers in Washtenaw County.

For more than 40 years, the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum has filled the space of a former firehouse at 220 E. Ann Street in Ann Arbor. As we close out 2025, we can look forward to another fascinating and intriguing year. Susan Westhoff is President and CEO of the Museum and of the Leslie Science and Nature Center. She joined WEMU's David Fair to reflect on the current year and let us know about all of the new things we’ll get to learn in 2026!

When it comes to our local environment, 2025 has been a year of progress and one with significant and growing challenges. Environmental aspirations are being worked into place in almost direct opposition to changing federal priorities and policies. WEMU's David Fair reflected on 2025 in a conversation with Beth Gibbons, the Director of the Washtenaw County Resiliency Office.

Alpha House East is now open and providing shelter to the unhoused. The majority are Black women who are heads of households. WEMU's David Fair talked with Shonagh Taruza, the executive director of the Interfaith Hospitality Network at Alpha House, about housing insecurity, homelessness and the systems that make it difficult to improve the situation.

Christmas is only a week away, so now is a good time as any catch a great holiday flick! WEMU's David Fair chats with Marquee Arts cinema programming director Nick Alderink about the latest batch of special holiday screenings and some new films as well.

A lot of folks are about to hit the road or the airports with Christmas right around the corner. Gregory Keoleian is the director of the U-M's Center for Sustainable Systems. He joined WEMU's David Fair to talk about how best to minimize our carbon footprint and still get to where we want to go.

Ypsilanti-based Growing Hope imagines a future where everyone has the power to shape their own food system, and no one has to go hungry. Call it “food sovereignty.” In a year when food insecurity is increasing, the Growing Hope family continues to work to empower people and communities. WEMU's David Fair talked with executive director Julius Buzzard about this year and what comes in the New Year to create pathways from soil and dirt to health and wealth.