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Ann Arbor News - Monday, April 3

Ann Arbor News - Monday, April 3

State tax rates drop 0.2%, Ann Arbor's new solar program, U of M takes GEO to court, a new downtown Mediterranean restaurant, and the first marijuana-infused soda

Morning Ann Arbor! We're spending our morning going through a handful of April Fool's emails but one looks... real? Condado may have launched a Mountain Dew Margarita only available this week. We think?

Need someone to do a fact-finding mission and report back. It's for science.

Read Time: 3.5 minutes

Reader Count: 138 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 0.115%

ANN ARBORITES SHOULD KNOW

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☀️ Ann Arbor Solarize: The city has launched a community bulk-buy solar program. By mass purchasing and installing panels, Solarize offers a cheaper path for residents to utilize solar energy. Between new city programs and grassroots organizations like Ann Arbor for Public Power, Ann Arbor is doing everything it can to reach its goal of running entirely off clean, renewable energy by 2030.

👨‍🏫 U of M Takes GEO To Court: Last week, U of M filed two lawsuits against the Graduate Employees' Organization (GEO) for breaching their previous collective bargaining agreement to not strike while under contract. One lawsuit seeks financial damages caused by the strike while the other seeks an injunction to force the strike to end. The legal moves mirror actions the university took in 2020 during the previous GEO strike.

🚬 Underage Tobacco: According to the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD), 40% of Ann Arbor tobacco retailers sold products to underage youths in 2022. Despite Governor Whitmer signing a package of bills last year to raise the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21, the state is struggling to enforce the new law. For their violations, most retailers were issued warning letters from the WCHD.

🥩 New Restaurant Watch: Spiedeo, a new spit-roasted Mediterranean restaurant, is set to open this summer on 5th Ave (in the old Chela's location). The restaurant, still in its recipe-testing phase, has temporarily taken over the former Root cocktail bar kitchen. Carry-out at the test kitchen is available to the public by appointment.

MICHIGANDERS SHOULD KNOW

Costco

🍼 Costco's Youngest Member: Last week a baby was born in the Brighton-area Costco parking lot. While on the way to the hospital, the husband and wife had to pull into the parking lot because delivery was "imminent". The local fire department and EMS assisted with the delivery and eventual transportation to the hospital. Despite the unusual birthplace, both mom and baby are doing well.

💰 Income Tax Rate Drop: Michigan's individual income tax rate will drop from 4.25% to 4.05% for the 2023 tax year. Triggered by a 2015 law tied to the state's budget surplus, the lower tax rate is expected to return to 4.25% in 2024. Filers earning $30,000 annually will pay $50 less in taxes while filers earning $1 million annually will pay $2,000 less in taxes. It's because of this discrepancy that Democrats were pushing for one-time $180 checks to all Michiganders instead of the tax cut.

🗞 Michigan's Open Senate Seat: With current U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) not seeking another six-year term, the race to be the new Democratic U.S. Senate nominee looks to be between U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and SE Michigan businessman Nasser Beydoun. The winning Democratic candidate will face off against Republican Board of Education member Nikki Snyder or Republican small business owner Michael Hoover.

🥤 Mary Jones Soda: Jones Soda, the popular soda brand known for its unique flavors, is launching a line of marijuana-infused drinks in Michigan. Currently sold in only one other state, Mary Jones Soda will be available in dispensaries this summer.