The acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers rights acknowledged during a Senate hearing Wednesday that transgender workers are protected under civil rights laws but defended her decision to drop lawsuits on their behalf, saying her agency is not independent and must comply with President Donald Trump’s orders.

A lawsuit filed by 17 states challenging federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions may proceed, a federal appeals court ruled.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has moved to dismiss six of its own cases on behalf of workers alleging gender identity discrimination, arguing that the cases now conflict with President Donald Trump’s recent executive order.

Robert Bowers killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue and he's facing a possible death sentence at his ongoing trial.

Artists returned to Hill Auditorium on Saturday night for the first in-person Ann Arbor Folk Festival since 2020.

Birds of Chicago perform at U-M's Hill Auditorium at the 41st Ann Arbor Folk Festival on Jan. 27, 2018. (Credit: Andrew Rogers)ANN ARBOR – The National Endowment for the Arts has approved a $10,000 Grants for Arts Projects award for The Ark to support the Ann Arbor Folk Festival. The Ark, an intimate folk music venue in downtown Ann Arbor, has been presenting, preserving and encouraging folk, ethnic and roots music for 55 years. Each year, The Ark presents the Ann Arbor Folk Festival at the end of January in the University of Michigan’s historic Hill Auditorium. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support this project from The Ark,” Arts Endowment Acting Chairman Ann Eilers said in a statement.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Like many holidays in 2020, Valentine’s Day in 2021 is going to feel different. Listen to nationally-recognized storytellers Lyn Ford, Chetter Galloway, Antonio Rocha and emcee Steve Daut, president of the Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild. Work together to draw a design on a ceramic lidded container in one of Gutman Gallery’s Take & Make: Valentine’s Day Art Box. The Ann Arbor Art Center is offering special Valentine’s Day Art Boxes. AdRead: Melon, bonfires, mass weddings: How Valentine’s Day has been celebrated around the worldGalentine’s DaySwap out Valentines for Galentines.