A pro-Palestinian protest caused disruption during University of Michigan’s commencement ceremony Saturday. About 50 graduates held signs and chanted, “Disclose, divest! We will not stop, we will not rest,” during the ceremony. Their chant refers to their call on the University to divest from companies with ties to Israel. The University had anticipated the demonstration and followed its plan to minimize disruption while allowing the right for peaceful protest. The ceremony went on as scheduled with no major clashes between protesters and those in attendance. Students, faculty, and those in at ..read more

A former University of Michigan basketball star passed away at the young age of 33. Darius Morris, who played for the Wolverines from 2009 to 2011 under John Beilein, has died, according to Shams Charania with The Athletic. The cause of his death has not been released. TMZ reports his body was found in Los Angeles on Thursday. Morris played four years in the NBA for the Lakers, 76ers, Clippers, Grizzlies and Nets from 2011 through 2015. While at Michigan, Morris led the Big Ten in assists, and set the Michigan single-season assist record, later broken by Trey Burke. Morris had been playing bas ..read more

While many of Michigan’s cities, landmarks, counties and streets can be traced back to Founding Fathers, indigenous names, World War I battles and more, there’s one name that stands out as unique no matter how you square it: Ypsilanti. What, or who, is Ypsilanti named after? Demetrios Ypsilantis was a Greek army officer who played a crucial role in the Greek War of Independence. Related: How Ypsi’s Civil War icon, Underground Railroad stop overcame arson, reclaimed historic legacy When the city of Ypsilanti was founded, Greece was in the thick of a revolution. The Greeks fought for independenc ..read more

Local 4 News is getting out of the studio and hitting the road to be In Your Neighborhood! We’re showcasing what makes our communities great! Ypsilanti isn’t just home to Eastern Michigan University and the first Domino’s Pizza. It’s a historic city that has charm and culture dating back more than 200 years. In addition to its parks, restaurants, theatres and Depot Town, the city has community events that showcase the community running all year. Below you can find a list of upcoming events in the city: May Visit the Ypsilanti Freighthouse in Depot Town for the Spring Artisan Market, featuring ..read more

Police don’t believe a shooting in Ann Arbor that left a driver injured was random. The shooting happened around 1:45 a.m. Friday, May 3, 2024, in the 3300 block of Washtenaw Avenue. Officials said a 32-year-old man was driving on that stretch of Washtenaw Avenue when he was struck by a gunshot. He drove himself to the University of Michigan Hospital, and his injuries are not considered life-threatening. Police said they don’t believe this was a random shooting, but they didn’t reveal any additional information about that belief. Officers are trying to gather information about the shooter. The ..read more

Ann Arbor SPARK held its Annual Meeting and Economic Forum Tuesday, marking a significant milestone of two decades of fostering regional economic development. The event gathered nearly 400 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders to celebrate the accomplishments of 2023 and reflect on SPARK’s enduring impact. “Today’s gathering was not just a celebration of achievements but also a reaffirmation of SPARK’s vital role in our community. Over the last twenty years, we have seen remarkable transformations driven by collaboration and innovation right here in our region,” said Ann ..read more

If you’ve ever wanted to have your own bookshop, there’s one for sale in north Ann Arbor in need of a new lead bookworm. Booksweet owners Shaun Manning and Truly Render are looking to sell the northside bookstore, at 1729 Plymouth Rd., to someone who will keep the shop’s identity as a beacon of community. “This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly. Booksweet is so much more than a shop,” they shared on Booksweet’s website on Wednesday, May 1. “It’s a values-driven community space committed to nurturing equity and co-liberation. It’s an incubator for new ideas, creativity, and community action ..read more

Michigan basketball star and Fab Five member Chris Webber sat down with Local 4′s Rhonda Walker for a rare one-on-one interview. Webber discussed his book, “By God’s Grace,” also talked about his relationship with the University of Michigan, the Fab Five banner controversy, NIL, and much more. You can watch the full interview in the video below ..read more

Chris Webber, a member of the Fab Five and a Michigan basketball legend, spoke to Local 4 about the rekindled conversation centered around whether the banners should be hung in the Crisler Center. Last week, former USC running back Reggie Bush got his Heisman Trophy back 14 years after he forfeited it due to impermissible benefits. That long-awaited change of course sparked new discussions across the Michigan fan base about the university hanging the long-shelved Final Four banners from the Fab Five era. Webber, perhaps the most prominent member of that team, which went to back-to-back nationa ..read more

Dozens of concerts and performances are slated to kick off in downtown Tree Town in June during the annual Ann Arbor Summer Festival. The yearly events series will run from June 14 – 30, and will have more than 200 kids activities, art exhibitions, film screenings, a circus show, movies, exercise classes and concerts. Some performances are free and others are ticketed. AASF events will happen all over the city, with many happening at Top of the Park on Ingalls Mall, Hill Auditorium, and other downtown spots. Buy tickets and find the daily schedule here. Here’s this year’s full performance line ..read more