WASHTENAW COUNTY

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Sheriff’s deputies have asked for the public’s help in finding a missing teen. She was reported missing after not returning home from school on Friday, Jan. 27. Davidson was last seen by friends around 11 a.m. Friday outside of Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, 601 W Stadium Blvd., police said. According to the sheriff’s office, Davidson last communicated with family members around 9 a.m. on Friday while on her way to school. Read more from MLiveHere’s what a new report says about Ann Arbor traffic crash trendsDeveloper unveils plan for student high-rise next to downtown Ann Arbor libraryTraffic watch: Road construction round-up for Washtenaw County, Jan. 29

This year’s annual Luminary Walk will take place between 4-7 p.m. on Saturday.

A Pioneer High School student is still missing days after she didn’t return home from the Ann Arbor school.

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

ANN ARBOR, MI -- There are a handful of construction projects in Washtenaw County that could impact commute times, traffic and road closures this week. Vehicles travelling south will detour west on Depot Street, south on Main Street and east on Kingsley Street. Eastbound West Madison Street traffic will shift into the left turn lane at the South Main Street intersection. OTHER AREAS OF WASHTENAW COUNTY:Lohr Road: The road between Textile Road and Regents Park Court will see an intermittent lane closure during the week of Jan. 30. Bemis Road: The road between Moon Road and east of North Warren Road will see an intermittent lane closure during the week of Jan. 30.

Adriana Davidson, 15, was last seen around 11 a.m. on Friday outside of Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said.

OBLG has found the number of wealthy Ann Arborites has increased 76 percent in the past decade.

Washtenaw County is now at a "low" COVID transmission level, according to the CDC.

The Washtenaw County Health Department is cautioning residents to take extra care when shoveling.

Washtenaw County Health Department Health Officer Jimena Loveluck has begun her three-year term on the Trinity Health Ann Arbor and Livingston Board of Directors.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A quickly-spreading fire destroyed a Washtenaw County golf course clubhouse Wednesday night. Crews arrived to find the golf course’s clubhouse engulfed in flames and called for additional support, officials said. The fire caused more than $1 million in damage, officials said, adding the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Ann Arbor Township Fire Department, Ypsilanti Fire Department, Ypsilanti Township Fire Department, Salem Township Fire Department, Northfield Township Fire Department, Northville Township Fire Department, Plymouth Fire Department, Canton Fire Department, Huron Valley Ambulance, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and HART assisted at the scene. More from The Ann Arbor News:New president of Ann Arbor Hands On Museum says position is a joyA new Ann Arbor church aims to be a place where people are ‘seen, heard and loved’Upcoming $200M Eastern Michigan dorm seeks tax-exempt status

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with performances and crafts at Briarwood Mall in February.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A couple accused of letting the husband’s father die neglected and in filthy conditions are heading to trial for murder. Karen Wibbeler-Nelson and Robert Dorsey Nelson were both bound over for trial on murder charges Monday, Jan. 23. Public safety officers arrived at the scene and noted numerous dogs and cats in the home with fecal matter spread throughout the dwelling and raw sewage flooding the basement, police said. Prosecutors alleged Andrew Nelson’s death could have been prevented and that the couple’s failure to act as his caregiver led to his death. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 7 before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Patrick Conlin Jr.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - An intersection northeast of Dexter on North Territorial Road will look very different by the end of the year. The junction of North Territorial and Webster Church roads, in northern Washtenaw County, is set for a $1.4-million safety improvement project during the upcoming construction season, Washtenaw County Road Commission officials said. Meanwhile, Webster Church Road will close to all traffic between Lori Lynn Lane and Ralaric Drive, immediately to the north and south of the North Territorial intersection. When the project wraps up, both Webster Church and North Territorial roads will have left turn lanes at the intersection, Road Commission Assistant Director of Engineering Brent Schlack said during the presentation. North Territorial will stay open during that project, with daytime lane closures and flagging while it occurs sometime over the summer.

A Chelsea man has been sentenced to jail after he got into a territorial dispute with a fellow hunter and twice sabotaged the other man’s tree stand, causing him to fall 15-20 feet to the ground.

