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ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy will let you dispose of your medications at a free event next week. The disposal event lasts from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, according to a UM release.

A WalletHub.com poll ranked East Lansing and Ann Arbor as two of the top 25 college basketball cities for 2022.

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The county has taken ownership of the old Citizens Bank tower in downtown Flint, and officials say they’ve received a commitment of $10 million to help pay for the purchase and millions of dollars more in expected renovations. The county paid UM $8.5 million for the 10-story building located next to The Huntington National Bank building, which acquired First Merit Bank and the property previously. County officials have said they expect to spend an additional $20 million in renovations. County commissioners agreed to accept a purchase agreement for the 160,000-square-foot property on Dec. 2 following months of negotiations with UM. The county landscape has changed ... What we had to do is reassess ... and think about the city of Flint and Genesee County.”Read more:Genesee County agrees to purchase downtown Flint tower from UM for $8.5MUM sells downtown Flint property for $8.5M, official says tower no longer neededOmicron variant of COVID-19 reaches Genesee County

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Jackson Winters has seen his beloved Michigan Wolverines beat Ohio State twice in his life, but the first time doesn’t really count. The 10-year-old native of Columbus, Ohio was only six months old when UM toppled OSU in 2011, said his father Kyle Winters. He ran shirtless with a blue block M on his chest around the Ohio State campus after the game. They were called to help “plant” H2O Church on the Ohio State University campus in 2008. Read more from MLive:Our favorite photos from Michigan’s historic win over Ohio StateAnn Arbor firefighters troll Michigan State fans, report zero couch fires after Ohio State win24 ejections, a season record, from Michigan Stadium during OSU game

A Russian docking module will launch toward the International Space Station on Wednesday morning (Nov. 24), and you can watch the action live.

Cincinnati held on to the No. 2 ranking by just four points over No. 3 Alabama in The Associated Press college football poll, and Oregon passed Ohio State to move up to No. 5.

Cincinnati held on to the No. 2 ranking by just four points over No. 3 Alabama in The Associated Press college football poll, and Oregon passed Ohio State to move up to No. 5.

Cincinnati held on to the No. 2 ranking by just four points over No. 3 Alabama in The Associated Press college football poll, and Oregon passed Ohio State to move up to No. 5.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Walk up Alhambra or Coronada drives in Ann Arbor on a football Saturday, and you might see Tom Craft and Mike Thomas tossing a baseball back and forth. In this quarter-mile stretch of Ann Arbor, just a mile from Michigan Stadium, the UM-MSU neighborly divide is just that -- neighborly. Sports around the Ann Arbor area, separate from the rivalry, connects these neighbors and softens some of the rivalry animus. Mary Jo comes from a “Spartan sports family,” as she puts it, but moved to Ann Arbor to work for Michigan Medicine. He grew up in Ann Arbor in a UM household with dreams of minding the net as a goaltender.

People gathered Wednesday morning outside Michigan Stadium to demand the University of Michigan launch a full investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse committed by the late Dr. Robert Anderson.

A new study from the University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center finds that Metro Detroit’s Middle Eastern and North African communities face fear, discrimination and other significant barriers that impact their health.

The University of Michigan announced Friday that it will require students who intend to live in Ann Arbor campus dorms this fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ann Arbor’s 50th Hash Bash will be virtual, but smoke-in protest plannedOrganizers of the annual Hash Bash marijuana rally in Ann Arbor are planning to hold the event virtually for the second year in a row, with a long list of speakers and entertainers via online livestream. “If you ask me, Hash Bash happens on the Diag, so I would say that the official Hash Bash is on the Diag, and these people who are afraid to appear in public are now doing something virtually,” Brook said. “I’m at war with these people.”UM warns it won’t condone marijuana use at Hash Bash smoke-in protestFor those planning to attend the Ann Arbor Hash Bash smoke-in protest at the University of Michigan Diag on April 3, UM offers a word of caution. The Huron River in Ann Arbor, where the city draws most of its drinking water, has seen steadily rising levels of toxic “forever chemicals” this past year. The city’s test results for the raw intake water from Barton Pond suggest growing PFAS pollution that Ann Arbor officials believe is coming downstream from Wixom.

