Ann Arbor News - Monday, April 10

Morning Ann Arbor! This week's forecast is in the 70s, downtown roads have started closing for more outdoor dining, and A2SF has released Top of the Park plans. Watch out, it may be time to put those sunlamps away.

Read Time: 2.75 minutes

Reader Count: 208 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 0.173%

ANN ARBORITES SHOULD KNOW

🎉 The 39th A2SF: Now in its 39th year, A2SF (Ann Arbor's free and open-to-the-public summer festival) has begun sharing details about this year's festivities. Here's what we know:

• Top of the Park dates: June 9 - June 25

• Artists announced: Reggie Watts, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, and Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler from Hamilton)

• Movies by Moonlight lineup: Everything Everywhere All At Once, Ghostbusters, Inside Out, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Elvis, and more

All A2SF details will be announced by May 4. Until then, you can rewatch last year's highlights.

📰 Michigan Football Accountability: USA Today published an investigative piece about an alleged 2018 rape by a Michigan football player that changed the trajectory of the victim's life - leading to her eventual drug overdose. In the piece, Mary Moffett (mother of the deceased, Quinn Moffett) fights for answers and accountability in a story that names Jim Harbaugh, Warde Manual, the Ann Arbor Police Department, and the University of Michigan.

🚌 Megabus Returns to Michigan: After a 6-year hiatus, Megabus has restarted operations in Michigan. Citing a post-pandemic increase in demand, Megabus has begun servicing Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Mackinaw City, and Traverse City. A round-trip ticket from Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo currently costs $18.

☀️ Proposed Solar Power for Dexter Schools: The Dexter Community School District launched a community-wide fundraising campaign to help finance solar panels to power 3 elementary schools and 1 middle school. The project is estimated to cost between $800,000 and $1.2 million, of which the district has already raised $175,000. The panels are estimated to save the district $60,000 - $70,000 a year, paying for themselves in 12 years.

MICHIGANDERS SHOULD KNOW

💧 "Keep it Fresh": The iconic “Pure Michigan” campaign is expanding to emphasize the rewarding life and career the state offers. With the “Pure Opportunity” campaign, Michigan appeals to businesses that its a state ripe with commercial possibilities. And with the “Keep it Fresh” campaign, Michigan returns to the national stage by advertising Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City as tourist destinations.

🩺 Nurse Crisis: Through a March 2022 email survey with 9,000 practicing nurses, new research found 39% of Michigan nurses planned to leave their job within the year. With 84% of nurses reporting "emotional exhaustion", the study found work environments to be "unsafe, unsupported, and chronically understaffed". The study points to new state legislature to attract more nurses and administrative programs to create safer hospitals as two means of solving the crisis.

💰 Marijuana Bribery Scheme: Former Michigan state rep. Rick Johnson has been charged with accepting bribes while serving as the chairman of the state’s medical marijuana licensing board from 2017-2019. Following a five-year investigation, Johnson, two lobbyists, and a medical marijuana business owner have each signed a plea agreement and admitted to the charges. All parties have been compliant with law enforcement and individually face a potential 5-10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

📉 Population Decline: A new report shows the population of Michigan dropped by 3,000 people between 2021 and 2022. On a county level, western and northern Michigan saw an increase in population while southeast Michigan generally saw a decrease. Wayne County experienced the most significant population drop (-1.5%) while Ingham, Ottawa, and Washtenaw saw the most significant increase.

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That's all for now! See ya on Thursday

- Andrew

P. S. - Michigan was named the #1 state in America for beer lovers

P. S. S. - The Ann Arbor Police Department launched a crime dashboard