Thunderstorms will continue to be likely Monday evening and some could produce strong winds and hail, the National Weather Service said. Storms are possible Tuesday and Wednesday as well.

Rain and thunderstorms are possible in the Ann Arbor area for the next couple of days.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

If severe storms develop Monday night, they could produce damaging wind gusts to near 60 mph with the possibility of hail up to an inch in diameter.

Low pressure and a stalled front over the northern Great Lakes combined with warm and humid air in southeast Michigan are fueling the potential for storms, the weather service said. The storms are possible through mid-evening Monday before conditions settle down after midnight, forecasters said.

It will be mostly cloudy with a low around 69 overnight and a 70 percent chance of rain.

Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with a high near 86 and a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The storm threat increases to 70 percent overnight Tuesday with rainfall amounts of between a quarter and a half inch possible.

Wednesday will be a near repeat of Tuesday with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high of 85.

By Wednesday night, the threat of storms will subside, and mostly sunny skies with highs in the high-70s or low-80s are expected the rest of the week.

Signs were up along Miller Avenue on Monday night warning of the upcoming closure and detour at the Newport Road intersection.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

The work being done on the north half of Miller Avenue in the vicinity of Newport Road — along with some work on Newport — is expected to last through July 30, weather permitting.

This traffic control plan will be in place for three weeks at the Miller/Newport intersection. View larger version of map.

City of Ann Arbor

Miller Avenue will continue to operate with eastbound traffic being maintained along the south side of roadway and westbound traffic being detoured via Main Street, Huron Street/Jackson Avenue and Maple Road.

This phase of work at the Miller/Newport intersection is expected to be complete within three weeks.

Access for emergency vehicles, to driveways, and for pedestrians will be maintained to the fullest extent possible, according to the city.

Miller Avenue east and west of the project limits will remain open to two-way traffic.

This is the first of two stages involving the complete reconstruction of the Newport Road intersection as part of the Miller Avenue Improvement Project.

The work includes a new pavement section comprised of layers of sand, gravel and asphalt, as well as bicycle lanes, a raised-island pedestrian crossing on the east leg of the intersection, a left-turn lane on the west leg, and installation of new sidewalks in areas where none presently exist.

Also included in the plans are new sidewalk ramps and concrete bus stop pads to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, sidewalk repairs, and stormwater improvements.

Work on the intersection will be phased with southbound Newport Road traffic being maintained on either the west side or the east side of the roadway.

As a safety precaution, city officials ask motorists to please reduce speeds and drive cautiously through work zones.

The contractor on the project is Hoffman Brothers Inc.

Madison Street detour

The city also planned to implement a traffic control plan on Monday for major construction on Madison Street that's expected to last through Oct. 31.

The street remained open as of early Monday evening, though.

Orange barrels ready by the side of Madison Street on Monday evening. The road wasn't yet closed as of 7 p.m.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Eastbound traffic on Madison will be redirected south on Seventh Street, east on Pauline Boulevard, and north on Main Street. Westbound traffic on Madison will be redirected south on Main Street, west on Pauline Boulevard, and north on Seventh Street.

The Madison Street project includes the replacement of the existing water main with new 12-inch and 8-inch water mains, installation of a stormwater management system, replacement of the curb and gutter, curb ramps, some sidewalk and a complete reconstruction of the street from Main to Seventh.

Access to all driveways is being maintained during the construction. Pedestrian traffic on Madison also is being maintained.

The traffic control plan for Madison Street. View larger version.

City of Ann Arbor

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Ann Arbor’s only Curves Weight Loss Program franchise has grown into more than a place to drop a few pounds and get in shape: It’s become a close-knit community of women.

Baby showers have been held there. Members send each other get well cards. “Exercise, essentially, is boring,” said member Annette Fisch. “But you have friends here. It’s my social club as well as my exercise club, and it’s never boring.”

So it wasn’t a complete surprise that when franchise owner Robin Black Long announced she would close the doors after she couldn’t find a buyer, members came together to try and find a way to keep it afloat. It is the first time in corporate history that members have joined forces to fundraise to keep a Curves open, Long said.

members have pulled together to try and save the club, saying it's as much about having a social network as it is about exercising.

Janet Miler | For AnnArbor.com

After 11 years of owning the Ann Arbor's Curves, located in a narrow, 2,000-square-foot storefront in the Westgate Shopping Center, Long wants to change course. After a number of months on the market without a nibble, Long decided she would close her franchise when her corporate agreement expires on Sept. 4.

Two weeks ago, she sent her 300 members the news, and by 8 a.m. the following day, members of the club began talking about ways to raise the $55,000 to keep it open. By Tuesday, they decided to hold a series of three community meetings to discuss strategy. More than 100 members have attended the meetings. Along the way, they offered to donate what they could — some offered $1,000, while others had to offer something less.

