When she was in town speaking at the Michigan Theater to promote her book Listen up, Mr. President: Everything you Always Wanted Your President to Know and do, Amy and Andrew had the intimidating yet thrilling chance to interview Helen Thomas.

Join us for an evening on engrossing and lively discussion as former Michigan Representative Lynn Rivers presents "The End Of The Constitution?"For this event, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area, Lynn Rivers will discuss issues such as government surveillance and search and seizure under the Patriot Act; detention of Americans without charges as authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act; national security letters, and government infiltration into religious and issue advocacy groups. She will also touch on separation of church and state, separation of powers, the Defense of Marriage Act and gay rights, and how the "parliamentary" behavior of Congress is hobbling the three branch system.Lynn Rivers was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representative from 1995 - 2003. She represented Michigan's 13th Congressional district (Eastern Washtenaw and Western Wayne counties). Prior to serving in Congress, she was a Michigan State Rep. She has an undergraduate degree from UM and a Law degree from Wayne State. She currently teaches Political Science at Washtenaw Community College and the University of Michigan.

The 2012 election is in its final weeks. What is it like to cover elections from U.S. Presidents to the state legislature to local initiatives? Michigan Radio's Elections Team will discuss the challenges of covering races across Michigan and the speed bumps that occur on the campaign trail for reporters, candidates and politicos. Panelists include: - Vincent Duffy, who has been News Director at Michigan Radio since May 2007. He is also the Chair-elect of the Radio-Television-Digital News Association (RTDNA), the world's largest professional organization exclusively serving the electronic news profession.- Zoe Clark, who is the producer of the new Michigan Radio talk show Stateside, as well as the co-host of the Friday afternoon segment It's Just Politics on Michigan Radio. She currently produces Morning Edition, Jack Lessenberry's daily essays, and Michigan Radio's local interviews, including those by All Things Considered host Jennifer White and Morning Edition host Christina Shockley. - Rick Pluta, who has been the Managing Editor and State Capitol bureau chief since 1996. His beats include the Legislature and courts, as well as environmental and legal issues. Pluta has covered the Michigan Capitol since 1987. His radio work has aired on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Marketplace, Marketplace Money, Justice Talking, and Soundprint.Do not miss this special discussion, co-sponsored by Michigan Radio and The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area.

Join representatives from the City of Ann Arbor's Greenbelt program and landowners involved with the program for a dynamic discussion on land conservation, farming and why land conservation is important. During this event, a variety of landowners (both long-time and new farmers) will discuss their farms, farming rewards and challenges; why they chose to protect their land and how the Greenbelt Program has helped to keep farming viable in the Ann Arbor area. Representatives from the City of Ann Arbor's Greenbelt Program will also cover how the program is working with landowners in the Greenbelt District to protect the agriculture and natural resources in the area for future generations. As of February 2012, the Greenbelt has expended funds to protect 27 working farms through the purchase of development rights and 3 open space parks, in collaboration with Washtenaw Natural Area Preservation Program. Collectively, these properties comprise over 3,500 acres protected using Greenbelt funds.

Privatization of services is a growing trend in today's government. But, what factors should be identified when considering privatizing departments or functions? What policy issues should be considered in connection with transferring these departments/functions to a company within the private sector?The League of Women Voters is currently undertaking a study of privatization to examine these issues as well addressing the community impact and strategies to ensure transparency and accountability. Join the League as they host this community forum, which features panelists: 1st Ward Ann Arbor City Council Member - Sabra Briere; Former Washtenaw County Administrator - Bob Guenzel; Ann Arbor Public School Board Member - Susan Baskett; and Lois Richardson who serves as mayor pro tem of the city of Ypsilanti and is in her third term on the city council. This event is cosponsored by the Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.

Panelists John and Leni Sinclair, Pun Plamondon, David Fenton, and Genie Parker--all members of Ann Arbor's White Panthers and Rainbow People's Party--participate in this panel discussion which is part of the of 'Freeing John Sinclair: The Day Legends Came to Town,' a series of events celebrating the launch of AADL's Freeing John Sinclair website (available at aadl.org beginning on Friday, December 9), marking the 40th anniversary of the John Sinclair Freedom Rally that took place in Ann Arbor on December 10, 1971. These five panelists were central to many of the actions and ideals surrounding Ann Arbor's late-1960s counter-culture. For this event, they'll reflect on what they called their "total assault on culture" during the late 1960s and early 1970s - what worked, what didn't, and what it means today.The panel will be moderated by Professor Bruce Conforth of the University of Michigan Program in of American Culture. This special event will be held in Pendleton Room of the Michigan Union, 530 S. State Street on the UM Campus.

Following the US Census every ten years, new lines are drawn for congressional and legislative districts, county commission districts, and city council wards. Come to this panel discussion, co-sponsored by The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area and The Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor, and find out how your city, county and state are making these decisions and how it might affect you. Panelists include Jacqueline Beaudry, Ann Arbor City Clerk; Lawrence Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County Clerk; Rep. Jeff Irwin, State Representative, 53rd District and Rep.

Television and film star David Alan Grier will discuss his new book 'Barack Like Me: The Chocolate Covered Truth.' In it, the acclaimed comedian and actor expounds upon what politics, culture, and race mean today, while recalling significant experiences from throughout his life. David Alan Grier is well known as being a principle cast member of the acclaimed television series "In Living Color," where he helped to create some of that show's most memorable characters.

This program is held in conjunction with the upcoming UM Wallenberg lecture by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Yazir Henri has written and published on the politics of memory, trauma, identity, sustainable peace and Truth Commissions. He is the founding Director of the Direct Action Centre for Peace and Memory in Cape Town, S. Africa, and works on social reintegration programs with former combatants, political prisoners, and torture survivors. Henri currently lectures at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the UM. For more information on Dr.

Downtown Ann Arbor is about to experience change: the City Council is poised to adopt the first major zoning changes to downtown Ann Arbor since 1966. Ms. Rampson will review the history of downtown planning and zoning in Ann Arbor and provide an overview of the draft zoning and parking amendments recently recommended by the Planning Commission. These zoning changes seek to implement the community vision for downtown developed in 2006 with the assistance of Calthorpe and Associates.