Author's Posts
Businesses can deny unmasked customers entry while complying with disability laws
July 18th, 20200 DEARBORN — Governor Whitmer’s signed a new mask order on Friday to clarify how certain people did not have to wear masks in side of a store or public indoor space. This includes people who cannot medically tolerate a mask. The clarification may actually add to the confusion of dealing with customers that businesses face during...
Pro IDF group goes on the attack against Ann Arbor City Council candidate Dr. Mozhgan Savabieasfahani
July 17th, 20204 ANN ARBOR — A former board member of the Friends of the IDF (FIDF), a group that calls itself the sole representative of the Israel Defense Forces and is its biggest donor in the U.S., has expressed his objection to the candidacy of Ann Arbor City Council candidate Dr. Mozhgan Savabieasfahani. For decades Savabieasfahani and others...
Hamtramck becomes the fifth city in the U.S. to pass resolution denouncing discriminatory citizenship laws in India
July 16th, 20200 HAMTRAMCK — The Hamtramck City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday denouncing the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which took effect in India last December, making it the fifth U.S. city to make such a stand against India’s widely criticized new law. The group Coalition of Americans for Pluralism in India...
Grants of up to $20,000 now available in Wayne County; women and minority-owned businesses encouraged to apply
July 15th, 20200 WAYNE COUNTY — Small businesses in Wayne and every other county in Michigan can now apply for grants of up to $20,000 through the state’s Small Business Restart Program. The program seeks to aid business that been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, with an application process that begins July 15 at 9 a.m. and closes on...
As Michigan sees COVID-19 positivity rates are creep up, Whitmer maintains authority
July 14th, 20200 LANSING — In an another indication this month that Lansing grows concerned over the rates and spread of COVID-19 in Michigan, Governor Whitmer announced on Wednesday she will be extending both the state of emergency and the state of disaster. “Over the past three weeks … our progress in suppressing the pandemic has...
Hamtramck community divided over school bond proposal on Aug. 4 ballot
July 11th, 20200 HAMTRAMCK — A school bond proposed by the Hamtramck School District to construct a new elementary school and perform renovation projects has the community divided on the necessity of a tax increase to pay for school infrastructure. If voters approve the 30-year bond, on the ballot in the August 4 election, the property tax rate in...
As cases rise over the week, Whitmer warns of stricter mask laws, dialing-back reopening
July 10th, 20200 LANSING — At a Thursday live address, Governor Whitmer warned that some residents may not understand the severity of the situation as the state saw mask-less holiday weekend crowds and a sure uptick in cases over the week. “Over the past week, we have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases in Michigan and over the holiday weekend, we...
Wayne County and other Michigan communities get small business COVID-19 recovery grants
July 7th, 20200 WAYNE COUNTY — Wayne County and many other communities across Michigan will receive grants for small businesses that are trying to reopen and recover from impacts of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. $50 million in grants to be awarded to Wayne County small businesses Wayne County will allocate up to $50 million in CARES Act...
Nessel says DeVos tried to unfairly reroute pandemic funds to private schools, takes legal action
July 7th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and other state attorneys general are taking legal action against a rule issued by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that they say unfairly diverts federal pandemic relief funds to private schools. Nessel and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra are leading a coalition...
Arab American police officer shot and killed, suspect found dead in Ohio
July 4th, 20200 TOLEDO, OHIO — A Toledo Police Officer, Anthony Hussein Dia, was shot and killed shortly after midnight on July 4, the Toledo Police Department said in a press release. Dia, 26, responded to a call regarding an intoxicated male, 57-year-old Edward Henry, walking around the parking lot of a Home Depot on Alexis Road in Toledo....
American Moslem Society sues Woodmere Cemetery for breaching contract, gouging Muslims amid pandemic, holds press conference
July 2nd, 20200 DEARBORN— A press conference is planned at the American Moslem Society (AMS) mosque at 9945 Vernor Hwy, Dearborn, Michigan at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 3, regarding a recent lawsuit filed by the mosque that claims Woodmere Cemetery breached its contract with AMS over grave sites. The Arab American News will carry the press...
State says indoor bar service closure is due to COVID-19 “super-spreader” events linked to bars
July 1st, 20200 LANSING — In an act to curb upticks in new cases across Michigan, and perhaps reprimand careless bar goers, Governor Whitmer announced on Wednesday that she will be closing down indoor bar services through most of lower Michigan. Bars will be able to serve customers outdoors and will be able to offer cocktails-to-go. The Upper...