ANN ARBOR, MI — For those planning to attend the Ann Arbor Hash Bash smoke-in protest at the University of Michigan Diag on April 3, UM offers a word of caution. Organizers of the annual Hash Bash marijuana rally are planning to hold the event virtually for the second year in a row, with speakers and entertainers via online livestream. “The Constitution is our permit for assembly,” he said, adding the right to protest doesn’t go away in a pandemic. The last in-person Hash Bash in April 2019 — the first with marijuana legalized in Michigan — drew a record crowd of well over 10,000 people from around the state and beyond. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:Downtown upgrades planned to coincide with new Ann Arbor affordable housingAnn Arbor seeking volunteers to help research history of city’s 160-plus parksAnn Arbor may institute unarmed responses to certain 911 calls by end of 2021Judge signals intent to order cleanup plan in Ann Arbor dioxane pollution caseAnn Arbor PFAS levels rise again.

Parents and students gathered in Ann Arbor Saturday to preserve a big milestone at the University of Michigan. READ: ‘We’re coming no matter what’: Parents, students rally at U-M in Ann Arbor for an in-person graduationA rally was held to push U-M officials to hold an in-person graduation. The attendees of the rally chanted “Big House, big day, in-person graduation all the way,” in front of Michigan Union on State Street. RELATED: Some University of Michigan students and parents push for in-person commencementOther Big Ten universities -- including Michigan State University and Purdue University -- have announced they will do some sort of an in-person graduation, which is why these parents and students believe Michigan can find a way. However, some parents and students think the university can come up with a plan to do it now while the students are still on campus.

Powell, a doctor of urologic oncology at Karmanos Cancer Institute, specializes in prostate cancer. Local 4 is profiling Dr. Powell for Black History Month as a change maker in our community. MORE: Black History Month StoriesPowell grew up in Gary, Indiana and always knew he wanted to study medicine. So that was a devastating blow and that was my first actual, my first case of exposure to racism,” Powell said. Powell went on to medical school and became a successful surgeon, and thought leader in prostate cancer research.

RELATED: Michigan unemployment: Residents can start to claim remaining PEUC, PUA paymentsThere’s a new way people who are battling the Unemployment Insurance Agency can get help to solve these issues. The University of Michigan’s Workers’ Rights Clinic has law students assisting residents in solving what can be frustrating issues. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the school said the Workers’ Rights Clinic would average about 15 phone calls each week. The Workers’ Rights Clinic -- formerly the Unemployment Insurance Clinic -- offers advice, provides representation at more. To apply for legal assistance through the Workers’ Rights Clinic, visit the University of Michigan Law School’s official website here.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – University of Michigan students who live on or near campus are being asked to “stay in place” as the coronavirus -- particularly a new, more contagious strain -- continues to spread throughout the region. Students are asked to stay inside their residences between Jan. 27 and Feb. 7 to help curb the spread of the virus. Michigan health officials say that while the variant does appear to spread more easily, it doesn’t appear to cause more severe disease. Rob Ernst, executive director of the University Health Service at U-M. “We encourage all students to stay in place and only leave their residence for essential activities, including getting tested weekly for COVID-19.”The county’s recommendation is directed at all University of Michigan students, including undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Local coronavirus updates can be found on the Washtenaw County Health Department’s website here.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is emphasizing the importance of COVID-19 testing after an outbreak on the University of Michigan campus. READ: Michigan Athletics put on pause -- Athletes, coaches, team-staff asked to quarantineFive cases of the highly-contagious variant B.1.1.7 are linked to the university’s athletics department. Some students at the University aren’t too thrilled at the fact that sports have been suspended due to the new variant of coronavirus. Washtenaw County Health Department Medical Director Juan Luis Marquez said the suspension is necessary to make sure no one else is being placed at risk since the new variant is easier to spread from person-to-person. “Hopefully we just stay safe and kids get vaccinated and then later in February, we’ll be able to resume as normal.”Related: Michigan health officials concerned over COVID variantsResidents can find COVID-19 test sites in their communities on Michigan’s official website..

DETROIT – A hospital in Indiana is promising a full review of the treatment of a Black doctor who died from coronavirus days before Christmas. READ: Black doctor who grew up in Michigan dies of COVID after racist treatment complaintsMoore got her medical degree from the University of Michigan in 2002 and studied engineering at Kettering University in Flint. Moore was admitted to Indiana University Health North Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. Dennis Murphy, President and CEO of Indiana University HealthThe coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black men and women. In response, the state of Michigan started the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities and required implicit bias training for health professionals.

