Briana Gasorski
Author's Posts
Wayne County dismisses all cases related to Whitmer’s emergency COVID-19 orders
February 2nd, 20210 DETROIT — Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced that all adjudicated and pending cases related to the pandemic emergency orders will be dismissed. The Michigan Supreme Court ruled in October that Governor Whitmer didn’t have the authority to issue emergency orders after April 30. The Prosecutor’s Office said that the...
Biden administration appoints first Arab American to serve in OCIA at U.S. Dept. of Labor
February 2nd, 20210 DEARBORN — A former staff member of U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) has become the first Arab American to serve in the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. The Biden administration’s appointment of Ahmad Ramadan to be a legislative officer in the Department of Labor makes Ramadan...
Dearborn School Board modifies reopening plan
January 29th, 20211 DEARBORN — During a special meeting on Jan. 23, the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education voted on a reopening plan. The board voted to keep the current metrics for when school buildings will reopen, which includes improving to at least a D grade on the Wayne County Health Department’s risk matrix and achieving a 5 percent...
Law clinic at U of M helps residents resolve unemployment claims
January 29th, 20210 ANN ARBOR — Despite being nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Michiganders are still struggling to receive their unemployment benefits. The University of Michigan’s Workers’ Rights Clinic has law students helping residents in solving their unemployment benefit issues. The clinic opened at the U of M Law...
Dingell, Tlaib lead 71 members of Congress to ban water shutoffs
January 29th, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) reintroduced the Emergency Water is a Human Right Act. The act would prohibit water shutoffs and ensure water affordability protections for low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...
COVID-19: Vaccine efficacy and supply, new symptoms and reopening schools
January 28th, 20210 COMMUNITY — With cases of the mutated COVID-19 variant accelerating throughout the country, studies have shown that the Pfizer vaccine is effective. Nearly 20 cases of the mutated variant have been found in Michigan alone, but a laboratory study by Pfizer shows that the new variants of COVID-19 had only a small impact on the...
Governor Whitmer provides economic recovery plan during the State of the State Address
January 28th, 20210 LANSING — In her third State of the State address, Governor Whitmer announced plans for the economy, roads and clean energy. In the Jan. 27 address, Whitmer said that her administration will be announcing initiatives and projects over the next year. “This year is about fixing the damn road ahead – finding common ground to...
Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly not running for reelection
January 28th, 20210 DEARBORN — Mayor Jack O'Reilly, Jr., who has been in office since 2007, has decided he will not be running for reelection this year. O’Reilly, 72, became mayor in 2007 when former Mayor Michael Guido died of pancreatic cancer. He was elected to full terms in 2009, 2013 and 2017. Prior to his appointment to complete Guido's term,...
Bill Bazzi announces candidacy for mayor of Dearborn Heights
January 28th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Bill Bazzi, who has served the community in multiple capacities since he was 18-years-old, announced his candidacy for Dearborn Heights mayor in the November election. Bazzi was elected to City Council in 2017 and was just appointed mayor on Jan. 26. Bazzi grew up in Dearborn with four siblings and graduated...
Dearborn City Council votes to remove Orville Hubbard’s name from The Center’s ballroom
January 27th, 20210 DEARBORN — In a unanimous vote, the Dearborn City Council voted to remove former Mayor Orville Hubbard’s name from the ballroom inside of the Ford Performing Arts Center. Hubbard served as mayor from 1942 until 1978, was the city’s longest-serving mayor and was known as a segregationist. The city's slogan "Keep Dearborn...
Dearborn fire chief appointed to state commission aimed at raising awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine
January 27th, 20210 DEARBORN — Fire Chief Joseph Murray has been appointed to a state commission aimed at educating the public about the COVID-19 vaccine. The goal of the commission is to make the public aware of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The Protect Michigan Commission was created with the purpose of increasing awareness, educating...
Michigan GOP threatens aid for K-12 schools
January 27th, 20210 LANSING — Michigan House Republicans proposed a $3.5 billion coronavirus recovery plan, but threatened to withhold billions to K-12 schools. The GOP would withhold the funds if Governor Whitmer doesn’t cede her administration’s power to prohibit in-person learning and sports to local health departments. Senate Republicans...
