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89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment

David Fair

news & politics

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11:19

Issues of the Environment: Washtenaw County 2025...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/12/24

When it comes to our local environment, 2025 has been a year of progress and one with significant and growing challenges. Environmental aspirations are being worked into place in almost direct opposition to changing federal priorities and policies. WEMU's David Fair reflected on 2025 in a conversation with Beth Gibbons, the Director of the Washtenaw County Resiliency Office.

11:22

Issues of the Environment: Lowering your carbon...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/12/17

A lot of folks are about to hit the road or the airports with Christmas right around the corner. Gregory Keoleian is the director of the U-M's Center for Sustainable Systems. He joined WEMU's David Fair to talk about how best to minimize our carbon footprint and still get to where we want to go.

11:11

Issues of the Environment: Expanding Ann Arbor Public...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/12/10

The Ann Arbor School District is making progress toward making its bus fleet entirely electric. The goal is full electrification by 2035. There are challenges in getting to where the district wants to be in terms of funding, infrastructure and reliability. WEMU's David Fair talked with the district’s manager of construction projects, Moe Nagpal, to find out what the process and procedure looks like.

11:12

Issues of the Environment: Zerowaste.org's tips for a...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/12/03

We are well into the holiday shopping season now. Analysts predict there will be more spending this year than last, despite all of the economic uncertainty around the country and here at home. There are ways to cut down on spending and to help the environment at the same time. WEMU's David Fair talked with Samuel McMullen from Ann Arbor-based Zerowaste.org about sustainable gift giving on a pre-holiday edition of "Issues of the Environment".

10:47

Issues of the Environment: Brownfield redevelopment...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/11/26

Brownfield projects in Washtenaw County are paying off. WEMU's David Fair explored the environmental and economic benefits these projects are providing with Nathan Voght from the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

11:00

Issues of the Environment: Advancing Washtenaw...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/11/19

Washtenaw County is increasing efforts toward a more effective way of dealing with waste. 2023 amendments to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act requires all Michigan counties to develop a new “Materials Management Plan” that emphasizes recycling, organics diversion, and sustainable materials management rather than focusing solely on landfill capacity. Its led to some forward thinking and action plans here in Washtenaw County. WEMU's David Fair discussed those programs with Theo

11:09

Issues of the Environment: Federal government...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/11/12

The federal administration has targeted environmental agencies and protection programs in its efforts to reshape the government. The Environmental Protection Agency has seen layoffs and firings and budget cuts. Now, there is a government shutdown creating more issues. WEMU's David Fair discussed immediate and longer-term impacts with Greg Dick, the Director of the Cooperative Institute of Great Lakes Research in Ann Arbor.

11:26

Issues of the Environment: Problems from a sand and...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/11/05

Controversy continues over a sand and gravel mining operation in Ann Arbor Township. What is referred to as the "Vella Pit" had been accused of making some water wells run dry and polluting local waterways. It's been back up and running for a while now. Operators say it's safe, but some residents report increased sediment in their well water and want the operation halted. WEMU's David Fair talked with Ann Arbor Township resident and activist Amy Olszewski about the current situation and where it’s

10:08

Issues of the Environment: A dive into Ann Arbor's...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/10/29

Ann Arbor is looking at something "blue" to expand its protection of drinking and other water sources. The new Bluebelt program will work in concert with the Greenbelt land preservation program to expand water protections. WEMU's David Fair was joined by City of Ann Arbor Land Acquisition Specialist, Rosie Pahl Donaldson, to discuss the goals of the program.

10:52

Issues of the Environment: Protecting trees in...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/10/22

When the trees start changing colors, it’s a time of year where we create time to stop and take in the beauty of nature. It’s also a time where we can provide the care to the trees to ensure their health in the seasons to come. There are a number of diseases here and more creeping in that pose a threat to our trees. WEMU's David Fair discussed the challenges and what to do about it with Washtenaw County Conservation District community forester, Matt DeJonge.