Employee Jeri Shumate and her partner Mary Whitehouse Barber will each chip in $1,000 and a silent partner will front $10,000. Combined with other commitments already made, a total of $25,000 has been raised, leaving about $30,000 to go, Long said. If $55,000 is raised, Shumate and the silent partner would own the five-year franchise agreement.

They turned to crowd funding when they launched a GoFundMe account July 7, while area businesses also are chipping in. Happy House Hallmark, Curves’ Westgate neighbor, offered to hold a fundraiser later this month. Curves and Happy House share a similar customer base, Long said. Shumate and Long are hoping other businesses in the mall also will pitch in.

Members are pledging donations with no string attached, Shumate said. Other than the silent partner, donors are making gifts and not buying a piece of the franchise and it won’t go toward fees or dues (monthly dues ranges from $35 to $65). Long gets choked-up when she talks about how her members are willing to trust and support her.

“It’s so heartfelt to see how Curves has touched people’s lives,” she tells a group of women gathered Monday afternoon to brainstorm the fundraising drive. “We help each other.”

While the 300 members financially makes the Ann Arbor Curves sustainable, a strong marketing campaign is needed for growth, Long said. At its peak, the Ann Arbor Curves had almost 1,000 members. Tapping into the University of Michigan (where there is a Curves discount) and reaching out to local physicians along with using some Curves corporate strategies should help, said Barber, who will be in charge of marketing.

Women at the meeting agreed. “You can have rows and rows of machines across the street and I won’t go there,” one woman said. “At some clubs, you have to have just the right outfits. And others, you have to have just the right thighs. Not here.”

A building elevation drawing for Burton Commons as presented in 2011.

J Bradley Moore & Associates

Burton Commons — a five-building, 80-unit apartment complex planned for 2805 Burton Road — appeared on the Ann Arbor City Council's agenda last week.

The council approved changes to the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes — or PILOT — plan for the project to increase affordability for lower-income tenants.

The developer now plans to apply for low-income housing tax credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority in August.

City Council Member Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, said he's not necessarily excited about the project, nor is he necessarily opposed to it. "There's a lot of ambivalence with that project because it's been out there for so long," he said.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Under the original PILOT approved by the city in July 2008, all of the units were to be occupied by households at 50 percent of the area median income or less — with 20 units set-aside as permanent supportive housing in partnership with Michigan Ability Partners and POWER.

According to the new plan, no longer will any of the units be set aside for supportive housing services, which typically include case management, job training, and drug and alcohol treatment.

The project is now expected to serve a mix of tenants ranging from extremely low-income (30 percent of AMI) to low-income (60 percent of AMI), said Brett Lenart, the county's housing and community infrastructure manager.

Lenart said the PILOT will not take effect until the financing is secured, the buildings are constructed and the units are occupied by qualified renters.

The owner continues to be the Ann Arbor Limited Dividend Housing Association Limited Partnership, but the development partner of MHT Housing — a Michigan-based nonprofit — has been replaced by Highridge Costa Housing Partners, according to a memo from Lenart.

Affiliates of Highridge Costa are the general and limited partners of the Ann Arbor Limited Dividend Housing Association Limited Partnership.

The California-based company has developed or invested in 275 affordable rental properties comprising approximately 27,000 affordable housing units, Lenart said.

Tom Erickson, senior vice president of Highridge Costa, said the development team really hasn't changed at all. It's just that instead of MHT Housing submitting the application for tax credits to the state, Highridge Costa will be doing it now — but with MHT still involved.

"They're going to be the general partner, and we're going to be the limited partner going forward. They submitted the application last time, and we'll be submitting it this time," Erickson said.

"We're the land owner and we never really stepped out of the development role," he added. "We've always either been the sole developer or we were a co-developer. They're the local nonprofit we're going to be using, but we've always been involved. We'll be the co-developer."

The development team was unsuccessful in securing funding for the project when it last applied in February 2012. It's a competitive process and other projects scored higher, Erickson said.

He said it's about a $15 to $16 million project and they're counting on $10 million or so in tax credits, plus a roughly $5 million loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The City Council approved the original site plan for Burton Commons in 2007. At the time, the plans included five three-story buildings with 120 units and 185 parking spaces.

Due to the nationwide housing financial crisis, city officials said, the developers never were able to secure the financing needed to build the apartment complex.

The developer received approval from the city in 2011 for revised plans that reduced the 120-unit project to five two-story buildings with 80 units and 145 parking spaces.

• Download the site plan

Erickson said the one thing that is not changing is the unit mix, which is 40 two-bedroom units and 40 three-bedroom units. He said they'll cater to a range of income levels.

• 10 percent will be at 30 percent of AMI
• 20 percent will be at 40 percent of AMI
• 40 percent will be at 50 percent of AMI
• 30 percent will be at 60 percent of AMI

The site plan for Burton Commons received a two-year extension from the city in 2011, and that expires on Dec. 28, said Wendy Rampson, the city's planning manager. She said the developer will have to pull building permits before then or seek another extension to the site plan.