Two council members, mayor and Council chair pro-tem appointed in Dearborn Heights
January 26th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With two newly appointed Council members, mayor and Council chair pro-tem, Dearborn Heights leadership say they are ready to move forward. After former Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton was elected treasurer in November, her seat on the City Council had been unfilled since Dec. 8 as the Council couldn’t reach an...
Dearborn Heights interviews mayoral candidates
January 25th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Dearborn Heights City Council went forward with interviewing four candidates for mayor during a study session on Monday. Originally, they intended on interviewing five candidates. However, due to a death in the family, Wayne County Commissioner David Knezek withdrew his application. “While our family...
Dearborn Public Library joins the “Read Woke Challenge”
January 23rd, 20210 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Library is hosting a “Read Woke Challenge” until Feb. 20 to encourage community members to read “woke” books. The challenge was originally created by Cicely Lewis, a school librarian in Georgia. The goal is to engage the community in thoughtful dialogue surrounding the themes and topics......
Dearborn Heights City Council remains deadlocked on a new Council member; new applicants for mayoral position announced
January 23rd, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Tensions flared during a study session and special meeting held by the Dearborn Heights City Council on Tuesday. During the regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 12, Councilman Ray Muscat had made a motion to hold a special meeting to appoint the mayor, however, when the agenda packet was sent out, there was no...
Biden issues mask, quarantine order for travelers coming to the U.S.
January 21st, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — In an executive order issued by President Biden, masks and quarantines will be required for travelers coming to the United States. In the order, Biden is requiring masks be worn in airports, on airplanes, buses and other forms of transportation and people who arrive into the U.S. from other countries are required......
U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider resigns; Saima Mohsin to take over
January 21st, 20210 DETROIT — United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Matthew Schneider has submitted a resignation letter to President Biden, shortly after Biden was sworn in. Schneider’s last day will be Feb. 1 and he will be joining a private law firm based in Detroit. Saima Mohsin, who has served as the first assistant...
Michigan expands food assistance through June
January 21st, 20210 LANSING — The state of Michigan is increasing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by 15 percent until June. The extension means that recipients will see an increase of 15 percent added to their Bridge Cards by the end of the month in addition to benefits previously added. "No Michigander should worry...
Westland man charged in assault of police officer with hockey stick during Capitol Riot
January 21st, 20210 WESTLAND — A 29-year-old Westland man who was seen beating a police officer with a hockey stick during the riots at the U.S. Capitol has been charged. Michael Joseph Foy was identified by the FBI through news tips and footage provided by several media outlets that showed him swinging a hockey stick at a police officer who was on...
Beaumont opening two new vaccine clinics; expanding COVID-19 call center
January 20th, 20210 DEARBORN — Starting Jan. 20, Beaumont Dearborn and Beaumont Troy will open additional COVID-19 vaccine clinics at their facilities. Beaumont has already administered approximately 32,000 vaccines and is prepared to administer as many as 50,000 per week if it receive enough vaccines from the state. “We have the expertise and......
Treasurer Lisa Hicks-Clayton addresses concerns from the residents while keeping positivity a focus
January 20th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Taking on a new job is often difficult, especially during a pandemic, but Treasurer Lisa Hicks-Clayton is determined to make positivity a priority. Having been elected in November, Hicks-Clayton hasn’t skipped a beat in her community involvement. From food drives to posting inspiring signs throughout her...
21 shipments of the COVID vaccine compromised due to temperature issues
January 19th, 20210 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced that 21 shipments of the Moderna vaccine were compromised in transit to the state. The shipments were being transported by McKesson Corp., a healthcare distribution company contracted with the federal government to handle coronavirus vaccine, and......
Dearborn Council members continue their COVID-19 forum to discuss small businesses
January 16th, 20210 DEARBORN — Hosted by City Council President Susan Dabaja, the bi-weekly COVID-19 forum discussed the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. She was joined by City Councilman David Bazzy, Wayne County Economic Development Director Khalil Rahal and Dearborn Economic Development Director Jeff Watson. Watson said that the pandemic...
Councilwoman Leslie Herrick withdraws resolution to name additional historic districts, form commission
January 16th, 20210 DEARBORN — A resolution put forward to amend an ordinance pertaining to the Historic Preservation Commission was withdrawn from Tuesday’s City Council meeting agenda. “There still remains many unanswered questions and unclear details about the proposed updates to the Historic Preservation Commission,” Councilwoman Leslie......