A University of Michigan student is one of the world’s foremost “speedcubers,” a person capable of quickly solving a Rubik’s Cube.

The brand-new "Tea for Dummies" was written by two tea experts from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Police and rescue crews in Washtenaw County responded to more than 300 weather-related crashes, road run-offs and stuck vehicles during Wednesday’s snowstorm. Washtenaw County Metro Dispatch alone received 295 requests for weather-related crashes throughout Wednesday, Jan. 25, during the snowstorm that dumped upwards of seven inches of snow in many parts of the county, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to the 295 calls processed through dispatch, the Ann Arbor Police Department responded to 58 crashes and traffic hazards during the storm, Ann Arbor Police Spokesperson Chris Page said. Though there were more than 300 crashes during the storm, no major crashes or serious injury crashes were reported. More from The Ann Arbor News:5 fun things to do in Ann Arbor this weekend (Jan. 27-29)DTE Energy opposes Ann Arbor gas ban proposalIntegrating art on campus is the goal of $20M University of Michigan initiative

CHELSEA, MI - Many Washtenaw County Health Department functions are based in Ypsilanti. That could one day change, with county officials seriously considering the possibility of a new western Washtenaw County service center. Read more: Washtenaw County leaders advance $4.79M Saline courthouse expansion with solar fieldThey also directed staff participating in the county facilities assessment to include recommendations on a potential western county service center, an idea vocally supported by county Commissioner Jason Maciejewski, who represents District 1, covering the northwestern portion of the county. Ahead of the Chelsea input event, county officials issued a survey they are asking residents to complete to guide the discussion. It includes questions about which county services residents use and where, as well as the opportunity to add comments.

Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed for a second day on Thursday.

The survey is for a project to provide technical and financial assistance to farmers to reduce sediment, E. coli bacteria and excess nutrients.

ANN ARBOR, MI - After steady snow reduced travel across southeast Michigan Wednesday, some Washtenaw County schools have opted to remain closed Thursday. Several of the district’s public K-12 districts opted close again Thursday, citing secondary and subdivision roads that have not yet been plowed after the area was hit with several inches of snow. The following schools in Washtenaw County are closed Wednesday:Chelsea School DistrictDexter Community SchoolsLincoln Consolidated SchoolsManchester Community SchoolsMilan Area SchoolsSaline Area SchoolsWhitmore Lake Public SchoolsYpsilanti Community SchoolsThis list will be updatedREAD MORE:See Washtenaw County school closings for Wednesday, Jan. 25Storm forecast, timeline for Ann Arbor, Detroit, Jackson shows who flirts with 6 inches of snow

All nonemergency government buildings have closed due to the severe weather, city officials said.

YPSILANTI, MI - Eastern Michigan University has canceled in-person classes and activities Wednesday evening due to snowy weather. The university announced it has canceled all in-person classes and activities after 3 p.m. Jan. 25. Online asynchronous classes may proceed unless directed otherwise by instructor, university officials said. Several Washtenaw County schools opted to cancel classes Wednesday due to the a snowstorm moving across southeast Lower Michigan, Indiana and Ohio on Wednesday and Wednesday night. Detroit, Monroe, Dundee, Adrian, Morenci and Camden will be on the northern edge of the 4- to 6-inch snow area.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Andrea Grant was a warm soul who could capture the attention of everyone in any room with her smile. Members of Grant’s family could not be immediately contacted. Grant was found fatally shot Thursday, Jan. 19, in an SUV parked in front of The Den physical training center in the 3700 block of Plaza Drive. “Any time spent with them was time well spent.”The page, collecting donations for Grant’s family, has generated more than $18,000 in donations as of 8 a.m., Jan. 25. More from The Ann Arbor News:Marijuana company halts $1M development deal for dispensary on Saline city lotSee Washtenaw County school closings for Wednesday, Jan. 252 Ohio men arrested for murder in 1997 Lenawee County cold case