The city doesn't have a limit on the number of times a site plan can be extended. But each time that happens, it's reviewed by city staff for compliance with current city codes.

City Council Member Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, said he's not necessarily excited about the project, nor is he necessarily opposed to it.

"There's a lot of ambivalence with that project because it's been out there for so long," he said. "I think it's something that the neighbors have had some issues with on the connections on Eli Street, but I think it is what it is and we'll kind of have to keep tabs on it."

Kunselman said it's for the private market to determine if there's a need for more affordable housing in southeast Ann Arbor.

"Obviously they haven't been able to come up with funding," he said. "If all of a sudden there's funding now, what's ironic is they're tapping into the same sort of funds that the Ann Arbor Housing Commission is hoping to tap into, so there's a lot of competition when it comes to that."

He added, "The question I asked originally was — what is the vacancy rate in apartment buildings out that way, and how can you afford another apartment building when there's high vacancy rates?"

Erickson said market studies indicate there's a need and he's confident they'll fill the units quickly at the rents they'll be charging and the income levels they're targeting.

"We're just hoping to get a winning application in so we can get this project going," he said. "We have a great team and I think it's going to be a great project."

Project architect Brad Moore of J Bradley Moore & Associates agreed.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Candidates competing in the two contested City Council races on the Aug. 6 primary ballot in Ann Arbor will take the stage this Wednesday to discuss city issues.

AnnArbor.com will be covering both forums.

Julie Grand, chairwoman of the city's Park Advisory Commission, is trying to unseat incumbent Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, who is seeking a fourth two-year term on council.

Jack Eaton, a labor attorney and longtime neighborhood activist, is trying to unseat incumbent Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, who has been in office since 1999.

The league is taping the forums at the CTN studios at 2805 S. Industrial Highway. Tune in to CTN Channel 19 to watch live or go to CTN's video-on-demand website to see a rebroadcast.

The forums also will be rebroadcast on Channel 19 leading up to the primary.

The winners of the primary potentially face Independent challengers from the so-called Ann Arbor Mixed Use Party in the November general election.

Previous coverage:

• 2 potential challengers emerge in races for Ann Arbor City Council
• University of Michigan student group eyes seats on Ann Arbor City Council
• Jack Eaton pulls petitions to run against Marcia Higgins for Ann Arbor City Council
• 2 contested Ann Arbor City Council races on Aug. 6 primary ballot
• Ann Arbor City Council candidates differ on downtown development issues
• Ann Arbor City Council candidates discuss transit issues and possibility of new AATA tax

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Earlier this year, Tecumseh Products Company moved its headquarters across Pittsfield Township and into the same building that houses its global technology center.

The Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees will decide at their meeting Wednesday whether to award the company an Industrial Facilities Tax exemption for the build out of the new offices. The company also is requesting to transfer the remainder of an older exemption from the old offices to the new location.

The Tecumseh Products technology center and corporate headquarters in Pittsfield Township.

Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com

“When we originally purchased the facility our intent was to make it our engineering and corporate headquarters,” said Randy Kopke, corporate property and facility manager.

“We had more than the space we needed for the technical center and at this point in time we have been able to build out the offices to have our other teams join the technicians.”

Tecumseh Products, which manufactures compressors for cooling units , operates manufacturing centers in France, India, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the United States. The company employs approximately 7,300 people worldwide.

“This is now our only location in Michigan, we do our U.S. manufacturing in other states,” Kopke said. “We have all 140 Michigan employees in Pittsfield Township.”

If the tax abatements are approved, the company will pay 50 percent of the taxes owed on $1,047,855 of real and personal property that is being moved into the new offices in 2013. The abatement would run 12 years, with the taxes incrementally increasing every year.

The abatement that would be transferred from the previous location applies to $584,603 in personal property. The abatement only has two years remaining and would be in effect until 2015.

Global marketing and communications manager Michael Smith told AnnArbor.com when Tecumseh moved its headquarters to the State Street Business Park the proximity of the corporate staff to the technical experts would help increase innovation at the company.

“We’re really excited about bringing our headquarters to the same building as the technology center,” he said at the time.

“Any time you have sales, marketing, and engineering staff working out of the same space there’s a lot of necessary collaboration that is much easier than it would be if you separated by geography. The ability to have impromptu meetings will make us much more effective.”

Tecumseh Products has had an up-and-down year in 2013. The company’s chairman resigned in January before the corporate headquarters moved to their current location in February. In May the company agreed to pay $7 million in a settlement regarding a price-fixing allegations that also involved Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool Corp.

The company’s stock (NASDAQ: TECUA) started the year at $4.84 per share had has risen to $11.22 per share as of 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.

Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Get in touch with Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2

Athleta, a clothing store specializing in women’s work-out wear, is taking over the space formerly occupied by Hollister at Ann Arbor’s Briarwood Mall.

