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U of M to Install 400 New EV Chargers

U of M to Install 400 New EV Chargers

Monday, August 21: New EV chargers, FoolMoon's future, Planet Fitness shooting, state lawmaker softball, and July's housing market

Morning, Ann Arbor! It’s student move-in week. From Wednesday on, prepare for the city to feel gameday-level hectic.

And to any students returning from summer break, welcome back. Ann Arbor’s just as great as you remember it.

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ANN ARBORITES SHOULD KNOW

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🔋 New EV Chargers: The University of Michigan has officially begun work on its four-year plan to install 400 electric vehicle chargers on campus - the project’s first phase aims to have 100 total chargers installed across next Spring, Summer, and Fall (a list of the proposed locations). The chargers will be available to university parking pass holders during “enforcement hours” and the public during “non-enforcement hours”. The EV chargers will cost users $1 per hour until the vehicle is fully charged and $3 per hour after.

🎭 Foolish Ending: Assembli, the nonprofit organizing FoolMoon and YpsiGLOW, announced they were shutting down operations due to a lack of funding. The group is now looking for new partners to keep the events going.

🚨 Gym Shooting: Last week, there was a shooting in the Planet Fitness parking lot (2350 West Stadium Boulevard). After an altercation, 33-year-old Orlando Austin shot at a 36-year-old gym goer twice, striking him once in the leg. The two men did not know each other before the incident. The 36-year-old victim is expected to survive and Austin is being held on bond at the Washtenaw County Jail.

💉 Naloxone Training: Through a University of Michigan partnership, Zingerman’s employees will be trained on using and administering naloxone, a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. Using a train-the-trainer model, four lead managers have been trained and will now train their employees. The university is open to partnering with more Ann Arbor businesses.

🎸 Thursday’s Sonic Lunch: May Erlewine

Listen: Spotify or Apple Music
Style: Contemporary Folk
Top Song: “Days Go By” with 6.2 million plays
Popularity: 130,000 monthly Spotify listeners
Thursday’s Concert: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm on the corner of Liberty and Division in downtown Ann Arbor

MICHIGANDERS SHOULD KNOW

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⚾️ Bipartisan Ball Game: Next month, state lawmakers will face off in a Michigan Democrats vs. Michigan Republicans charity softball game. Organized by two first-term House Reps, Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) and Tom Kunze (R-Clare), the friendly, five-inning game is intended to strengthen relationships across the aisle and raise money for a good cause. The game will take place on September 20 at 6:30 pm at Jackson National Stadium - the home stadium for the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team. All proceeds from the event will go to the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, a homeless shelter next to the stadium.

🍃 State Cannabis Industry: Despite Michigan cannabis sales reaching a record high of $276 million in July and the state on pace to become the second-largest cannabis market in the country (behind only California), many Michigan retailers are struggling to turn a profit. With regulatory agencies issuing dozens of new licenses every month, experts describe the market as a “race to the bottom” where increased competition is lowering prices. The current average price of an ounce of recreational marijuana is $99, $23 less than it was a year ago.

💩 Waste-Powered Farms: A team of MSU researchers is working to convert dairy farm waste into energy capable of charging electric vehicles. Using a device that breaks down organic matter into biogas that can be burned to produce electricity, MSU Professor Wei Liao showcased his design last month by charging an electric tractor from animal waste. As the state continues to shift to electric vehicles, Professor Liao hopes his creation could allow dairy farms to double as public charging stations.

🏡 July’s Housing Market: RealComp, a Michigan real estate data company, released a report on the state’s housing market. Last month’s year-over-year (YoY) highlights:

Median Sale Price:
- Michigan: +3.5% YoY ($265,056)
- Washtenaw: +3.5% YoY ($403,637)
New Listings:
- Michigan: -19.9% YoY
- Washtenaw: -30.2% YoY
Avg Days on Market:
- Michigan: +36.8% YoY (19 to 26)
- Washtenaw: +18.8% YoY (16 to 19)
Closed Sales:
- Michigan: -19.0% YoY (9,155)
- Washtenaw: -25.6% YoY (355)