Briana Gasorski
Author's Posts
Dearborn Heights appoints an internal affairs investigator
March 2nd, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Just over a month after the City Council canceled the salary and benefits of two police directors, one of them has been appointed to a “newly-formed” role of internal affairs investigator. Mayor Bill Bazzi has appointed Paul Vanderplow, Dearborn Heights Police Department director of support services, to the...Legal battle in Dearborn Heights heats up between City Council, police and mayor
February 16th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Less than a month after the police chief and directors filed a lawsuit against the city, the City Council has voted to hire its own attorney in a federal lawsuit of its own. With a 4-1 vote on Feb. 13, the Council members approved a resolution to hire its own legal counsel, former City Attorney Gary Miotke, to...Dearborn Heights police chief, directors file federal lawsuit against city
February 2nd, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Barely over a week after the City Council passed a resolution canceling the salary and benefits for two police department directors and the chief of police announced a leave of absence, both directors and the chief have filed a federal lawsuit against the city. Directors Kevin Swope, Paul Vanderplow and Chief...Dearborn Heights police chief announces leave of absence due to “employment induced health concerns”
January 26th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights Police Chief Jerrod Hart announced a leave of absence due to “employment induced” health concerns and voiced frustrations over actions taken by the City Council during a recent Council meeting. During the Jan. 23 City Council meeting, the Council passed a “no confidence” resolution against...Dearborn Heights City Council’s “no confidence” resolution against mayor deepens division in city
January 25th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The City Council passed a “no confidence” resolution against Mayor Bill Bazzi, Corporation Counsel Roger Farinha and Police Chief Jerrod Hart in a 5-2 vote and unanimously voted to cancel the salary and benefits of two directors within the Police Department. The resolution passed with “yes” votes from Mo...Dearborn Heights hosting free legal clinic for residents
January 13th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The city of Dearborn Heights will be hosting a free legal clinic for its residents at the end of the month. The first legal clinic of 2024 will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 31 from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Dearborn Heights City Hall. Volunteer attorneys who specialize in landlord/tenant disputes, wills and...Thrive by any Means Necessary hosting second annual Friendsgiving
November 16th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A local nonprofit is working to bring the community together during a time of need for its second annual Friendsgiving event. Thrive by any Means Necessary (TMN) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022 by community activists with the goal of striving to eliminate barriers for those in need while establishing a...Dearborn Fire Chief Joseph Murray charged two days after being reinstated
November 2nd, 20230 DEARBORN — Just two days after being reinstated, Dearborn Fire Chief Joseph Murray was charged with two counts of operating while intoxicated. One count is related to his blood alcohol content and one to observations made by police at the time of his arrest on Aug. 29 when he was pulled over in Dearborn Heights after allegedly going...Dearborn Heights to host November 11 expungement fair
October 27th, 20231 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Individuals who wish to have their records cleared of certain past legal offenses can meet with attorneys for guidance at the November 11 city of Dearborn Heights Expungement Fair. The free event is offered in cooperation with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. It will be held at the Richard A. Young...Crestwood High School and city officials respond to media miss representation of student-led peaceful walkout
October 27th, 20231 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Crestwood School District officials and city officials are responding after national media outlets misrepresented a peaceful, student-led walkout as being “pro-terrorist.” On Friday, October 20 at 9:55 a.m., a group of Crestwood High School students organized a peaceful walkout that was intended to show...Students organize a peaceful walkout at Annapolis High School to show support for Palestine
October 27th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Two students from Annapolis High School helped organize and host a peaceful walkout in support of Palestine on October 26. Abd-alazzez Alshawaly, a 17-year-old 12th grade student, and Abdulla Allami, a 16-year-old 10th grader, worked together with a group of other students to coordinate the event. Allami told...Dearborn Heights: Shooting at residence leaves 16-year-old in critical condition
September 18th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A shooting at a Dearborn Heights residence has left a 16-year-old boy hospitalized with critical injuries. At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 18, Dearborn Heights Police Officers were dispatched and responded to a residence on the 8400 block of Grayfield Street to investigate a reported shooting. The responding...Dearborn Heights mayor, police chief respond to “incorrect” and “misleading” reports
September 16th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mayor Bill Bazzi and Police Chief Jerrod Hart are voicing frustrations over “incorrect” and “misleading” information published recently in a local newspaper. The article was originally headlined “Dearborn Heights Police Chief (Jerrod) Hart on leave, unlikely to return”, which was later changed by the...Dearborn Heights Councilman Mo Baydoun named Council chair pro tem
September 14th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — After the sudden resignation of former Councilman Ray Muscat, the City Council voted for Councilman Mo Baydoun to step in as Council chair pro tem. Baydoun was appointed to a vacant City Council seat in January 2021 before being elected to a two-year term in November 2021. While he is up for reelection this...Ford Community & Performing Arts Center opens exhibit celebrating Arab American artists
September 14th, 20230 DEARBORN — On Saturday, Sept. 16, the Padzieski Art Gallery will feature a new exhibit called “For the Love of Humanity”, showcasing the work of Arab American artists. The show will feature artwork from 10 distinct artists and is free of charge. The show will run through Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Dearborn Ford Community &......