Denise Murray, director of marketing and business development at Briarwood, said Hollister officially closed its doors Saturday after its lease came to an end.

She said Athleta will begin renovating the space this summer and expect to open in November or December.

Hollister clothing store has closed to bring Athleta, a collection of trendy workout-wear. Officials expect the shop to open in November or December of this year.

AnnArbor.com file photo

“I believe we’re bringing in exciting retail to add balance and give a little more variety to our retail mix,” she said. “We’ve been working very aggressively to improve the variety we have at the mall.”

The 7,527-square-foot space is located between Banana Republic and Ann Taylor in the Sears wing of the mall.

According to the press release, Athleta offers “stylish workout wear for the on-the-go woman," and is known for its "sweet, feminine designs for active lifestyles.” The company offers a range of athletic wear, including clothes for yoga, running, hiking, swimming, golf, tennis, cycling and general workout wear. It also offers swimwear, dresses, underwear, shorts, skirts, pants sweaters, jackets, shoes and accessories.

It is known for its “give-it-a-work-out” guarantee, which encourages customers to exercise in their new clothes and “Love it or return it. Anytime. Any reason.”

Athleta also offers in-store fitness classes and events, though details weren’t immediately available if and when those classes would be available at the Briarwood store.

“Ann Arbor is a city that cares about health and fitness, and this store will be a great addition for the women in the community,” Murray said in a press release. “They will be able to be comfortable and look amazing as they live their active lifestyles.”

Athleta is headquartered in Petaluma, Cali., and is part of the Gap company, also of which includes Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and INTERMIX. It was founded in 1998 and acquired by the Gap in 2008, according to its website. It has more than 40 stores in the United States, though the Briarwood store will be its first in Michigan.

Gap Inc., based in San Francisco, reported first quarter net sales of $3.73 billion in May, up 7 percent from the year before and reported May sales 11 percent higher than last year.

Hollister is headquartered in New Albany, Ohio and is part of Abercrombie & Fitch which also owns abercrombie kids and Gilly Hicks. The company reported first quarter net sales of $838.8 million, which is down 9 percent from last year and an 18 percent decrease in total sales for its Hollister brand. The Briarwood store was one of 15 in the state.

• Related: For details on candidates interview responses read the transcript of our live blog.

Seeking: An education professional with the expertise to tackle a pressing budget crisis, the experience to navigate a school district through the emotionally-charged process of redistricting and the creative thinking to narrow achievement gaps. Must love children -about 17,000 of them - be able to manage and communicate with 3,000 employees and stomach public feedback from a deeply invested community.

No problem, right?

The tasks before the next superintendent of Ann Arbor are numerous and significant, but the potential for impact is large. Six top candidates for the position, which is open as of Patricia Green's resignation effective July 9, are in Ann Arbor interviewing with the Board of Education.

Three were interviewed Monday and the remaining three will be interviewed Tuesday beginning at 8 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriott in Ann Arbor. When the interviews finish Tuesday around 3 p.m. the board will deliberate about their top choices and have two or three finalists identified by evening.

Despite the long to-do list, all candidates interviewed Monday expressed a desire to tackle the challenge of leading Ann Arbor Public Schools, a district known for its excellence but undergoing a series of fiscal and leadership struggles.

During his interview process, Richard Faidley, who manages the school district in Hershey, Pa, said it is in part the challenge of leading a school district like Ann Arbor that appealed to him and prompted him to apply just two years after beginning in his current job. He also said he is unsatisfied with his current board, which he believes isn't employing a student-first approach to governance.

After his formal interview, Faidley said he felt like his values clicked with the Ann Arbor BOE's.

"They asked questions that were focused on students and how I would go about and process leadership in the organization," he said.

"That says a lot about the board... and their focus."

The board is looking for someone who would work cohesively with the elected governing body, members said. That sentiment was apparent in questioning when members asked about the candidates' communication styles and expectations of the board.

"There are lots of great leaders out there, but what's important about this phase of the process is that you get the right match," said candidate Jeanice Kerr Swift, who is an assistant superintendent of the Colorado Springs school district.

"It's a lot like getting married. There's a lot more to it than 'Oh there's a great educator,' there are real connections that will stand the test of problems and time. That to me is really important for them."

The board's questions centered around communication, visibility, leadership style, tackling budget issues and touched on union relations, redistricting and achievement gaps.

Candidate Brian Osborne, the superintendent of South Orange-Maplewood School District in New Jersey, told the board that the school system is operating in a leadership vacuum. He noted the high turnover the superintendent position has experienced in recent years and posed the question: How long can a superintendent last in Ann Arbor?

If he was chosen, he says, he'd be looking to stay a long time. Other candidates said the same.

"I've been interested in communities like Ann Arbor for a long time because I think that places where there is a high level of embracing of diversity and a serious support for public education are the kind of places that can be models for the nation of what equity and excellence really looks like."