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Northfield Township’s board is back to seven members after officials appointed a Whitmore Lake resident and member of the township’s Parks and Recreation Board to fill a vacant trustee seat on Tuesday, Jan. 24. I understand the importance of listening to different points of view and being open to alternative solutions yet being decisive,” he wrote in his application for the open seat. The township board at first appeared to have a crowded field of residents interested in the open trustee position, with nine applicants listed in the Tuesday meeting packet. Each made their case to officials why they should be chosen for the open seat, supplementing applications they had submitted. Township officials held little discussion after questioning the trustee candidates, with Supervisor Ken Dignan motioning to appoint Saville.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Schools in Washtenaw County opted to get ahead of the weather in canceling school Wednesday, Jan. 25, in anticipation of inclement weather. For Ann Arbor Public Schools, the decision to close was based on ensuring the safety of students and staff, Superintendent Jeanice Swift said. As is our commitment, when possible, we are sharing this school weather closure announcement tonight in order to give families some time to make arrangements,” Swift said. Detroit, Monroe, Dundee, Adrian, Morenci and Camden will be on the northern edge of the 4 inch to 6 inch snow area. Ann Arbor and Jackson will be just north of the 4 inch area.

Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

January is Radon Action Month.

Michigan football’s All-American running back, Blake Corum, confirmed Tuesday that his camouflage Camaro has been stolen.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - With its screens dark and doors shuttered, what was once a popular movie theater is nearing two years as a vacant building in a commercial area along Jackson Road, just outside Ann Arbor. It’s doubtful the silver screen is going to return to the former Goodrich Quality 16, and the theater will likely end up being demolished as part of a redevelopment plan, according to developers in charge of the building.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Bid on a purse and enjoy a night filled with philanthropy at an upcoming United Way of Washtenaw County event. The 15th annual Power of the Purse event is 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at the Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron River Drive, on the Washtenaw Community College campus. United Way of Washtenaw County will select another group of organizations to support. At this event, United Way of Washtenaw County will also recognize Argus Farm Stop Owner Kathy Sample as its 2023 Woman of the Year. To learn more about the event or to purchase tickets, visit United Way of Washtenaw County’s website or its Facebook page.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A veteran township official first elected in 1996 is ending her time in public office in Ann Arbor Township. Now as a result, DiPietro said, almost 1,700 acres in Ann Arbor Township have been protected from development. Read more: Ypsilanti Township leaders pick new trustee, amid concerns the process was ‘done in the dark’Ann Arbor Township tapped a candidate who had already been working in the township offices. MLive/The Ann Arbor News couldn’t immediately reach Colvin-Garcia via email Tuesday morning. More from The Ann Arbor News:Sweetgreen opening first Ann Arbor location with Wolverine apparel, baked good giveawaysResearcher no longer working at University of Michigan amid falsified data chargeAnn Arbor’s net-zero fire station project could cost over $10M, chief saysMaynard Street fire started in restaurant kitchen, Ann Arbor fire officials say

Submit your best winter photos until 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.

Police are reminding community members to report suspicious activity after arresting two Ypsilanti men who allegedly stole packages from local porches.

Months of investigating have given an Ann Arbor family precious few answers in the mysterious freeway death of their loved one.

Sweetgreen is opening steps away from University of Michigan's central campus in Ann Arbor.

Longtime administrator at the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Lori Zupan recently retired after 35 years of service to the organization.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A plot of farmland across from Walmart just outside Saline could one day be a bustling neighborhood with space for a café, shops and a community garden. That’s if an initial vision developers pitched to planning officials in Pittsfield Township on Thursday, Jan. 19, comes to fruition.

Ann Arbor officials said a fire that tore through businesses on Maynard Street last week started in the kitchen of a restaurant, not the nearby vape shop.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A Dexter man and his dog were killed Saturday morning in a fiery crash. Crews arrived to find a man and dog dead inside the burning vehicle. The driver was identified as Karl Weber, 33, of Dexter, police said. The crash investigation indicated Weber’s vehicle left the roadway and crashed off the side of the road before catching fire. More from The Ann Arbor News:Molded out of clay with a 3D printer: Artist blends traditional techniques with technology‘Crying in H Mart’ author to speak at Ann Arbor’s Michigan TheaterMan pleads no contest to causing Ypsilanti crash that killed woman

Work on the Cassidy Lake camp began in September 1936 through the National Youth Administration, focused on providing work and education for young adults. The frustration bubbled over in the pages of the Standard, which reported on multiple heated meetings over the Cassidy Lake facility. The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners eventually got involved, requesting the state take action at Cassidy Lake in 1987. The Cassidy Lake camp is not the first correctional facility inside a state recreation area to be decommissioned, Olson said. And trainees from Cassidy Lake helped dismantle and cleanup Camp Waterloo, a prisoner of war camp during World Ward II in Jackson County.