Read full letter signed by Tlaib and 12 others condemning Israel’s annexation plans
June 30th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and 11 others members of the House and Senate released a letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that calls on him to stop the new unity government of Israel from carrying out its plans to annex Palestinian territory in the...
New website allows Michiganders to easily find closest COVID-19 testing site, phone registration available
June 30th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has unveiled a new online tool that lets users conveniently find a COVID-19 testing site near them and register for testing online. The test finder tool at michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest has filters which allow users to find sites that are free, test people with...
Gleaners brings free meal distribution to Dearborn’s Ford Community and Performing Arts Center
June 30th, 20200 DEARBORN — Gleaners Community Food Bank will provide free meals for children and adults with special needs at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, as part of its Summer Food Service Program, beginning in early July. The Ford Community and Performing Arts Center meal distributions will take place from 9 to 11......
Tlaib, Ocasio-Cortez and others sign letter amid calls on Israel to cease annexation of West Bank
June 29th, 20203 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and eleven others have signed on to a letter expressing deep concerns over the Israeli government’s plans to annex occupied Palestinian territory. Former presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has also signed on to the...
Garden City Hospital performs up to 250 “Save-A-Life” COVID-19 antibody tests per day in first week
June 26th, 20200 GARDEN CITY — On Tuesday, officials from Wayne County and Garden City Hospital gathered at a launch event for the Save-A-Life program. The program offers free drive-through COVID-19 antibody testing and facilitates plasma donations. The one-of-a-kind program is intended to strengthen and increase the county’s response to COVID-19,......
200 semifinalists selected for the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
June 25th, 20200 LANSING — On Wednesday, 200 semifinalists for Michigan’s first Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission were randomly selected in a live broadcasted event by the Michigan Department of State (MDOS). The random selection was performed by Rehmann LLC, an independent accounting firm hired through a public bidding process to...
Arab American attorney Mike Chehab vying for District 30 state representative seat
June 25th, 20200 STERLING HEIGHTS — Michigan-born, Arab American attorney Mike Chehab has put his name in the running for state representative in District 30. The district covers Utica and parts of Shelby Township and Sterling Heights. The grandson of a World War I veteran, Chehab has spent all his life in Macomb County, which is home to a...
Michigan unemployment agency looks to clear backlog of claims
June 23rd, 20200 LANSING — Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) announced on Tuesday its intention to clear its backlog and make a determination on all eligible unpaid claims filed before May 1. This means that for 11,824 worker who are still waiting on an eligibility decision, the agency will pay out benefits, determine that the...
Macomb County prosecutor candidate Saima Khalil seeks bold reforms
June 20th, 20201 WARREN — In August, Macomb County residents will have the choice to vote for the first Muslim American candidate for county prosecutor in Michigan. The primaries pit Pakistani American Saima Khalil, 39, against four other non-incumbent Democrats. Beyond this historic candidacy, Khalil looks to bring long-needed progressive change......
Dearborn officials talk budget and COVID-19 economic impact
June 20th, 20200 DEARBORN — The COVID-19 pandemic has hit state and municipal budgets hard. Businesses came to a screeching halt at the height of cases in Michigan, but with the state slowly transitioning into more relaxed phases, city governments are cautiously looking forward to a summer of economic activity. The Arab American News spoke to...
Garden City Hospital staff celebrated, attendants take knee for racial equality and George Floyd
June 19th, 20200 GARDEN CITY — Healthcare workers at Garden City Hospital were thanked and celebrated on Monday for their service during the COVID-19 crisis. Doctors, nurses and other front line staff came together with hospital officials in the celebration. Those in attendance also took a knee in support of racial equality and nation-wide protests......
Trump calls for new Supreme Court justices after major rulings against administration
June 18th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the aftermath of two major U.S. Supreme Court rulings against the Trump administration this week, the president lashed out on Twitter and called for “new justices” in the highest court in the country. “The recent Supreme Court decisions, not only on DACA, Sanctuary Cities, Census and others, tell you...
Whitmer announces next steps for school reopenings in the Fall
June 17th, 20200 LANSING —Michigan schools may resume in-person learning in phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan, with strict safety measures in place, according to Governor Whitmer. Whitmer announced on Wednesday that on June 30, she will release an executive order and a robust document called “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap” that will......