Swift said the being the superintendent of a school district in transition requires "a grittiness." She said the dynamism of Ann Arbor appealed to her. She came to the town two days before her interview to get a sense of it and liked what she saw.

"Strong communities have quality schools," she said.

The BOE carefully crafted interview questions after receiving feedback from constituents. In-person forums took place and the board administered online surveys seeking feedback on what qualities parents want from the next AAPS superintendent. The result, board president Deb Mexicotte said, was 57 pages of comments on what people are looking for. That, coupled with board expertise, led to the interview questions.

"We listened to the community," Mexicotte said.

"When you look at things like budget, communication, redistricting- those are all reflected there," she added. "All superintendents have their strengths and weaknesses. We've had several superintendents over the last few years, and if you looked at their strengths and weakness, their candidacy, the time that they spent with us— they all brought different things to the table and we can only assume that the new superintendent for the Ann Arbor Public Schools will bring new things to the table."

On Tuesday three more candidates will interview for the position, including two from Ann Arbor. Those interviewing are: Henry Hastings, instructor at Eastern Michigan University College of Business; Sandra Harris, retired superintendent of Oak Park School District in Oak Park; Benjamin Edmondson, principal of Roberto Clemente High School in Ann Arbor.

• To read in detail about the candidates views and answers to interview questions, read our live blog

• To read about candidates work experience, read their bios.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

A crowd at Elvisfest 2012.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com file photo

This weekend marks the 14th year that Elvis fans of all ages will descend upon Ypsilanti’s Depot Town to celebrate the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll during the two-day Michigan Elvisfest.

Whether your like four Elvis young and greasy or middle-aged and pudgy, Elvisfest has you covered. In all, 11 Elvis impersonators - or Elvis Tribute Artists—will take the stage, covering every look and sound of the King’s 20-year career.

And it isn’t just Elvis impersonators. Artists will also portray acts ranging from the Blues Brothers to Roy Orbison, rounding out the event’s oldies-heavy vibe.

The event usually draws as many as 7,000 fans to Ypsilanti’s Riverside Park, according to organizers.

Ticket sales support the Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels program and the Hope Clinic.

For more information, see the Elvisfest website.

Tickets are available at the gate or in advance at the following locations: Ypsilanti Township Community Center, 2025 Clark Road, 734 544-3800; Ypsilanti Area Convention Bureau, 106 W. Michigan Avenue, 734 483-4444; Fantasy Attic, 19 E. Cross St., 734 482-5409; The Rocket, 122 W. Michigan Avenue, 734 483-2291; and Little Ceasars at 1944 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor.

Editor's note: This story was edited at 9:45 a.m. for clarity on the CPL renewal process.

People shop for hand guns at Silver Bullet Firearms in Grand Rapids. CPL permit applications have been increasing in Washtenaw County since 2008.

MLive.com file photo

Since 2008 an increasing number of people have been filing applications for Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPL) in Washtenaw County, records show.

In the first quarter of this year, there have been nearly double the number of applications during the first quarter of last year.

Washtenaw County’s Elections and Administration Division processes the CPL permit applications. Staff is requesting the Board of Commissioners approve turn a part-time administrative coordinator into a full-time position to handle the influx of paperwork.

The office anticipates this year will be a busy one for another reason because of permit renewals as well.

CPL permits expire five years after they’re issued. The jump in permit applications in 2008 means a wave of individuals will be in the office this year to renew their license — for a $105 fee and some paperwork.

The Michigan State Police tracks all registered weapons and CPL permits. The following is from the annual concealed pistol licensing report for Washtenaw County:

• July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007: 620 applications received; 546 permits issued
• July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008: 722 applications received; 605 permits issued
• July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009: 1,853 applications received; 1,563 permits issued
• July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010: 2,360 applications received; 2,425 permits issued
• July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011: 1,957 applications received; 1,999 permits issued

President Barack Obama’s win of the 2008 election initiated a fear among some citizens that the country’s gun laws would change - prompting a wave of CPL applications, said Ernest Milligan Jr., chairman of the Washtenaw County Concealed Pistol Licensing Board.

“People just have this fear factor that they’re going to lose their gun and lose their ammunition,” Milligan said. “I’m assuming they’re going to slow down soon … The next wave will be renewals.”

Milligan said the gun board has seen an increase in women applicants for CPLs during the past several years. Ages of applicants vary widely, from younger adults to individuals in their 70s and 80s, Milligan said.

In Washtenaw County as of July 1, there are 11,643 active CPL permits — 177 of which have been denied, 1,261 of which have expired, 125 of which have been revoked and 93 of which have been suspended, according to MSP data.

Michigan has a total of 502,433 active CPL permits. Wayne County has the highest number of active permits in the state at 98,607.