ANN ARBOR, MI -- There are a handful of construction projects in Washtenaw County that could impact commute times, traffic and road closures this week. West Summit Street: The road between Main Street and Wildt Street/Hiscock Street is expected to be closed until 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6. Eastbound West Madison Street traffic will shift into the left turn lane at the South Main Street intersection. Lohr Road: The road between Textile Road and Regents Park Court will deal with an intermittent lane closure during the week of Jan. 23. Bemis Road: The road between Moon Road and east of North Warren Road will deal with an intermittent lane closure during the week of Jan. 23.

The 59-year-old man wanted in the fatal shooting of a woman in a car in Pittsfield Township parking was found dead by police.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A man wanted in a fatal shooting that occurred Thursday morning outside an Ann Arbor-area physical training facility has been found dead in his home. Michael Anthony Elinski, 59, was found dead Friday, Jan. 20, inside his home located in Clare, according to the Pittsfield Township Police Department. Grant is the first homicide victim of 2023 in Washtenaw County. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Pittsfield Township Police Department Detective Bureau at 734-822-4958. More from The Ann Arbor News:Masks optional again in Ann Arbor Public Schools as mandate expiresAfter 5 break-ins and a fire, Ann Arbor restaurant considers closingMillions of dollars in purchases, contracts no longer go through Ann Arbor council

Washtenaw County Health Department officials recommend residents continue as if the county is still in a "medium" level.

A fire caused a one-story building to collapse in downtown Ann Arbor on Friday morning.

Food Gatherers has been awarded $100,000 to continue its efforts to combat hunger in Washtenaw County.

Tickets are now on sale for the Pioneer Theatre Guild's "You on the Moors Now."

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A pair of 80-year-old dams on a creek running along the Willow Run Airport, vestiges of the area’s industrial past, may never see their centennials. That’s because they’ve been targeted for a removal project meant to eliminate the expense of maintaining them and improve the environmental health of Willow Run Creek, which ultimately discharges into Belleville Lake.

MANCHESTER, MI - In the marathon of transitioning from a village to a city, the finish line might be coming into view for Manchester. In Michigan, cities and townships are the two primary units of local government, and Manchester village acts as a sub-unit of Manchester Township. The draft charter provides for a governing body of six city council members and a mayor who is also part of the council, all serving four-year terms. City elections would be done in odd numbered years, with terms staggered so preserve continuity, a priority of the commission, Wallace said. The draft charter also includes a means by which residents can petition to repeal ordinances passed by the City Council through referendum, another priority of the charter commission.

Authorities are looking for a 59-year-old man who is considered a suspect in the fatal shooting of a woman in a car in Pittsfield Township.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Police have identified a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred Thursday morning outside an Ann Arbor-area physical training facility. Related: Woman found fatally shot in car parked outside Ann Arbor-area gymGrant, 50, of Plymouth, was found at 9:10 a.m. in a white SUV with multiple bullet holes in its front window. Police do not believe the shooting was random and there is no current specific threat to the public. It is not clear if the suspect and victim knew each other or how they were connected. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Pittsfield Township Police Department Detective Bureau at 734-822-4958.

ANN ARBOR – Newly-elected Washtenaw County Trial Judge Arianne Slay was formally honored with an investiture ceremony Thursday night at her alma mater, Pioneer High School. Slay, a former Ann Arbor deputy city attorney and Washtenaw County assistant prosecutor, was elected last November with nearly 70 percent of the vote. Slay was presented her robe and gavel by her husband, Sean Slay, and their children Peyton, 14, and Landon, 10. READ MORE:Newly elected Washtenaw County Trial judge takes bench early with Gov. Whitmer appointmentVoters choose Slay to be next Washtenaw County Trial Court judgeAnn Arbor city attorney running for Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge

