Author's Posts
Whitmer signs executive order suspending face-to-face learning at K-12 schools for remainder of school year
April 2nd, 20200 LANSING — Today Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-35, which orders all K-12 school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year — unless restrictions are lifted — and ensures continuing of learning by setting guidelines for remote learning. District facilities may be used by public school employees and...
Whitmer declares sate of disaster, expands COVID-19 emergency declaration
April 1st, 20200 LANSING - On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-33, which recognizes the expanded scope of economic, educational, and civic dislocation caused by the COVID-19, and equips the administration to address fully the devastation caused by virus. The order also formally declares a state of disaster. “Since Michigan...
FDA authorizes use of new two-minute test kit for coronavirus
March 31st, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of Bodysphere Inc’s test that can detect the coronavirus in nearly two minutes, the privately held company said on Tuesday. The FDA has been rushing to approve tests on an emergency basis and last week approved Abbott...
Community mourns the loss of Isaac Robinson, a fearless advocate and friend
March 31st, 20200 DEARBORN — State Rep. Isaac Robinson (D-Detroit) passed away from a suspected coronavirus infection on Sunday morning at a Detroit hospital. Robinson was beloved and respected by many in the Arab American community in Metro Detroit. Friends and colleagues called Robinson an advocate ally of working class residents of the Fourth...
Trump grants Whitmer’s request for use of National Guard for aid
March 30th, 20200 LANSING — On Monday, President Trump authorized the use of National Guard members under Title 32, United States Code, section 502(f), granting Governor Whitmer’s request for a formal Mission Assignment (MA) to allocate and order up to 3,000 members of the Michigan Army and Air National Guard for up to 90 days to perform humanitarian...
Benefits increased for all unemployed workers, self-employed and low-wage workers now covered
March 30th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan has increased its unemployment benefits for all unemployed workers by a set amount of $600 a week for up to four months. The change applies to workers already in the unemployment systems and eligible employees about to apply for benefits. Governor Whitmer announced the new programs for workers on Monday, after...
Trump approves Whitmer’s request for major disaster declaration, state secures more masks
March 28th, 20200 LANSING - President Trump has approved Governor Whitmer’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in Michigan. The declaration means that Michigan is now eligible for participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programming to provide relief for Michiganders impacted by the COVID-19 virus and measures to slow...
Governor Whitmer signs executive order changing city, state income tax filing deadlines to July 2020
March 28th, 20201 LANSING – Governor Whitmer has signed Executive Order 2020-26 which pushes all April 2020 state and city income tax filing deadlines in Michigan to July, as a part of continued efforts to help Michiganders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective immediately, state of Michigan and city of Detroit income tax returns and payments due...
Unemployment filing in Michigan to be scheduled by name
March 28th, 20201 LANSING - Due to an overwhelming increase in claims, resulting in heavy website and telephone traffic during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has developed a schedule for workers to file for benefits based on the first letter of their last name. The agency says this new schedule will improve...
Nessel provides guidance on executive order violations, investigates price-gouging, informs employees of their rights
March 26th, 20200 LANSING — On Wednesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel provided guidelines on how to report and file complaints about individuals and businesses that aren’t complying with Governor Whitmer’s executive orders. The AG office’s Consumer Protection intake line is now flooded with phone calls related to violations of the...
DHS extends REAL ID enforcement deadline to next year
March 26th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as directed by President Trump, has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline to 12 months beyond this year’s deadline, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new deadline is now October 21, 2021. Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement that the department...
Whitmer urges Michiganders to do their part, requests federal disaster declaration
March 26th, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer gave a further COVID-19 related update this week from her offices in the state’s capital, this time focusing on the urgent need for equipment for healthcare staff currently fighting the pandemic. Grim statistics of the virus’ exponential spread set the tone of her serious address on late Thursday...
As claims skyrocket, unemployment agency gives update, asks for patience
March 25th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) today acknowledged the high call volumes and increased traffic on its claims website, as an unprecedented number of people take part in the state's expanded unemployment compensation program in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. In a press statement, the agency said that...
