Briana Gasorski
Author's Posts
Ahmed Moneka becomes first Iraqi to be nominated for Canadian Juno Award
April 9th, 20250 DEARBORN — Ahmed Moneka, who currently resides in Toronto, has become the first Iraqi to be nominated for a Canadian Juno Award. The Juno Awards are the highest form of honor and recognition in the music industry in Canada. Moneka was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq and fed off of his rich Sufi African heritage for inspiration...
Mayor Bill Bazzi appointed as Ambassador to Tunisia by President Trump
March 12th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - President Donald Trump has appointed Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia. In a social media post, Trump said that he was pleased to announce Bazzi as the ambassador. “Bazzi is a decorated U.S. Marine, who honorably served our country for 21 years,...
Dearborn Heights appoints fourth new police chief in three years, mayor accused of violating police union contracts
January 30th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — After a nearly six-hour City Council meeting on Jan. 28, Mayor Bill Bazzi appointed a new police chief, the city’s fourth in just under three years. Bazzi confirmed in a press release that Officer Ahmed Haider will assume command of the Dearborn Heights Police Department as the acting chief while the city...Mayor Bill Bazzi raises concerns over treasurer’s performance
January 19th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mayor Bill Bazzi has raised concerns over the performance of Treasurer Lisa Hicks-Clayton and her ability to accurately conduct city business. According to a press release issued by the city, a Jan. 6 communication was sent to members of the City Council where Bazzi had expressed concerns over issues raised in the...
Tale of Two Cities scheduled to outline 2025 visions for Dearborn, Dearborn Heights
January 7th, 20250 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual “A Tale of Two Cities” luncheon for both Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi to outline their 2025 visions. The two mayors will address local business leaders and the public at the event, which is presented by Comcast...
Memorial service planned for former Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr.
January 7th, 20250 DEARBORN — A public memorial service to honor former Mayor John “Jack” B. O’Reilly Jr. has been scheduled for Feb. 1. The former mayor passed away at 76-years-old on Jan. 1. O’Reilly became mayor in 2007 when former Mayor Michael Guido died of pancreatic cancer and he was elected to full terms in 2009, 2013 and 2017....Former Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr. dies at 76
January 1st, 20250 DEARBORN — Former Mayor John “Jack” B. O’Reilly Jr. passed away on Jan. 1 at the age of 76 according to a Facebook post from the city that had been shared from O’Reilly’s son, Devon. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John B. O’Reilly Jr., who died peacefully January 1st, 2025 listening to his...
Dearborn Heights appoints Hussein Farhat interim police chief
December 12th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - Mayor Bill Bazzi has announced that Dearborn Heights Deputy Police Chief Hussein Farhat will be appointed interim police chief effective Jan. 6. This appointment comes with the resignation of current interim Police Chief Kevin Swope, who has accepted a similar position in another city. Swope had been appointed...
Zaman International featured in Giving Machines in Campus Martius Park
November 19th, 20240 DETROIT - Zaman International is one of five Detroit-area nonprofit organizations featured in the Giving Machines in downtown Detroit. The Giving Machines, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints work as “reverse vending machines,” allowing users to give rather than receive and items can be donated to people...
Dearborn native runs in NYC marathon
November 19th, 20240 DEARBORN - Zahraa Boussi, a local social worker and teacher, was selected by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to be part of its Team TCS Teachers program and to run in the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. Boussi, whose parents immigrated from Bint Jbeil, Lebanon in the late 1970s, took up running to lead a healthier lifestyle and...
Dearborn couple get married at Zaman’s 15th Annual Run Walk Picnic
November 19th, 20240 DEARBORN - A couple that met through Zaman’s Detroit Run Team in 2023, got married at the finish line at Zaman’s 15th Annual Run Walk Picnic. The Dearborn couple, Alia Sareini, 27, and Morteza Fradi, 25, had met in October 2023 when they were running with the run team, a running club that helps its members achieve their personal...
Crestwood Superintendent named as 2024 Superintendent of the Year
September 26th, 20241 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - During a recent gathering in California, Crestwood School District Superintendent Dr. Youssef Mosallam was named as the 2024 Superintendent of the Year. Mosallam was selected out of the 21 finalists at the National Association of School Superintendents (NASS) Annual Conference for his “transformative leadership,...
Council chairman, former police chief respond to recent news article claiming racial discrimination in Dearborn Heights
July 19th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — In a recent news article, an ongoing legal battle between members of the Dearborn Heights Police Department and the city of Dearborn Heights was cited as including “race-based sabotage and harassment.” The 74-page federal lawsuit filed on Jan. 29 by then-Police Chief Jerrod Hart and Directors Kevin Swope and...Dearborn Heights police chief resigns, cites harassment and retaliation amongst reasons for his departure
July 5th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Following an intense budget battle that almost resulted in a government shutdown, Dearborn Heights Police Chief Jerrod Hart has resigned. Hart submitted his notice of “constructive termination” to be effective immediately, stating that his departure comes as a result of, “... the continued harassment,...City of Dearborn Heights approves budget just days before deadline
June 29th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - The city of Dearborn Heights has finally reached an agreement and approved a budget for fiscal year 2024 to 2025. As the city’s administration was preparing for a government shut down due to the budget not being approved on time, at a last minute meeting held on June 28 that lasted almost four hours long, the City......
City of Dearborn and Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit reach agreement to be voted on by the City Council
June 28th, 20240 DEARBORN — Just days before the contract between Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit and the city of Dearborn was set to expire, the two have reached a four-year agreement. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said in a Facebook post that the agreement is a win for all. “This agreement is a win for all of Dearborn, and establishes a robust...Fate of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit unclear as contract deadline looms
June 28th, 20240 DEARBORN — The Dearborn animal shelter, Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, has a contract with the city ending on July 1 and currently no contract agreement. The June 26 City Council meeting ended in a stalemate over a more than 50 percent budget increase requested by the nonprofit that runs the shelter. Friends for Animals of......
Dearborn Heights braces for possible government shut down
June 28th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — As the budget deadline looms, the city of Dearborn Heights has failed to approve a budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, 2025. During a nearly two and a half hour-long City Council meeting on June 25, Councilwoman Nancy Breyer was the only Council member to move for the...
Crestwood High School vandalized as part of a senior prank
June 7th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — As part of a common senior prank, several students were caught vandalizing Crestwood High School on May 24. Through a thorough investigation conducted by the Crestwood administration, multiple students were identified vandalizing the school with spray paint. “The investigation consisted of camera footage,...
Local artist presented with the Art and Culture Award by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture
March 21st, 20240 DEARBORN — During an exhibition showcasing some of his work, international artist Haroutioun “Harout” Isack Bastajian was presented with the Art and Culture Award by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture. The Lebanese artist of Armenian ethnicity decorated the interior of the Islamic Center of America prayer room and his artwork has...
Dearborn Heights appoints new director of emergency management
March 5th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi has announced the appointment of a new director of emergency management for the city. Hussein Farhat, a 29-year veteran of law enforcement, began his career as a deputy sheriff with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department before moving into a position with the Romulus Police......
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......