Ed Golembiewski, elections director for Washtenaw County, said generally it takes one to three months to process an application for a CPL.

After filing an application, paying the $105 filing fee and submitting a photograph, the office files the application in their database and requests any documents that name the individual from the MSP and the county.

The $105 fee is split between entities in the process: $64 goes to the MSP, $26 goes to the county and $15 goes to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office.

The applicant then goes to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office for fingerprinting, where they run a background check.

The Washtenaw County Concealed Pistol Licensing Board then reviews the applications. The board, which consists of a citizen member, a sheriff’s office representative and an MSP representative, meets about once a month to conduct their business.

Board members are often contacted by other law enforcement agencies and family members regarding individuals with CPLs that need to be reviewed, Milligan said. Milligan is a former sheriff’s deputy and is a firearms instructor.

“We review anyone with a criminal history issue,” Milligan said.

Licenses are most commonly revoked because of felony and misdemeanor offenses, state records show.

Applying for a CPL the first time requires an individual to present a certificate showing they have completed a firearms training course.

However, when an individual renews their CPL, they’re required to sign a written statement that they've completed at least three hours of review of the pistol safety training course and have spent at least one hour of time at a firing range in the six months prior to the renewal application.

“There’s no accountability where you have to bring in something to say you did it,” Milligan said. “I’m not saying everyone is a liar, but you know people are not telling the truth all the time. … In any event that we find that they’re not telling the truth, the gun board can call them in and revoke (their CPL).”

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

Ann Arbor Public Schools superintendent candidate Sandra Harris interviews before the Board of Education on Tuesday, July 9.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

• Related: School board interviews superintendent candidates
• Read the live blog of Monday's candidate interviews.

For the second day the Ann Arbor Board of Education will interview candidates to replace Patricia Green as superintendent.

The two-day process to find Green's replacement is being held at the Courtyard Marriott at 3205 Boardwalk Boulevard in Ann Arbor. Interviews began Monday at 10 a.m. and resume Tuesday at 8 a.m.

By evening Tuesday board members will chose two or three finalists from the group of six candidates. Trustees will then visit the finalists' school district before making a final choice.

Green's retirement is effective Tuesday. She served two years in the position.

Candidates to be interviewed Tuesday include Henry Hastings, instructor at Eastern Michigan University College of Business; Sandra Harris, retired superintendent of Oak Park School District in Oak Park; and Benjamin Edmondson, principal of Roberto Clemente High School in Ann Arbor.

• To read about candidates work experience, read their bios.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

The fourth-annual Suits 4 Success clothing drive will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at Kilwin’s Ice Cream Parlor, 107 E. Liberty St. in Ann Arbor.

Suits 4 Success looks to provide people being released from prison with suits and other professional clothing to interview for jobs. Local defense attorney Steve Tramontin said prisoners who are being released have a significant need.

“We accept clothing of any sort,” Tramontin said. “We focus on professional clothing but will take anything, work boots, anything that can be a resource for people trying to make changes and get a fresh start.”

Suits 4 Success works in conjunction with the Washtenaw Prisoner Reentry Initiative.

Mary King, the director of WPRI, said monetary donations also are accepted. One of the main areas of need are big and tall sizes, and money can often help purchase those sizes.

“The prison system is always challenged to feed people on very few dollars per day,” she said. “People gain a lot of weight and come out bigger than when they went in.”

For more information on the event, call 734-834-6706.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

A 1911 Ann Arbor convertible at the 2012 Rolling Sculpture show.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com file photo

Two prototypes—a coupe and a convertible—of the 2014 Corvette will be on hand as well as the futuristic Cadillac ELR concept car are among the more than 350 other classics for the 19th annual version of the show.

“I think we have a really great lineup of concept cars,” said Maura Thomson, executive director of the Main Street Area Association, which, along with Bill Crispin Chevrolet, sponsors the event.

“People who are into Corvettes and who follow the automotive industry will be really excited to see these models at the show.”

And the show’s presence right downtown adds another cool dimension to the event, which also features classic hot-rod tunes spun by DJ Surfer Joe, and live remotes from 107.71-FM to create a fun, family friendly event that typically draws as many as 5,000 visitors to the downtown area.

The event runs from 2-10 p.m.

“This isn’t your typical car show,” Thomson said. “This is such an eclectic mix and attracts people from all different walks of the car world, who maybe haven’t been here before and introduces them to what we have to offer here.”

“It’s all about connecting people.”

Admission is free for spectators. Pre-registration to show cars has expired and a $35 entrance fee for on-site registration, although there is no guarantee of available space, Thomson said.

While participants compete mostly for bragging rights, representatives from Car and Driver and Automobile magazines, as well as the Ann Arbor Observer, will be on hand to award “Editors Choice” trophies to the cars they deem to be the best in the show. In addition, Thomson said, an anonymous sponsor will award the “Skinned Knuckles” trophy to the owner who has done the most “do-it-yourself” work on an entry.