One of those No votes came from Dr. A Oveta Fuller, a virologist and viral pathogen researcher at the University of Michigan. “Because we are in a COVID pandemic and because so many lives are affected and because the public needs to understand so they know what to do,” Dr. Fuller said. Dr. Fuller said more data would help her be certain that she has done her due diligence. I engage the community about them,” Dr. Fuller said. Dr. Fuller, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at University of Michigan Medical School will also be a member of the FDA advisory panel for the Moderna vaccine, Thursday, December 17th.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – University of Michigan’s weekly press conference won’t happen Monday -- it’s been postponed to midweek as the team waits to see if they can return to the practice field to prepare for Ohio State. There are rumors that Harbaugh’s contract would be extended beyond beyond the 2020-21 season. Local 4 spoke with former Wolverine wide receiver Braylon Edwards on his thoughts on if he thinks Harbaugh’s contract will be extended. The full interview can be seen in the video above.

DETROIT – A new study from the University of Michigan is raising an alarm after it found a majority of Detroit residents don’t think they’ll choose to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Those from Hispanic or Latinx communities were twice as likely to say they wouldn’t get the vaccine compared to white responders. Health experts who authored the study say the results are due to high levels of distrust in the government, doctors and news throughout those communities. May is joining health officials’ in their plea to Detroiters to receive a coronavirus vaccine once one becomes available. “This is a deadly, deadly, deadly virus.”Alfonso’s family was affected numerous times by COVID-19.

At the University of Michigan, students living on campus are being required to take a COVID-19 test before leaving campus. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald says students are being asked to get tested within the seven days before going home to their families. Both Washtenaw and Ingham counties have had to issue and adjust emergency health orders in an effort to contain outbreaks at U-M’s and Michigan State University’s campuses. The state has reported record-breaking daily increases of COVID-19 cases multiple times in recent weeks. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan has risen to 229,285 as of Wednesday, including 7,766 deaths, state officials report.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan has canceled undergraduate study abroad programs for the school’s upcoming winter term due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus, continuing travel restrictions and planning time needed for students. Nearly every country is under a University of Michigan travel restriction, Associate Vice Provost and Director of Global Engagement Amy Conger said Monday in a news release. Because there’s still uncertainty, we just don’t want to put the students at risk.”Typically, the university offers programs in more than 80 countries. “We used to tell study abroad students that unexpected things could arise during their travels. COVID-19 is a very real possibility.”The school is offering a mix of in-person, hybrid and remote courses for the current academic year.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – On Thursday, the University of Michigan added outside testing to its COVID-19 dashboard resulting in an increase in the number of positive cases reported. The dashboard reflects cases in students, faculty, staff and alumni on the Ann Arbor campus and now includes cases from outside testing and U-M testing. “University officials have seen a significant increase in positive cases this week with the majority of the increase the result of students being tested at off-campus facilities," states an update on the dashboard. Information on the dashboard is also pulled from University Health Service and Occupational Health Services. Related: University of Michigan to ramp up asymptomatic, saliva-based COVID-19 testing in October

Thursday was the deadline for local clerks across the state to make absentee ballots available to voters. The Saginaw city clerk’s office said it started issuing absentee ballots on Wednesday. In Grand Rapids, voters have been able to go down to the city clerk’s office and fill out absentee ballots for several days already, a clerk’s office representative said. Ballots were sent to about 35,000 Ann Arbor voters by mail Thursday, Beaudry said. Kalamazoo’s plan also includes $11,000 in costs to be reimbursed by the Michigan Secretary of State to put return postage on absentee ballots.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Resident advisors at the University of Michigan have ended their nearly two-week strike after reaching a deal with the university. Residential Staff members demanded more protections including regular access to testing for all residence staff, and enforcement of the university mask and social distancing mandates in dining and residence halls. We’d like to thank everyone that supported us during our strike, especially GEO, AFT, our regents, our LT, & everyone on campus that supported us. GEO members had been on strike since Tuesday, Sept. 8 calling on university leadership to ensure better protections from COVID-19 on campus. That strike ended on Thursday, Sept. 17 after a vote from GEO members the previous evening.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – University of Michigan students, faculty and staff and Ann Arbor residents can now register to vote or cast early in-person absentee ballots at an Ann Arbor City Clerk satellite office right in the heart of the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson visited Ann Arbor City Clerk's satellite office in the University of Michigan Museum of Art on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 (Sarah M. Parlette / WDIV)The UMMA space is the state’s first-ever satellite city clerk’s office on a university campus. (Sarah M. Parlette / WDIV)A look at the new Ann Arbor City Council satellite office in the UMMA. (Sarah M. Parlette / WDIV)A look at the new Ann Arbor City Council satellite office in the UMMA. The satellite office is located in UMMA’s first floor Stenn Gallery at 525 S. State St.Related: Ann Arbor City Clerk to open satellite office at U-M Museum of Art

