Ann Arbor News - Thursday, March 16

Morning Ann Arbor! Happy Thursday! Stick around, we've got some wild tech news in today's newsletter. Also, a few upcoming dates to know:

• Saturday: Michigan Hockey in the Big Ten tournament championship

• Monday: Oberon Day 🍻

• Tuesday: Ann Arbor Film Festival starts

Oberon Day is the official start of Spring. Can't change my mind. Thems the rules.

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ANN ARBORITES SHOULD KNOW

💊  Prescription Drones: Starting in 2024, Michigan Medicine will offer prescription deliveries via drones. Announced in a partnership yesterday with Zipline, local patients will be able to receive their medications through traditional means or with next-generation autonomous drones. With Zipline's faster, more convenient, and more sustainable drone deliveries, Michigan Medicine expects to double the number of prescriptions they fill each year.

🌽  Local Vegetable Subscription Service: For the ninth year, Trinity Health is resuming its subscription farm share program providing Washtenaw county residents with locally-sourced produce. With weekly or biweekly packages available, Ann Arbor residents can pick up seasonal vegetables from April 12th to December 13th.

🍃  Saline's First Legal Dealer: Yesterday, Saline's first dispensary, Rush Cannabis, opened. With the Michigan Ave. business opening, Saline's Mayor expects other dispensaries will "move expeditiously" to open shop in town.

🎨  Dexter's Digital Art Teacher: After winning an art educator of the year award in 2022, Dexter middle school teacher Jane Montero has won another national award. Montero's art and design class aims to teach practical, technology-driven skills students can build into long-term careers.

MICHIGANDERS SHOULD KNOW

🚗  Self-Driving Lanes: The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will host two open houses in March to hear from residents on the planned autonomous driving corridor between Detroit and Ann Arbor. First proposed in 2020, the 40 miles of self-driving lanes would connect the University of Michigan, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and Detroit's Michigan Central Station. The state wants the ambitious, first-of-its-kind project to be a clear message that they lead the automotive industry.

💻  Gun Control Measures: HB 1438, a bill that would require background checks on anyone buying a firearm (pistol or long gun), has passed in the House along party lines (56-53). The bill is the first of many gun violence-response measures expected from the state.

📚  Wayne State Guarantee: On Monday, Wayne State University announced a program that would guarantee free tuition to more than half of its students. Under the Wayne State Guarantee, students who come from families making less than $70K and have less than $50K in assets would have their tuition waived. The program mirrors U of M's Go Blue Guarantee.

🏝  Lonely Isle Royale: With only 25,454 visitors last year, Isle Royale, Michigan's only national park, was the 5th least visited national park. For comparison, Zion National Park (3rd most popular) had 4.69 million visitors. 

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That's all for now! See ya Monday.

- Andrew

P. S. If you like what you read, refer a friend.