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🌱 What the $16B AI data center means for Ann Arbor’s backyard

Ann Arbor, Michigan Patch AM: a 5 min read

Morning Ann Arbor! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What the $16B AI data center means for Ann Arbor’s backyard
  • Why Ann Arbor is tapping police funds over $1 parking claims
  • How much is Ann Arbor’s construction boom costing downtown small businesses?

Also on today's calendar: Half-off Milkshakes for Half Day! and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Why does my coffee taste like dirt? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Sunny and pleasant, with a high of 78 and low of 47 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 79, low: 51.
  • Thursday: Warm with partial sunshine, with a high of 82 and low of 61 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. OpenAI, Oracle leaders praise data center south of Ann Arbor, pledge $10M to local center (mlive.com) — A massive $16 billion AI data center just south of Ann Arbor is moving ahead, with OpenAI and Oracle leaders visiting the Saline Township site and pledging $10 million to upgrade the Saline Recreation Center. While officials tout jobs, tax revenue and community benefits, the project has also stirred lawsuits, protests and recall efforts against township leaders.
   

2. Ann Arbor dips $122,500 into police funds for attorney fee payout in tire chalking case (mlive.com) — Ann Arbor City Council has approved using $122,500 from the police budget to cover attorney fees in the long-running tire-chalking class action, following $1 settlements for affected drivers. The city halted tire chalking in 2019 after a federal court ruling, and this payment is contingent on final settlement paperwork and dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice.
   

3. Ann Arbor business owners say construction is deterring customers (michigandaily.com) — Downtown Ann Arbor businesses say a cluster of city and private construction projects is driving away customers, complicating commutes, and even causing utility outages. Shop owners along South Fourth, South University, and nearby streets report poor communication from city officials, blocked parking, and reduced sales, and some are now calling for compensation to help small businesses weather the disruption.
   

4. Ann Arbor's forgotten music legend gets his due (metrotimes.com) — Ann Arbor music fans can rediscover local radio pioneer Ollie McLaughlin, the DJ who helped launch Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and turned the Ann Arbor–Ypsilanti area into a jazz hotspot. His children have released a seven-part podcast, “Before Motown There Was Ollie,” blending archival digging, AI-assisted narration, and original music to spotlight his overlooked legacy.
   

5. Ann Arbor Day Trips and Summer Travel (ecurrent.com) — If you’re itching to get out of Ann Arbor this summer, this guide highlights easy day and weekend trips within a few hours’ drive, from the Toledo Zoo and Point Pelee to Saugatuck, Frankenmuth, Hidden Lake Gardens, and Pittsburgh. It focuses on drive times, standout attractions, and ways to turn a simple getaway into a fuller adventure.
   

📸 Around Ann Arbor

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Ann Arbor

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📣 Ann Arbor Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Just curious if anyone has a King Charles Cavalier in our neighborhood that would like to walk with us or have a play date with our five year old rescue..
    she gets very excited and tail wagging when she sees other Cavaliers... (Nextdoor South Park)
  • Hello neighbors I was hoping someone could help me find out about the land that the grove at Veridian was built on?
    I know the juvenile center used to be there but I was curious about what was there prior to that? (Nextdoor Allen)
  • Workbox Staffing posted a job opening for Custodian in Ann Arbor. Apply here.
  • Old Navy, Inc. posted a job opening for Assistant Manager - Arborland in Ann Arbor. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ann Arbor here.

Ok Ann Arbor! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: It was just ground this morning (Thank you Robin C. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Ann Arbor

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Ann Arbor

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.