Devion Christopher Brooks, 19, was sentenced on a second-degree murder charge for the May 14 shooting death of Laryus Dottery, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Multiple Ann Arbor Police Department officers converged on the Washtenaw County Courthouse, 101 E. Huron St., for what they were told was an active shooter situation, said Ann Arbor police spokeswoman Lt. Bonnie Theil. He was arrested without incident and was held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond. Brooks pleaded no contest to second-degree murder on Dec. 1, court records show. “All I can say is I’m sorry and ask for mercy and forgiveness on my soul.”Read more from The Ann Arbor News:Passenger charged in police chase crash pleads no contestDeveloper defends decision to not include solar for proposed Ann Arbor buildingScammers are pretending to be Washtenaw County sheriff deputies again

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A woman was found fatally shot in a car parked outside an Ann Arbor-area gym Thursday morning. Police arrived to find the vehicle with a victim, a 50-year-old Plymouth woman, dead inside, police said. The woman is the first homicide victim of 2023 in Washtenaw County. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Pittsfield Township Police Department Detective Bureau at 734-822-4958. More from The Ann Arbor News:Reparations for Black residents is focus of new Washtenaw County councilChelsea Treehouse will close in June, but could reopen later with new ownership5 fun things to do in Ann Arbor this weekend (Jan. 20-22)

A 50-year-old woman was found dead inside a vehicle on Thursday morning in Pittsfield Township.

A police situation is unfolding Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of a business plaza in Pittsfield Township near the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport.

Learn how you can sign up for the 10th annual Big House 5K in Ann Arbor.

Police officers swiftly located and arrested a bank robbery suspect over the weekend.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Efforts in Washtenaw County to study the generational harms of slavery, mass incarceration and racist laws, while recommending reparations for Black residents, are going public. Read more: A ‘look back’ and a ‘look forward’: Washtenaw County committee studying reparationsBut its work has been conducted behind close doors, and officials only released some of its membership publicly. Now, the group has resolved to transition the efforts to a public Advisory Council on Reparations, reporting to the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. Black communities face inadequate health care, unjust treatment by the criminal justice system, lack of quality food access and barriers to homeownership, it notes. Once established, the new reparations council would be made up of members serving two-year terms and representing a wide range of sectors, from housing and real estate to education and the arts community.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Residents in Scio Township residents may be asked to consider footing the bill for a slew of fire services improvements. The pair of tax hike proposals, which could be coming this year, could eventually increase rates to a level more than three times their current state.

Erin Virtue has been appointed the new head volleyball coach at U-M.

The Power of the Purse event is back in-person this year at WCC's Morris Lawrence Building.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A man arrested in connection to a brief police chase in Superior Township and crash outside an apartment complex has pleaded no contest. David Tyrone Epps, 34, pleaded no contest Jan. 10 to one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and resisting arrest in connection with his roll in the chase, court records show. Related: Pair charged with multiple felonies for fleeing police, crashing into parked carsSmith fled police and hit several parked cars making his escape, officials said. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 7 before Washtenaw County Trail Judge Carol Kuhnke. Epps remains lodged in the Washtenaw County Jail with bond set at $50,000.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Scammers are once again targeting Washtenaw County residents trying to dupe them out of their money by pretending to be sheriff’s deputies demanding money to avoid arrest. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert Tuesday, Jan. 17, warning it has received several reports of bogus callers claiming to be deputies threating residents with arrest if they don’t send money or gift cards. The suspects of these scams say they are employed by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and may use a current employee’s name, phone number and/or similar email address, police said. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office does not and will not ask for money, gift cards or financial compensation to be given specifically to any individual employee, police said. Residents who do receive a suspicious call should verify all phone and email communications purportedly from the sheriff’s office through the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Metro Dispatch; 734-994-2911 or 911.

Officers from the Brighton post were dispatched to the Ann-Arbor-Saline Road and Textile Road area in Lodi Township.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is warning the community of individuals impersonating law enforcement and demanding money.

