Ann Arbor News - Thursday, April 6

Morning Ann Arbor! Busy few days ahead. No matter your flavor, there's probably something going on you'd like:

• FoolMoon is tomorrow

• The Master's starts today

• The Tiger's home opener is today

• Michigan Hockey's Frozen Four game is tonight

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is speaking at Hillsdale College tonight

Regardless of what you're into, thanks for reading. Our little newsletter is growing!

Read Time: 3 minutes

Reader Count: 166 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 0.138%

ANN ARBORITES SHOULD KNOW

🏡 No Mow May: For the second year in a row, City Council is encouraging locals to mow less and let their lawns grow up to 12" tall. Citing studies that prove less maintained yards provide more resources for pollinators, the city sees shaggy lawns as a small sacrifice to pay for a healthier planet.

🔋 Local Buses Go Electric: The Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE) will be adding electric buses to its fleet. The WAVE going electric is part of a larger local trend. Ann Arbor Public Schools have been using some electric school buses since 2021, Ypsilanti Community Schools will deploy some electric buses in 2024, U of M is planning to add electric buses, and The Ride is evaluating greener transportation.

🩺 Michigan Medicine Acquires Sparrow Health: First announced in December, U of M Health has officially received the necessary regulatory approvals to acquire Lansing-based Sparrow Health. With a shared vision for high-quality care across the state, the merger will allow the two networks to unlock new opportunities and share best practices. With Sparrow's 120 healthcare sites, the $800 million deal brings U of M Health to more than 200 locations across the state.

☀️ Ann Arbor Summer Programs: Yesterday registrations opened up for Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation's spring/summer programs. From swim lessons for kids to golf lessons for adults and martial arts lessons for seniors, the city has an extensive catalog of summer activities.

MICHIGANDERS SHOULD KNOW

👩‍💻 Abortion Access Expands Through Telehealth: Planned Parenthood, the state's largest abortion provider, has begun prescribing "the abortion pill" after online appointments. Made possible by recent federal and state policy changes, telemedicine abortions will expand abortion access to Michiganders across the state. Opponents fear telehealth appointments carry increased health risks as patients can be prescribed abortions without having ultrasounds beforehand.

📚 Read By Grade 3 Repealed: Last month, Gov. Whitmer signed a bill repealing Read by Grade 3, a 2016 law that required the state to hold back 3rd graders for low reading scores. State lawmakers voted on the bill mostly along party lines (Democrats were for the repeal, Republicans were against the repeal).

📝 AP African American Studies: 20 high schools in Michigan were selected by College Board to pilot a new Advanced Placement African American studies course. In development for 9 years, the course aims to expand the current state curriculum by covering early African kingdoms, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the Black Lives Matter movement, and other modern topics. The course has been a popular target for political discourse.

🏝 Lake Superior Island Plot For Sale: A parcel of 114 acres on the Parisian Island in Lake Superior is for sale for $700,000. Located between American and Canadian shores, the majority of the island is owned by the Canadian Crown. The parcel for sale is owned by Carl Cohen, a retired University of Michigan professor.

ON THE MARKET

3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1,131 Sqft | $329,900

3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,904 Sqft | $450,000

5 Bed | 4 Bath | 3,411 Sqft | $1,450,000

That's all for now! See ya on Monday

- Andrew

P. S. - The city launched a storm clean-up dashboard