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Faculty leaders at the University of Michigan have reversed a statement made last week regarding a motion of no-confidence in U-M President Mark Schlissel. After reviewing votes taken during a meeting last week, members of the Faculty Senate now say that the motion should have passed. During a Wednesday, Sept. 16 meeting, the motion was said to have failed because it did not receive a majority of votes in favor. GEO ended its strike on Thursday, Sept. 17, after a deal was struck between it and the university. The faculty senate has around 4,300 members, some of whom were not able to make the Sept. 16 meeting.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan has confirmed a “cluster” of COVID-19 positive cases in the South Quad residence hall on its downtown Ann Arbor campus. On Thursday, the university announced that the sixth and eighth floors of the residence hall have the most cases and are “the area of focus” through a community notice. The cluster was identified by U-M Environment, Health & Safety and the Washtenaw County Health Department. There have been 65 positive cases across the U-M campus in the past two weeks, according to its COVID-19 dashboard. Anyone that has symptoms or a high risk or known exposure, should contact University Health Service (UHS) at 734-764-8320 or complete the online assessment immediately.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Members of the Graduate Employee’s Organization (GEO) voted Wednesday to accept the University of Michigan’s latest offer regarding issues of mutual concern and end their strike. The university and GEO union announced the strike end Thursday morning. “GEO said its members would return to their duties beginning this morning,” reads a statement from the university. At our largest general membership meeting to date, 1,074 GEO members voted to accept the university’s offer, 239 members voted to reject, and 66 abstained. GEO members and supporters now return to our regular work duties.

Maren Spolum and Dr. Hannah Maier from Public Health will speak on the public health implications of GEO's demands. pic.twitter.com/qcTi6pZ3Ns — GEO at U-Michigan (@geo3550) September 16, 2020U-M postdoctoral research fellow in Epidemiology Hannah Maier and public health doctoral student Maren Spolum each spoke on the public health implications of GEO’s demands. She discussed how policing is related to public health and how data from DPSS supports GEO’s demand to disarm police on campus. Addressing the U-M’s claim that some demands are not bargaining items, GEO member Sasha Bishop went over each of GEO’s anti-policing demands. Bishop elaborated on why the student unions' demands address the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – On Friday, undergraduate students at the University of Michigan voiced support for graduate students and resident advisors on strike through a solidarity protest and march. More than 250 undergraduates and members of Students Demand Representation, a U-M student activist organization, listened to speeches given from the steps of the Michigan Union about labor unions and the safety of university workers. After the speeches, undergraduate students marched through downtown Ann Arbor and across campus to join those on strike and to support U-M Dining employees who staged a walkout last week. On Monday afternoon, University of Michigan president Mark Schlissel said through video that the university has taken legal action against the strike. According to University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald, the move includes a “temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the union strike.”More University of Michigan strike coverage:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A student’s social media video went viral this weekend criticizing the University of Michigan’s “quarantine housing” designated for students who test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The viral video comes as U-M graduate student instructors are on strike, protesting the university’s return to in-person learning amid the pandemic. According to the University of Michigan’s digital COVID-19 tracker, 74 cases were reported since students returned to campus on Aug. 24. “Students are not required to use the university’s quarantine housing and some prefer to return to their permanent residences for quarantine,” said U-M Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Rick Fitzgerald. “If students need transportation to quarantine housing, the university provides transportation through our Division of Public Safety & Security.

GEO members are calling for the university to help make the campus safer amid the pandemic, requesting U-M to increase and randomize COVID-19 testing. A U-M student who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 visited the Moore Building on Sept. 1-4. GEO members say the strike will continue until their demands are met. The university stands ready to continue discussions with GEO so that all students are able to continue their studies without further interruption. Related: Michigan State University students asked to self-quarantine amid surge of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – When coronavirus hit colleges, students were forced to make a choice; move back in with mom and dad or stick it out on potentially dangerous campuses. For a growing number of others, however, it was a chance for a change of scenery. Rauwerda also moved out with her friend Maggie Shea, a U-M theater directing major, also a junior. “For a theater major [online class] just doesn’t really work. “I think I’m kind of just going to ride this wave out here,” said Shea.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Graduate students who teach classes at the University of Michigan were on strike Tuesday over in-person instruction during the coronavirus pandemic and other issues. The Graduate Employees' Organization, which represents more than 1,000 instructors, has called for a four-day strike. The vast majority of classes at the University of Michigan have shifted to online but the union said the university isnt doing enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The university is preparing to continue operations, including classes, in the event of a strike, he said. Related: University of Michigan graduate employees to strike, calling for safe campus

