News

Excavation underway on blighted North Main houses

Chelsea Hoedl — Mon, 20 May, 2013 8:15 p.m.

Excavation on six boarded-up houses along North Main Street has begun.

The project, which was approved by the Ann Arbor City Council in February, is being funded by Ann Arbor’s dangerous building fund. No state funding was granted and as of April 15, the estimated cost for project completion is $90,000.

Progress of Ann Arbor stormwater study to be highlighted during Tuesday meeting

Chelsea Hoedl — Mon, 20 May, 2013 7:29 p.m.

The Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's office will hold its third public meeting regarding the Upper Malletts Stormwater Conveyance Study Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Dicken Elementary School, according to a news release.

Man sentenced up to 10 years in prison for graduation party robbery

John Counts — Mon, 20 May, 2013 6:30 p.m.

Javon Hurston

Courtesy of WCSO

The 35-year-old Ypsilanti Township man accused of robbing a graduation party last summer was sentenced in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Monday to up to 10 years in prison.

Police conducting targeted enforcement at 14 crosswalks in Ann Arbor

Ryan J. Stanton — Mon, 20 May, 2013 5:49 p.m.

Ann Arbor's crosswalks are once again the focus of a targeted enforcement campaign to increase awareness of pedestrian and motorist safety.

In conjunction with the city's transportation program and Safe Streets and Sidewalks Task Force, Ann Arbor police are conducting targeted enforcement at 14 crosswalks this week.

14-story Huron Street high-rise expected back on Ann Arbor City Council agenda tonight

Ryan J. Stanton — Mon, 20 May, 2013 5:36 p.m.

Due to a technicality, the controversial 413 E. Huron St. high-rise development is expected back on the Ann Arbor City Council's agenda at tonight's meeting.

The City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second floor of city hall, 301 E. Huron St.

When the City Council approved the project last week following months of debate, it did not update the site plan date in the adopted resolution, according to city staff.

Pay-to-participate freeze approved by Saline school board

Pete Cunningham — Mon, 20 May, 2013 4:36 p.m.

Pay-to-participate fees will remain at their current rate at Saline Area Schools for the 2013-14 school year.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com file photo

Pay-to-participate fees will stay exactly how they are at Saline High School and Saline Middle School. According to the Saline Reporter, the Saline Area Schools Board of Education recently approved district Superintendent Scot Graden's recommendation to keep fees at their current rate.

Former state employee pleads guilty to scamming $19,832 from welfare office

John Counts — Mon, 20 May, 2013 4:33 p.m.

A 46-year-old Belleville woman has admitted to scamming an office of the Department of Human Services out of $19,832 in welfare money, according to the state attorney general's office.

Court records indicate the offenses took place in the city of Ypsilanti.

Michigan startups attract $242 million in venture capital funding in 2012

Ben Freed — Mon, 20 May, 2013 4:30 p.m.

Contrary to the popular entrepreneurial storyline of meteoric rises and quick massive growth, the Michigan venture capital industry continued to grow at a reasonable and steady pace in 2012.

Willow Run alumni and graduates celebrate the end of an era

Lisa Carolin — Mon, 20 May, 2013 4:29 p.m.

Hundreds of people attended Saturday's celebration at Willow Run High School. Many wore red T-shirts with the words "1943 Forever Willow Run."

Lisa Carolin | For AnnArbor.com

Editor's note: Our apologies for not including this story on our homepage or in our newsletter at the original time it was published. We have elevated it now to make it more visible to our readers.

Gordon Dooley and Opio Shaah were classmates at Willow Run High School. They played football together, enjoyed a winning season their senior year, and graduated together in 1996. Now they work together, and they're both serving on the committee that organized Saturday's celebration in honor of the Flyers, the WIllow Run Community School district.

"This is a proud community," said Dooley. "Many of us are lifers who not only went to school here, but sent our kids here."

Washtenaw County law enforcement agencies begin 2 week crackdown on safety belt use

Chelsea Hoedl — Mon, 20 May, 2013 4:15 p.m.

Ann Arbor-area police agencies will be looking for seatbelt scofflaws during a two-week stepped-up enforcement period surrounding Memorial Day.

The increased enforcement, which began Monday and continues through June 2, is part of the Click It or Ticket campaign, which began in 2005 to increase awareness of Michigan safety belt laws.