“This event really is a car lover’s dream,” Thomson said.

A rebuild of a crumbling section of Grove Road is set to begin.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

Grove Road in the city of Ypsilanti will be reduced to one lane Tuesday as the road's long-awaited reconstruction project begins.

The road will be closed to southbound traffic, but one lane will remain open for northbound traffic throughout construction, which is expected to last until Sept. 15.

Stan Kirton, director of city’s department of public works, said the official detour takes southbound traffic east on Michigan Avenue, then south on Ecorse Road. From Ecorse, motorists are directed to head south on Harris Road, which dead ends into Grove.

Springport, Mich.-based Mead Brothers Excavating was awarded the $609,000 rebuild. The city is responsible for around $150,000 and the federal government will pay for $460,000.

The deteriorating stretch of road between the Interstate 94 overpass and the city limit at the intersection of Grove and Emmerick Street will be rebuilt. The road will be reduced to two lanes and two bike lanes will be continued from the township. Sidewalks will be added on the east side of the road and Kirton said there will be some stormwater drainage improvements.

The rebuild is the city’s only major summer road project, but it’s an important one both in terms of how deteriorated Grove is and due to the issues it caused with Ypsilanti Township.

Although the road is in the city, only Ypsilanti Township residents live in the immediate area and surrounding neighborhoods, and they were most impacted by the potholes.

“It’s a much-needed project,” Kirton said. “This is one of our worst roads and I’m sure Ypsilanti Township residents will be happy. It’s just a rough piece of road.”

The border between the township and the city runs down Emerick Road, which dead-ends at a southwest angle into Grove. The area south and east of Emerick and Grove is the township. A small slice of land that includes the road north and west of Emerick belongs to the city.

The Washtenaw County Road Commission repaved the road on the township’s side several years ago. During that project, it slimmed the township’s section of the road from four lanes to two while adding bike lanes. Kirton previously said that has caused extra stress on the city’s side.

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.

The Brides Project designer and brander Kellie Bambach, Executive Director Barb Hiltz, Marketing Co-Chair Ashley Edwards, and The Brides Project Co-Chair Monique Sluymers stand with wedding gowns inside of their former space on West Liberty Street on Sept. 13, 2011.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

The Brides Project, a volunteer-run shop now located at the Courtyard Shops at 1689 Plymouth Road, opened in 2011 in downtown Ann Arbor. Relying on donated wedding dresses, proceeds from sales go to help cancer patients and their caregivers.

Since it opened, the shop has sold 309 gowns and raised $107,000 for the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor -- the organization that operates the Brides Project, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Among the 1,005 dresses that have been donated is a Vera Wang gown, first purchased by a Chicago woman for $13,000. After finding the Brides Project, the woman donated the gown to the shop, the Free Press reported.

Since then, one bride has walked down the aisle in the Vera Wang gown and felt compelled to return it to the Brides Project afterwards. A Romulus bride has now bought the dress to wear in her wedding next year, and also plans to return the dress to the shop, the Free Press reported.

• Read the full story in the Detroit Free Press

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

A thief kicked in the front door of a home in the 600 block of Grassland Drive in Ypsilanti Monday night and stole miscellaneous items, police said.

Ypsilanti police responded to the call, which came in at 8:30 p.m.

The victim told police that the suspect stole miscellaneous property after entering her residence, police said in a media summary.

Police are investigating. Further information, including what was taken, was not immediately available.

View Home Invasion in a larger map

Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.

The former owners of the Ann Arbor-based Ariel Computing Company pleaded guilty on Monday to one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Anthony Kumar Chaudhuri, 55, and Margaret Ann Chaudhuri, 60, were arraigned in 2011 on 11 counts of failing to pay employment taxes and one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstructing Internal Revenue Service laws.

According to a Department of Justice news release, the former Ann Arbor residents owned a hospital inventory control software company under the name of Ariel Computing and several other nominee names. The business was operated from multiple addresses in Ann Arbor and employed between three and 10 people.

Court documents report that between 1996 and 2008, the Chaudhuris withheld about $888,353 in employment taxes from Ariel Computing employees, but approximately $704,488 of the withheld taxes failed to be paid over to the IRS.

The 2011 indictment reports that W-2 forms were prepared for employees and falsely stated the taxes had been withheld and paid to the IRS.

Instead of paying Federal Insurance Contribution Act taxes, the Chaudhuris spent the money on “business expenses, employee salaries and personal expenses”, according to the 2011 indictment.

The Chaudhuris will face a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.

A man was found critically injured on West Liberty early Friday morning.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

No one has stepped forward in last week's hit-and-run death of a man near Ann Arbor, police said.

The victim was identified by authorities Tuesday as 52-year-old James Samons.