Zaman to host 14th annual Run Walk Picnic, will honor late volunteer Randa Abdallah
September 14th, 20230 DEARBORN — Zaman International is hosting its 14th annual Run Walk Picnic and will be honoring the late Randa Abdallah, a longtime volunteer and member of the Zaman Detroit Run Team. The event is aimed at raising awareness about Zaman’s work to eradicate poverty, with proceeds benefiting programs that support women and children...Dearborn fire chief arrested for drunk driving, placed on administrative leave
September 2nd, 20230 DEARBORN — Fire Chief Joseph Murray has been placed on administrative leave following an arrest for allegedly operating a vehicle while under the influence. Murray was placed under arrest at around 3 a.m. on August 29 after being pulled over by Dearborn Heights police near Telegraph Road and Dartmouth Street. Police pulled him over...Dearborn Heights D7 School District sued after 14-year-old student died by suicide
August 25th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A little over three months after 14-year-old Annapolis High School student Selena Perez died by suicide, her family has filed a formal lawsuit against the D7 School District, Principal Aaron Mollett and Superintendent Dr. Tyrone Weeks. The lawsuit says that Perez had physical signs of self-induced harm...Wayne County Elections Commission unanimously rejects petition to recall Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi
July 26th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — In a 3-0 vote, the Wayne County Elections Commission rejected a recall petition levied against Mayor Bill Bazzi due to insufficient clarity. The recall petition had been filed on July 7 by former Treasurer and Councilman Zouher Abdel-Hak, who is running for a seat on the City Council in the upcoming primary......
Mayor Bill Bazzi elected to the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
July 14th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mayor Bill Bazzi has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, making the city one of three Michigan-based cities represented on the board. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is a binational coalition of elected officials that works to protect and...Dearborn native in the running for Miss Arab USA
June 29th, 20230 DEARBORN — A Dearborn native of Palestinian and Lebanese descent has been selected as one of 30 finalists in the running for Miss Arab USA. Razan Zaher was born in Michigan before her family returned to Lebanon, where she was raised, and went on to earn her bachelor of arts in English studies and her diploma with honors. Zaher, a......
Local artist recognized for his contribution to Islamic culture through art
May 25th, 20231 DEARBORN — Local artist Haroutioun “Harout” Isack Bastajian was recently recognized during the Islamic Center of America’s (ICA) 61st anniversary Semi-Annual Fundraising Dinner. The Lebanese artist of Armenian origin who decorated the interior of the ICA prayer room was honored at the event that brought more than 1,000 members...Annapolis High School principal reinstated, superintendent placed on leave pending investigation
May 18th, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Two weeks after unexpectedly being placed on leave for reasons not released to the public, Annapolis High School Principal Aaron Mollett has been reinstated. Mollett had been placed on administrative paid leave “pending investigation” two weeks ago by D7 Superintendent Dr. Tyrone Weeks with no explanation to......