Ann Arbor police officers spent several minutes trying to rescue a dog who became stranded on ice on Tuesday.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – An Ohio man was killed Monday morning in an apparent drunken driving crash in Washtenaw County. Rescue crews were called at 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, to the area of Ann Arbor-Saline and Textile roads in Lodi Township for a reported single vehicle crash, according to the Michigan State Police. The driver and sole occupant, identified as James Howard, 69, of Toledo, Ohio, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, police said. More from The Ann Arbor News:Washtenaw County program links young people with local employers for summer internshipsPolice searching for suspect who opened fire on Ann Arbor apartmentGet authentic bao at this new Ann Arbor restaurant

Enjoy a free concert by U-M's Life Sciences Orchestra on Friday at Ann Arbor's famed Hill Auditorium.

Ann Arbor police are searching for the person who fired two shots through the window of an apartment overnight while children were inside sleeping.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - There’s no shortage of residents hoping to take a seat alongside elected leaders on the Ypsilanti Township board. Officials received 18 letters of interest for a open position caused by the resignation of former Trustee Jimmie Wilson Jr., a Democrat who was elected as state representative in November, according to Township Clerk Heather Jarrell Roe.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Icy road conditions on some roads and poor visibility due to fog caused some Washtenaw County school districts to close Tuesday, Jan. 17. Dexter Community Schools closed Tuesday due to “icy dirt roads,” with many of the dirt roads throughout the community still “complete sheets of ice” Superintendent Chris Timmis said in a message to the district Tuesday. “The roads are better than they were last night but still need many hours of the higher temperatures to thaw,” Timmis said. Along with Dexter, Chelsea School District also closed Tuesday, “due to poor visibility and icy conditions of the dirt and rural roads,” the district announced. “The fog is very dense and visibility will be an issue for even the most seasoned drivers.

Enjoy a traditional tea at the Kempf House in downtown Ann Arbor.

She was shot in the head and buried in Washtenaw County.

The downtown organization has announced that it has revamped its annual wintertime fundraiser to now include 4 different studios and food and drink pairings.

ANN ARBOR, MI -- There are a handful of construction projects in Washtenaw County that could impact commute times, traffic and road closures this week. West Summit Street: The road between Main Street and Wildt Street/Hiscock Street is closing starting at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16. Eastbound West Madison Street traffic will shift into the left turn lane at the South Main Street intersection. To keep up with road and lane closures in Ann Arbor and around the county, visit the city’s website, Washtenaw County Road Commission’s website or MDOT’s website. Read more from The Ann Arbor News:It took 15 rounds of voting, but Ann Arbor School Board finally picks president‘It is a dream come true’: Saline Celtic Festival plans to expand, change locations this yearConquer winter weather with Ann Arbor commuting challenge

Peter Chen has resumed teaching at the University of Michigan.

Gleaners and Kroger are hoping you can help them feed those in need by donating food during tough times.

Scores of ice sculptures will be on display on Jan. 21 in downtown Dexter.

Smith’s record will be scrubbed clean if he stays out of trouble during probation.

A new chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) is launching in southeast Michigan.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Looking to shop local? Misty Handmade Boutique & Crystals opened its doors on Saturday, Jan. 7, and is bringing over 45 local vendors under one roof. “It’s not a resale type thing ... it’s going to be top-notch handmade items.”Misty Handmade Boutique & Crystals at 299 N. Zeeb Rd. Sweet and Jennifer Thurman run Krafty Kreationz by J & J, which is one of the vendors in the boutique right now. The Ypsilanti-based Krafty Kreationz got its start last year, and decided it wanted a spot in Misty Handmade Boutique & Crystals.

YPSILANTI, MI - A new program is seeking to remove the cost and time barriers associated with earning a child care certificate or degree. As child care centers in Washtenaw County and across the state seek out employees, including assistant and lead teachers, Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College are partnering up for the program. Overall, the program takes about 10 months to complete and is free to Washtenaw County residents. “This certificate is typically required for anyone that wants to open their own child care center in their home,” Sanders said. READ MORE:As waitlists grow, Washtenaw County child care centers seek staff to meet demandWashtenaw County set to provide $3.2M to 11 groups tackling housing, child care accessFunding aims to fill in mental health resource gaps for Washtenaw County youth

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A business incubator that has helped more than 80 companies, many of which were start-ups in technology and science fields, could be primed to breathe new life into a vacant industrial site along I-94 just outside Ann Arbor. Roughly 70 acres including the industrial site and adjacent undeveloped land were scooped up in 2012 by Ann Arbor-based real estate development company MAVD, MLive/The Ann Arbor News reported at the time. It was employed recently in downtown Chelsea to facilitate the redevelopment of an industrial building into an apartment complex. Township Trustee Mark Brazeau also requested MI-HQ summarize the return on investment for Scio Township and how the incubator would be held accountable if the project progressed. The brownfield TIF plan also requires approval from the township, as well as the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and county board.

