WEMU News Podcast

Eastern Michigan University has announced the elimination of four sports from their intercollegiate athletic program at the conclusion of the spring season as part of the University’s budget restructuring efforts.

Thriving at work is crucial to many people's sense of well-being. People are spending more and more time in the workplace and Dr. Gretchen Spreitzer, faculty director for the Center For Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, says it is ever more important to who we are as individuals to feel fulfilled at work. She says we spend so much time on the job now, it's about more than just earning a paycheck for many people.

Eastern Michigan University’s professor’s union held a rally on campus Thursday to protest budget cuts and the school’s plan to privatize its parking services.

In this week's #OTGYpsi, Patrick Campion and Brianna Kelly sit down with Decky Alexander from Eastern Michigan University. The conversation is about how Washtenaw Community College and EMU seek opportunities to "get involved." You can find Concentrate Media's full article here .

Eastern Michigan University has sent a 17-student contingent to Washington D.C. for National Arts Advocacy Day. It's part education and part functional plea for continuing investment in the arts and arts education. What are the hopes and expectations? That's the focus this week on 89.1 WEMU's "creative:impact."

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we take a close look the role women played in establishing some of the public libraries in Washtenaw County. This history is extra special for one district library in particular this year.

Ypsilanti has so many stories to tell, yet so few storytellers. A small production company intends to change that by training teens how to document such stories on video. In this week's "On the Ground-Ypsi," WEMU's Patrick Campion and Concentrate Media's Brianna Kelly talk to Ariel Moore and her team from the youth-driven media agency, Ward 1 Productions.

The Neutral Zone has been doing great work with Ann Arbor-area kids for a long time. Did you know it has its own record label? 'Youth Owned Records' is teaching kids the ins and outs of the music business with some life lessons thrown in for good measure. Learn more in this week's edition of 89.1 WEMU's "creative:impact."

Helping local agencies find and repair potholes, joining the Ann Arbor Citizens Academy or attending a town hall on education. Those are a few of the engagement opportunities you have this week and those are among the topics covered by WEMU's David Fair and the CivCity Initiative's Mary Morgan on this week's edition of "Civic Matters."

This week, Art and Soul is about the performing arts events happening around Washtenaw County. 89.1 WEMU'S Lisa Barry is joined by local writer, reviewer and blogger Jenn McKee and the co-creator of Ann Arbor's Pointless Brewery and Theatre Tori Tomalia.

The Marvel film "Black Panther" has shaken the pop culture landscape to its core. Among those leading the way in spreading the film's message is Ypsilanti artist Jermaine Dickerson. In this week's "On the Ground-Ypsi," WEMU's Patrick Campion and Concentrate Media's Brianna Kelly spoke with Dickerson about taking a group of Ypsilanti students to see the film, thanks to a crowdfunding campaign he started.

Renovating the historic State Theatre was a huge undertaking, but it took a certain kind of artist to make its marquee light up the Ann Arbor streets again. In this week's "creative:impact," WEMU's David Fair and Arts Alliance CEO Deb Polich talk to Mark Chalou, who owns and operates Chalou Designs, which builds neon signs for local businesses.

Ever notice something that looks like a standalone mailbox located in front of a business or community organizations around town? Ever wondered what's inside? 89.1 WEMU'S Lisa Barry explains they're mini neighborhood book exchanges , hidden in plain sight around Washtenaw County.

Road crews have worked extra hard this month to keep roads clear of ice and snow, but the extensive salt use may be damaging Michigan's lakes and streams. In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's Patrick Campion speaks to Ric Lawson, watershed planner for the Huron River Watershed Council, about how to remedy this situation.

A newly formed citizen coalition, Rising for Economic Democracy in Ypsilanti ( REDY ) is among a collection of citizen groups working to bring Ypsilanti into a new form of representative government. Concentrate Media 's Brianna Kelly brought Erica Mooney from REDY to WEMU to talk about how they "work towards an equitable public input process that broadens what is possible. We build relationships of mutual aid, solidarity, and together listen and learn how to build a healthy community. We value housing as a human right, and are grateful to be able to invite all who are ready to be the leaders we are waiting for." These sentiments are part of a rise of support across America for Community Benefit Ordinances - legally binding ordinances that give unelected officials power to make city decisions in certain circumstances. The city attorney for Ypsilanti will present a draft of a CBO at the 03/06 City Council meeting. According to Mooney, REDY was not meaningfully involved in its creation.

Nature can provide a lot of artistic inspiration, especially when looking at flowers. In this week's "creative:impact," WEMU's David Fair and Arts Alliance CEO Deb Polich talk to Sue Mcleary, who owns and operates Passionflower, an Ann Arbor-based business that specializes in wearable floral arrangements.

Today is Fat Tuesday, which is the day before the 40-day period where Catholics make personal sacrifices known as Lent. This time of year is particularly special to 12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell . She talks to WEMU's Patrick Campion how she and her family have celebrated Fat Tuesday over the years.

Do you worry about type 2 diabetes ? Hundreds of thousands of people in Michigan have been diagnosed with the disease, but the Kidney Foundation of Michigan runs a diabetes prevention class intended to help people avoid dealing with the disease. 89.1 WEMU'S Lisa Barry shares what the class has meant to several Ann Arbor residents and what a difference it is making in their lives.

In this week's "Civic Matters," WEMU's Patrick Campion talks to Mary Morgan, executive director of the CivCity Initiative, about the latest civic issues, including Ann Arbor Police looking for public feedback and how to get involved in your local neighborhood watch.

This week, Art and Soul is about the vibrant visual arts scene in Washtenaw County. 89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry and Omari Rush, the Executive Director of CultureSource and Chairman of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs , are joined by several guests focusing on the arts and local Black History Month celebrations.