Samons lived in Scio Township, within a few miles of where he was found critically injured on West Liberty around 2 a.m. Friday, said Sgt. Geoff Fox of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

A passing motorcyclist discovered Samons in the roadway in the 4400 block of West Liberty and called 911. The vehicle that had hit him was gone, police said. Authorities pronounced Samons dead soon after arriving on scene.

“He had significant trauma to the head,” Fox said.

Samons may have already been lying in the roadway when he was struck, according to police who said they have responded to several previous calls reporting Samons intoxicated and in the road.

Police said last week that Samons' injuries and the amount of debris left behind by the vehicle also indicates he may have been in the road before the accident.

Samons was known to walk the Scio Township area where he was found, police said.

“He didn’t have a car," Fox said. "If he went anywhere, he’d walk."

Fox confirmed Tuesday Samons did have alcohol in his system when he died, although he could not say how much.

Police continue to look for the driver involved in the hit and run. If you have any information, please contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office at (734) 994-2911 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Rubble is all that remains after crews demolished the remnants of a house, located on Gattegno Street in Ypsilanti Township, that exploded on Sunday, July, 7.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

• Previous coverage: Officials: Ypsilanti Township house explosion could have been drug-related
• Previous coverage: Fire crews investigating house explosion in Ypsilanti Township

Officials who have been sifting through the debris of the house that exploded Sunday in Ypsilanti Township have made several interesting discoveries, officials said Tuesday.

Ypsilanti Township Fire Marshal Vic Chevrette, who was still at the scene Tuesday afternoon, said officials discovered hundreds of boxes containing thousands of 15-ounce canisters of butane, which is still being investigated as a cause of the explosion.

An assault rifle and bags of marijuana were taken away from the home on Gattegno Street Monday, as was a pit bull, who was trapped underneath a collapsed wall but rescued by authorities, Chevrette said.

The 25-year-old man who fled from the home with his clothes on fire remains at U-M Hospital, where he was listed Monday in critical condition.

The woman and infant seen running from the home are still unaccounted for, Chevrette said.

The investigation into what caused the fire continued Tuesday, but a large cache of butane might be the cause. Officials said drug dealers use the butane to essentially extract THC from all parts of the marijuana plant to make what is called hash oil.

Butane-extracted hash oil is emerging in stoner culture as a way to achieve an intense high, described as “cosmically baked,” according to a June 2013 Rolling Stone article.

It also can be easily made at home: Marijuana is packed into a tube and a solvent, such as butane, is forced through it.

The liquid is collected and the solvent is evaporated — leaving a highly concentrated THC-laced resin that can vary in its final consistency from hard crystals to earwax-like goop.

The majority of the canisters were found in the garage, where the hash oil-making process was definitely going on, Chevrette said.

Authorities were still sifting through the rubble Tuesday to see if it was also going on in the basement, which could have caused the house to explode from something as simple as lighting a cigarette, Chevrette said.

“This house was pretty tight,” he added.

One of the implements related to making the hash oil was already located in the basement, leading authorities to believe there was some butane in the house as well as the garage.

But officials are not ruling out other possible causes of the fire, many of which are also related to the 25-year-old man's alleged marijuana grow operation, which was scheduled to be raided along with 21 other location across southeast Michigan Monday morning.

The house blew up before a search warrant could be executed, police said.

Chevrette said any number of items recovered by officials could be related to the explosion: the water heater, the hydroponic grow lights, furnace and the grow operation's filtration system.

The cause has been narrowed down to the butane or to natural gas inside the home, not in the gas lines leading to it, Chevrette said. A final determination of the cause should be made within a week, he said.

Michigan State Police continue to investigate. They could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

West Liberty Street was closed between South Seventh Street and Eberwhite Boulevard in Ann Arbor due to downed trees after Tuesday night's storm.

Cindy Heflin | AnnArbor.com

A brief but fierce thunderstorm had Washtenaw County fire crews responding to downed tree branches and electrical wires Tuesday evening, officials said.

Ann Arbor police said at 6 p.m. they were dispatched to the intersection of Liberty and Seventh for downed branches in the road.

West Liberty Street was reportedly closed between South Seventh Street and Eberwhite Boulevard around 6:30 p.m. At 6:50 p.m., Ann Arbor police said Liberty was still closed. The issue was expected to be resolved Tuesday night, police said.

Police also said a home on Glendale Drive sustained damage when it was crushed by a tree that fell on it just before 6 p.m.

The Ypsilanti Fire Department was responding around the same time to wires down on garages and a vehicle near North Congress Street, officials confirmed.

DTE Energy spokesman Alejandro Bodipo-Memba said about half of about 1,500 customers affected had their power restored by 6 p.m. The rest were expected to have it back by 7 p.m.

Officials with the Dexter Area Fire Department said that area did not get hit as bad as Ann Arbor and that there were wires down here and there, but nothing major.

Ann Arbor Township Fire Department did not get called out on any runs due to the storm, neither did Pittsfield Township.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.