David Fair

Cinetopia 2026 is now officially underway! Opening the festival is the documentary "Sons of Detroit," directed by Jeremy Xido. In this special edition of "Cinema Chat," Xido talks about his film with WEMU's David Fair and Marquee Arts' Nick Alderink. Plus, David and Nick will chat about all of the special screenings coming to Ann Arbor!

Climate change has brought more unpredictable weather, and that has resulted in more severe storms and more flooding, more dams at risk and that, of course, puts property and lives in danger. Around here, we depend on the Huron River. The Digital Water Lab at the University of Michigan has set a network of real-time sensors to improve water monitoring, flood response and coordination among dam operators. WEMU's David Fair got a lesson in how that works in a conversation with U-M Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Branko Kerkez.

An Ypsilanti nonprofit is directing its efforts to provide programming for youngsters in Ypsilanti that promote positive outcomes in all aspects of life. It’s called Educate Youth and says it's committed to increasing high school graduation rates and working one-on-one to develop a clear post-high school plan. WEMU's David Fair talked with founder and executive director Gail Wolkoff about the successes to date and the challenges ahead.

Cinetopia is less than a week away now! WEMU's David Fair gets together with Marquee Arts' own Nick Alderink to chat about the final preparations for this year's festival. Plus, they give a rundown of the newest films and special screenings arriving on the big screen in the coming days!

Are you familiar with pocket forests? These are dense plantings of native trees and shrubs that can influence water movement and soil conditions and improve the environment and ecosystem in a targeted area. There are already some in Washtenaw County, and more are coming. WEMU's David Fair talked about the growing number of small-scale ecological projects with Dr. Heather Chen-Yost, who is a volunteer with the Tree Town Urban Forest Team.

Affordability not only continues to be an issue, it is a growing issue among working Americans. Here in Southeast Michigan, more than 40% of all households struggle to pay for basic needs like food, housing and healthcare. Current models indicate that number is likely to grow. Alyssa Alonte is the Manager of Community Investments at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. She discussed how non-profits and individual donors are working to help get people through with WEMU's David Fair.

Large-scale data centers are increasing in number. They can use a lot of land, water and energy. In the meantime, wind and solar farms are part of the renewable energy future. Where to put them, and how to responsibly deal with land use issues, is difficult. These decisions can have a particular impact on our rural communities and the people who live there. Are we prepared for that future? WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters CEO and President, Lisa Wozniak, wanted to know about potential benefits and consequences. They talked it over with Dr. Sarah Mills, the Director of the University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute's Center for EmPowering Communities.

The weather is warming up, and the same can be said about the movie world! WEMU's David Fair meets up with Marquee Arts' own Nick Alderink to discuss the newest films landing on the big screen, what to expect at this year's Cinetopia Film Festival, and the special screenings that are coming to Ann Arbor!

Environmental concerns continue to surround data centers, and there are a number either approved or planned in Washtenaw County. Supporters of these centers contend there are ways to ensure environmental health while improving the local economy. We’ve explored environmental concerns on WEMU’s "Issues of the Environment." This time around, we’ll get a business perspective on it. Phil Santer is Chief Operating Officer for Ann Arbor SPARK, and he joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the economics of these data centers.

It is 2026, and all too often, we continue to see incidents of discrimination in housing. In fact, because of increasing complaints, the Fair Housing Center of Washtenaw County had to rebrand as the Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan about 10 years ago. Why is this still happening? WEMU's David Fair talked it over with the Fair Housing Center’s executive director, Kristen Cuhran.