Cease and desist letter sent to businesses for selling phony COVID-19 protection patch
March 24th, 20200 LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this morning sent a cease and desist letter to two related Rockford-based businesses for marketing to consumers the “Coronavirus Defender Patch”, which the companies falsely claim will help protect people from contracting the coronavirus disease 2019...
Secretary of State to mail absent voter ballot applications to all May 5 voters
March 24th, 20200 LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced today that absent voter ballot applications will be mailed by her office to all voters in the May 5 election to help ensure both public health and democratic rights are protected. “Our country has a long history of carrying out elections in times of crisis, and we are......
A further look into how Whitmer’s executive order affects driving and travel
March 23rd, 20200 DEARBORN — Since the announcement of Monday's executive order by Governor Whitmer, dubbed "Stay Home, Stay Safe", Michigan residents have questioned how much the new rules restrict their travel on the road during the COVID-19 outbreak in their state. Lets take a look at travel and driving components of the order to clarify what the...
State orders activities be “essential” during COVID-19 outbreak, not a complete shut-down
March 23rd, 20200 LANSING — On Monday, Governor Whitmer addressed the state to elaborate on her government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Though she emphasized the serious nature of the pandemic, her latest “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order seems to be an extension of the state’s response from last week. This is in no way a complete,......
Governor Whitmer signs “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order
March 23rd, 20200 LANSING — On Monday, Governor Whitmer signed the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order (EO 2020-21), directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. The order also directs Michiganders to stay in their homes unless they’re a part...
As new COVID-19 cases emerge, consider donating much needed supplies to health-care providers
March 21st, 20200 DEARBORN — On Saturday afternoon, the state of Michigan once again revealed its latest tallies of coronavirus infections. As of 2 p.m., the state has announced a total of 787 confirmed cases and five total deaths. With the expansion of testing capabilities, health experts are now beginning to understand the scope of the outbreak in...
Travel restricted at ports of entry, Whitmer clears up rumors about martial law
March 21st, 20200 DETROIT - On Friday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency provided details on travel restrictions being placed on all land ports of entry and ferries between the U.S. and Canada in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, rules which went into effect at midnight the same day. Besides the Detroit port of entry, the new...
Oakland County executive gives updates on COVID-19 response
March 19th, 20200 WATERFORD TOWNSHIP — News of the second coronavirus related death came Thursday morning, as a woman, more than 50-years of age and with underlying conditions, reportedly passed away at McLaren Hospital in Pontiac. The county later confirmed with The Arab American News that the woman was in fact a Wayne County resident. This means......
Two new coronavirus-related deaths at Michigan hospitals
March 19th, 20200 MICHIGAN — Hospitals in two separate counties in Michigan have reported two more COVID-19 related deaths on Thursday. McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac and Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit both reported the passing of patients more than 50-years-of-age with underlying conditions who died after contracting the virus. Henry...
Washington Post publishes informative simulation on infectious diseases, available in Arabic
March 18th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post (WAPO) has published a simulation feature that shows how contagious diseases are able to spread so rapidly across a community or the globe. WAPO's Senior Publicist Azhar AlFadl Miranda told The Arab American News that the feature has become very popular, and that readers find it helpful in......
Officials announce up to 110 COVID-19 cases in Michigan
March 18th, 20200 LANSING — At a news conference in Lansing on Wednesday, state officials announced 30 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan, bringing the total up to 110. Governor Whitmer was joined by the state's chief medical executive, Dr. Joneigh Khladun, who spoke of the number of new cases across the state. "As of last night, Michigan...
Superintendent gives good news on DPS staff member who tested positive for COVID-19
March 18th, 20200 Dearborn — On Wednesday, Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko updated the community on the status of a staff member from Whitmore-Bolles elementary school who earlier tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Here is the entire entry on Maleyko's blog: "I want to report that the staff member who tested......