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The University of Michigan is ramping up its coronavirus (COVID-19) testing with plans to reach 3,000 weekly tests by the end of September. Students, faculty and staff at the Ann Arbor campus can receive tests as part of the voluntary, free and opt-in surveillance U-M COVID-19 Community Sampling and Tracking Program. Martin is guiding development for the Community Sampling and Tracking Program. U-M community members with COVID-19 symptoms or individuals in close contact with someone with a positive COVID-19 test will not be tested. Students, staff and faculty who have previously been diagnosed with COVID-19 should not enroll in the U-M COVID-19 Community Sampling and Tracking Program.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. University of Michigan students congregating in large groups or not wearing masks can expect to receive reminders about public health and safety. On Aug. 24, the City of Ann Arbor issued an emergency order limiting indoor gatherings to 10 people, and outdoor gatherings to 25. She said that with the new Ann Arbor ordinance, there is less confusion about where people should be wearing masks. Learn more about the Michigan Ambassador program here. Related:City of Ann Arbor issues emergency ordinance limiting gatherings, requires face masksAnn Arbor Parks and Recreation: Tubing prohibited on Argo Cascades starting FridayAnn Arbor Police Department announces University of Michigan partnership for fall term

YPSILANTI, Mich. Washtenaw County Health Department issued a public health emergency order to limit the size of social gatherings or events Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. County officials are not allowing more than 25 people to gather at outdoor events. The local order enhances existing state orders and further restricts social gathering in areas at increased risk for COVID-19 outbreaks as the student population returns to local universities. Social gatherings without preventative measures can quickly lead to increased local cases of COVID, said Jimena Loveluck, MSW, health officer for Washtenaw County. I support the Washtenaw County Health Officers social gathering limitation 100% and thank her for her leadership, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Facial recognition technology should not be in schools, according to a new study out of the University of Michigan. Conducted at the University of Michigans Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, authors of the Cameras in the Classroom report recommend that the technology be banned from use in schools. The report states that use of facial recognition in schools would potentially exacerbate existing racial bias as facial recognition algorithms have higher inaccuracy rates with people of color. The study noted the marginalization of nonconforming students, commodifying data and a lack of regulation were additional factors in banning facial recognition in schools. Cameras in the Classroom: Facial Recognition Technology in Schools is a part of the U-M Ford Schools Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program Technology Assessment Project, a think-tank that works to understand the implications of emerging technology and provide evidence-based insight for policy development.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. College football Saturday at the Big House is a maize and blue tradition but -- like so many other things -- it may not happen this year because of the coronavirus. University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel said if students cant return for on-campus classes, there wont be a football season. There are all kinds of things wrapped up in the football season taking place that make it not just be a trivial thing. If theres no football in the fall, there are serious financial repercussions, emotional." I dont think that he was saying that there isnt going to be any football, Webb said.

Earlier this year, Star Trek boldly returned with an all-new adventure fans had never seen before with the CBS All Access series Star Trek: Picard. In order to understand the events that lead to the shows opening episode one needs only to look towards the work of acclaimed Star Trek author Una McCormacks latest novel, Star Trek: Picard: The Last Best Hope. MW: Do you just pinch yourself now that you get to add to the Star Trek universe the way that you do? Star Trek: Picard: The Last Best Hope is available now from CBS sister company Simon & Schuster wherever books are sold. Be sure to catch new episodes of Star Trek: Picard streaming on demand with CBS All Access.

DETROIT - They're everywhere across Metro Detroit -- the manholes and steam are really a part of life for people living in Detroit. Recently, the manholes, steam and the companies behind them -- Detroit Thermal, LLC, Detroit Renewable Energy LLC and Project Mist HoldCo, LLC -- are the center of a 17-page lawsuit. The lawyers claim the victims all suffered burns to their legs and feet from steam coming from manhole covers in Detroit. Detroit Thermal released the following statement:"We have not received formal notification of a lawsuit and cannot comment on pending litigation. "If you see any visible plumes, please contact Detroit Thermal by calling 313-972-5700."