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to stop by Ann Arbor on Thursday for a climate change event, the White House said.

Universal prevention funding will provide for training of 12 youth mental health first aid officers over the next three years, allowing schools to train approximately 240 school staff and community members. The WISD and Washtenaw County Community Mental Health also will work to develop a system of support for substance use disorder prevention, early intervention and crisis response and connect students and parents with resources. “Similarly, our youth mental health first aid is about raising awareness and knowledge of signs and symptoms of depression so that we can identify young people that need more support.”For the past three years, Community Mental Health and the Washtenaw Intermediate School District have worked together to provide school-based adolescent mental health services using state and millage funding. The millage has provided funding for youth mental health programming to community partners, including Corner Health Center, the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Washtenaw County, the National Center for Youth Opportunity and Justice, Ozone House, Washtenaw County Health Department, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and Ypsilanti Community Schools. Community Mental Health has been an “responsive to our needs” in making real time adjustments to its services and partnerships to accommodate the challenges children of all ages are facing, Novara said.

WASHETNAW COUNTY, MI - An internet provider founded in Kansas and specializing in rural areas has planted a foothold near Ann Arbor as part of its expansion across Michigan and the Midwest. Mercury Broadband, founded in the Topeka area about 15 years ago, will play a key role in meeting Washtenaw County officials’ goal of extending high-speed broadband internet to every household in the area. They’re the fifth internet provider for Washtenaw County, according to Chris Scharrer, founder and CEO of DCS Technology Design, a firm focused on rural broadband and contracted by Washtenaw County to oversee an ambitious effort to reach 100% of households with reliable, high-speed coverage in the coming years, becoming the first Michigan county to do so. Historically, serving rural areas has been difficult for many internet service providers, according to Crosby. Now he’s got $2.6M to bring broadband to neighborsTake a lantern-lit hike through a recreation area in Washtenaw County this winterSee the 500 projects Ann Arbor aims to tackle under new $1.2B planYpsilanti-area commissioner picked as new chair of Washtenaw County board

ANN ARBOR, MI -- There are a handful of construction projects in Washtenaw County that could impact commute times, traffic and road closures this week. Contractors will interfere with eastbound traffic as they occupy about 250 feet of East Ann Street west of Glen Avenue. Eastbound East Ann Street traffic will detour north on North Ingalls Street to Catherine Street and east on Catherine Street back to Glen Avenue. To keep up with road and lane closures in Ann Arbor and around the county, visit the city’s website, Washtenaw County Road Commission’s website or MDOT’s website. Read more from The Ann Arbor News:Here’s what to expect for Ann Arbor’s 200th birthday celebration in 2024Get free tapas, tacos throughout January at this Ann Arbor restaurantYpsilanti-area gun range now open to the public