11:22

Issues of the Environment: Pittsfield Township road...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/10/08

An experimental project in Washtenaw County has the potential to change the way road repair and resurfacing are carried out. The pilot project in Pittsfield Township uses a hot-mix asphalt that incorporates ground tire rubber. A study is underway to determine if it is not only better for the environment but more sustainable and resilient as a paving practice. The project is a collaboration between the Washtenaw County Road Commission, Michigan Tech University and the Michigan Department of

11:24

Issues of the Environment: 'Rebuilding Nature: Yard...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/10/01

Fall has arrived, and the transition towards Michigan’s colder months is underway. Many property owners are already looking ahead and designing spring plans for the lawn. That would include Saline resident Edith Anderson. Edith goes beyond modern landscape design and is “Rebuilding Nature: Yard by Yard.” That’s the title of her recently published book. Edith joined WEMU's David Fair to share why more homeowners are trading sterile lawns for living landscapes that welcome back the birds, bees and

14:15

Issues of the Environment: A2Zero Green Fair hits...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/09/17

2025 marks the 25th year of the Green Fair in Ann Arbor. The event was initially called "The Mayor's Green Fair." Now, it is called the A2Zero Green Fair to reflect the city's initiative aimed at reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2030. WEMU's David Fair and Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor discuss the impact of a quarter-century of Green Fairs and the path forward to a healthier and more sustainable community.

10:55

Issues of the Environment: Gamedays at Michigan...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/09/10

The Michigan football season is underway, and excitement and expectations are on high for what the Wolverines can accomplish on the field of play. There are also big expectations for what happens in and around the rest of the "Big House". Work towards making Michigan gamedays a zero-waste event continue, and WEMU's David Fair discussed progress with U-M Senior Project Manager, Alison Richardson.

11:16

Issues of the Environment: Michigan environmental and...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/09/03

Canadian wildfires have played havoc with air quality in Washtenaw County and the state of Michigan for the past few summers. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian is the chief medical executive for the state of Michigan. She joined WEMU's David Fair to look at the short and longer-term implications.

11:16

Issues of the Environment: Measuring streetscape heat...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/08/27

We’ve had plenty of hot days this summer, but what happens to the environment when concrete and asphalt surface temperatures heat well into the 100’s? Keenan Gibbons and his team at SmithGroup wanted to find out and used drones to study heat patterns along Huron Street in Ann Arbor. The research on heat islands has led to some determinations about how to mitigate impact and help move the city towards its carbon neutrality goals. Gibbons joined WEMU's David Fair to explain the research and its

14:48

Issues of the Environment: Ann Arbor's Great Lakes...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/08/20

The federal administration has laid off hundreds of staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the impact is already being felt locally and in region. Moving forward, there is the potential NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor could be shut down. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Nicole Rice about where it stands now and where it may be headed. Rice is among those already fired from the lab in Ann Arbor.

11:07

Issues of the Environment: Butterfly study helps tell...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/08/13

Between 1995 and 2023, the City of Ann Arbor’s Natural Area Preservation (NAP) division coordinated a continuous butterfly monitoring program using trained community science volunteers. Ludovico Behrendt is an environmental data specialist with NAP and conducted a retrospective analysis of this nearly 30-year dataset. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the findings on the health of butterflies in the area and what it says about the health of the local environment.

11:10

Issues of the Environment: The 2025 Ypsi Plastic Free...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/07/30

Just how pervasive are plastics in our lives? Try and live just a week without any. That’s the notion behind the Ypsi Plastic Free July Challenge. It is put forth by Zerowaste.org and runs through August 1st. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Zerowaste.org co-founder and deputy director, Lydia McMullen-Laird, about this year’s challenge and some tips on how best to reduce the use of plastics in our homes.

10:37

Issues of the Environment: A first-person account of...

89.1 WEMU: Issues of the Environment ·

2025/07/23

With an electric vehicle, a longer commute can be more affordable, but there can be challenges, too. Mackenzie Munro used to have a longer commute into Ann Arbor as an employee at the Ecology Center. Now, she makes a similar drive to Lansing for her work with EGLE. Is it worth it? Learn more about the real EV life in Mackenzie's conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

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