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The county’s Covid-19 snapshot reports 1,243 cases in the two weeks ending yesterday, making a weekly case rate of 197 per 100,000 residents, down from 1,664 cases and 300.3 per 100k last week. This is the fifth consecutive week of case decreases, and the county was downgraded to a “medium” CDC risk level for the first time since in mid May. The test positivity rate remains high at 11.3 percent, though that, too, is down from last week.
The city is considering rezoning a large section of the west side for high-density housing. Like April’s rezoning of the S. State area, the new “transit-oriented development” category would permit tall, downtown-style buildings along W. Stadium Blvd. and S. Maple Rd.
Developers are pushing ahead on a mobile home park in Ann Arbor Township, MLive reports (subscriber exclusive). Already suing over the township’s unwillingness to rezone the property—most of which is zoned for agriculture—the park’s developers now want to begin building on the eighty-acre portion of the property already zoned as residential.
The historic commission rejected a proposed three-story addition to the Main St. building that houses Pretzel Bell, MLive reports (subscriber exclusive). While it was once a three-story building, the current one-story design with an art moderne façade dates from the ‘40s and is historically protected. The building’s owner vowed to try once again, promising a plan the commission “can’t say no to.”
The United Way of Washtenaw County is directing $1.38 million to non-profits this year, MLive reports, with the goal of fighting poverty, racism, and trauma by providing housing services, food, child care, and more. That sum includes the first investments from the group’s Community Impact Fund, which is dedicated to providing $1 million annually for the operating expenses of 41 organizations over the next three years.
Students and community members marched Saturday to demand gun reform, the Michigan Daily reports. One of over 450 marches nationally responding to the massacre in Uvalde, TX, the local “March for Our Lives” was organized by students from the Ann Arbor and Plymouth-Canton areas and sought to spur action to address rising gun violence.
LEO-GLAM staged a demonstration to build support for ongoing negotiations, the Daily reports. LEO-GLAM—the Galleries, Librarians, Archivists, and Museums unit of the Lecturers’ Employee Organization—has been bargaining with U-M since December but the sides remain far apart on pay: The university is currently offering a 6.75 percent increase over three years, while LEO-GLAM wants 41.5 percent.
The state Democratic and Republican parties endorsed candidates for the U-M Board of Regents, the Daily reports. The Democrats support incumbents Katherine White and Michael J. Behm. The Republican party backs Lena Epstein and Sevag Vertanian, but party chair and regent Ron Weiser made a separate endorsement of Lauren Hantz.
A U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange at the end of April was bittersweet for Ed and Rosemary Whelan of Manchester, Jan Schlain reports for the Observer. Russian media had speculated that drug smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko would be traded for their son Paul, who was arrested in Moscow three years ago on trumped-up espionage charges. Instead, Yaroshenko was exchanged for another ex-Marine, Trevor Reed.
New construction on the Border-to-Border trail will begin in July, MLive reports (subscriber exclusive). Additions include a segment linking the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, an extension to Chelsea, a signage update, and the Title IX Plaza commemorating local women in sports. An underpass to replace an unofficial path off of the B2B trail is under discussion after the Amtrak struck two pedestrians last week.
Summer stand-up paddle board and kayak classes opened this week, ClickOnDetroit reports. SUP lessons will take place on Tuesdays at Argo Pond, while kayak lessons for seniors will be at Gallup Park on Wednesdays.
Saline Parks and Rec is asking what people want from their parks, MLive reports. The Parks Commission will host an input meeting next Tuesday at Saline City Hall; additional meetings happen July 19 and August 16.
Who’s behind the gigantic microorganisms on the Natural History Museum’s windows? Neil Shah reports for the Observer that they’re the work of Stamps professor Jim Cogswell. It’s called “Unseen Worlds,” and highlights life that is omnipresent, but too small to see with the naked eye.
Yesterday the Ann Arbor Civic Band performed the first of its free summer concerts, ClickOnDetroit reports. Displaced from their ordinary venue at the West Park bandshell due to its crumbling foundation, the ensemble is playing at Burns Park every Wednesday through July 20.
The Ann Arbor-founded Regenerate! Orchestra seeks to “de-homogenize” the classical concert experience, Concentrate reports. Founder and composer Clay Gonzalez leads the orchestra in concerts at atypical venues, indoor and outdoor, and encourages the audience to wander throughout the performance. Watch their Facebook page for upcoming shows.
The Ann Arbor branch of the NAACP hosts its 28th annual Juneteenth celebration Saturday. All are invited to join a 10 a.m. unity march from Fuller Park to Wheeler Park, where events will include a cake walk, hustle lessons, kids activities, and food from vendors. Juneteenth, which celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1865, is now an official holiday in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. City offices will be closed, but trash, recycling, and compost pickups will continue as usual.
Ypsilanti, which also recognized the holiday last year, hosts a two-day Juneteenth celebration this weekend, ClickOnDetroit reports. Ypsi’s celebration will feature a parade, speakers, dance lessons, and music.
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