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - For the second straight year, Scio Township is working on a plan to fix violations of state regulations and weaknesses in internal financial controls revealed by its annual audit. “Unlike most townships and out of line with statute, Scio Township historically has not had clerks who assert their statutory authority over financial accounting. Scio officials also identified a date where money was collected and a deposit slip completed, but the funds were not deposited in the bank. “I am duty bound as clerk to maintain sound accounting records for Scio Township. The audit and corrective action plan will likely be a topic of discussion at Scio Township’s first board meeting of the year, scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 10, he said.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - In the depths of the Michigan winter, it’s easy to lose track of the light. But after the sun sets in the Waterloo Recreation Area, parks officials are lighting up the way with kerosene lanterns for four nighttime hiking opportunities in January and February. The lantern-lit hikes are an annual tradition at the park which stretches between Washtenaw and Jackson counties and is the largest in the Lower Peninsula. The excursions leave from the Waterloo Recreation Area Discovery Center near Chelsea, at 17030 Bush Road. Four-legged friends are welcome on the lantern-lit hikes, as long as they are on a six-foot leash, McGlashen said.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - With the new year comes new leadership — and new faces — on Washtenaw County’s top elected body. Read more: Democrats hold on to all 9 Washtenaw County board seats for 3rd election in a rowHodge will step into the role filled for the previous two years by former Commissioner Sue Shink, now kicking off her first term in the state Senate. “To the residents of Washtenaw county, I commit to doing everything in my power to help make our home a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” he said. Joining them and making a return to the county board is Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, representing Ann Arbor’s District 8. In an interview with MLive/The Ann Arbor News, he cited ensuring county residents have an affordable place to live as a key goal for the county board this year.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Gun enthusiasts can gear up for a new range that has officially opened in Ypsilanti Township. “There is a tremendous opportunity to grow our store footprint in Michigan,” Tom Willingham, Range USA founder, said in a statement. Range USA, however, was able to proceed after meeting the township’s requirements and the area’s zoning rules. “As part of that mission, we want to set the standard for approachable, clean and safe indoor gun ranges. Range USA is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Read more: New ALDI supermarket could come to Ypsilanti area through deal with township“The addition of ALDI will greatly benefit those who live, work and shop in the township, with their focus on sustainability and competitive prices,” township officials said in a statement. The terms are a standard part of a real estate purchase agreement, and ALDI is making progress toward closing, although it has not yet, according to Ypsilanti Township Attorney Doug Winters. Officials have agreed not to rent or sell any portion of that land for another retail grocery store, according to the purchase agreement. In 2022, officials welcomed Underground Printing as it moved to a warehouse behind the property involved in the ALDI deal. As part of the purchase agreement, ALDI would construct an access drive from Brinker Way, which could potentially connect to future development to the north.

The petition would have brought the question of allowing marijuana businesses, then prohibited in the village, to voters. “We’re pretty much at the point where it is open for a developer if he desires to come to Manchester,” Vailliencourt said. Blue Sky Cannabis, which has operated another marijuana retail location in Belleville for about three and a half months, isn’t deterred by Manchester’s small size. “We were very concerned about our downtown, we didn’t want Main Street opened up to a lot of marijuana businesses,” Vailliencourt said. Officials also just approved the format of its local marijuana license application and set a $5,000 application fee on Tuesday, Jan. 3, according to Vailliencourt.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Public safety officials in Washtenaw County are cautioning people to be careful when traveling out on the ice this winter. If there is slush on the ice, stay off, police said. Slush is an indicator that the ice underneath is no longer freezing from the bottom and the strength of that ice is compromised. Additional indicators of poor ice are spots of open water on ice, large open cracks and ice that looks different from one area to another. Carrying ice awls in your pocket will also greatly affect your ability to get out of water and back onto stable ice.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - This year, Superior Township board meetings are set to premiere as the latest show on streaming. In Salem Township to the north, board meetings have for years been recorded and posted to YouTube, and Ypsilanti Township makes available audio recordings, though it does not stream meetings. Superior Township heard “increased requests” for a virtual board meeting capabilities, according to a resolution passed in April of last year. In April, the township board unanimously OK’d a roughly $23,000 proposal to modernize board room audiovisual capabilities. Board meeting information, including agendas and meeting packets, can be found on the township’s website.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – A man accused of fatally shooting his friend a year ago while they were drinking together in an Ypsilanti apartment has been sentenced to prison. Rodney Lamont McClendon was sentenced Dec. 14 to serve seven and half to 15 years in prison after pleading no contest to manslaughter for the shooting death of Gregory Fairly, court records show. Related: Man accused of fatally shooting friend pleads no contest to manslaughterFairly, 42, was shot multiple times April 10, 2021, in an apartment on LaForge Road in Ypsilanti and was pronounced dead at the scene, records show. Fairly’s girlfriend testified during McClendon’s preliminary examination on Aug. 9, that she and Fairly where at the apartment that night drinking, records show. McClendon was identified as a suspect and arrested after police questioned Fairly’s girlfriend, the sole witness, records show.