Nick Meyer
Author's Posts
Father of Lebanese woman shot dead in the streets of the U.K. pays tribute in wake of her death
May 23rd, 20200 UNITED KINGDOM — The father of a Lebanese woman who was shot dead in the streets of Blackburn in Lancashire County in the United Kingdom paid tribute to her on Thursday, saying he hoped his family would be safe in the U.K. after they fled Lebanon. Law student Aya Hachem, 19, was shot from a passing car in a case of mistaken...
Attorney General Nessel, fellow attorneys general urge Congress to pass act providing benefits to disabled first responders
May 22nd, 20200 LANSING —Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a coalition of 52 attorneys general are urging Congress to pass S.3607, the Safeguarding America's First Responders Act (SAFR Act), which would provide federal benefits to first responders who die or are permanently and totally disabled as a result of COVID-19. “When public safety...
Whitmer calls for end to threats to withold funding, personal attacks as Trump visits Michigan auto plant
May 22nd, 20200 YPSILANTI — President Trump visited a Ford plant in Ypsilanti on Thursday amid tensions with Governor Whitmer, opting to forgo wearing a face mask for cameras. Trump toured the Ford plant, which has been making ventilators and personal protective equipment, and held a roundtable discussion with African American leaders on vulnerable...
All Michigan voters to get absentee ballot applications at home, Secretary of State Benson says
May 19th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan's 7.7 million registered voters will likely all be mailed absentee ballot applications so they can take part in elections in August and November without needing to vote in person if they so choose, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Tuesday. The move could lead to a potential court battle according to a report...
United States, Canada agree on deal to extend non-essential travel ban
May 19th, 20200 OTTAWA, CANADA — The United States and Canada have agreed to extend their ban on non-essential travel between the two nations by another 30 days as part of a plan to contain the coronavirus, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made the announcement on Tuesday. Officials from both countries said last week that the...
Bill providing second round of coronavirus stimulus checks passes in House, could face uphill battle in Senate
May 19th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill this past Friday which provides for a second round of stimulus checks dubbed “The Heroes Act.” The bill must next be approved by the Senate. Meanwhile, a meeting was expected to be held on Tuesday by Vice President Mike Pence to discuss “economic impacts of the...
Nationwide CDC study of coronavirus antibodies expected to kick off in June or July
May 18th, 20200 ATLANTA — The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is planning to launch a nationwide study of up to 325,000 people to track how the coronavirus is spreading across the country and who may have developed antibodies to it, according to a CDC spokeswoman and researchers conducting the effort. The study is...
Michigan university stockpiles coronavirus tests, plans to resume in-person instruction this fall
May 17th, 20200 GRAND RAPIDS — Calvin University, a Grand Rapids-based school with about 3,600 students, is expected to become the first college or university in Michigan, and probably the first in the nation, to stockpile coronavirus tests with the intention of reopening this fall for in-person instruction. The private Christian college is among...
Michigan restaurants push Whitmer for May 29 reopening, lay out roadmap of potential guidelines
May 17th, 20200 LANSING — Large numbers of Michigan restaurants and bars are hoping to reopen for dine-in service on May 29, according to a proposed “roadmap” to reopening released earlier this month by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. Instances of harm from the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavius have continued to...
Home inspections resume in Dearborn, tall grass enforcement to begin May 18
May 16th, 20200 DEARBORN — The city of Dearborn will begin enforcing violations of the tall grass ordinance starting on Monday, May 18, according to a news release from the city's website. “Overgrown grass is not only an eyesore to neighbors, but can provide a refuge for a number of pests,” the release states. “Residents are asked to maintain...
CDC releases guidelines for reopening businesses and schools, as states prepare to ease lockdowns
May 15th, 20200 ATLANTA, GA — On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a voluntary set of guidelines for businesses and workplaces as well as schools and childcare programs on how they can most safely reopen their doors during the coronavirus pandemic. The guidelines are the most specific instructions yet from the...
New $3 trillion aid bill unveiled by House Democrats, including new round of larger stimulus check payments
May 12th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled a new $3 trillion-plus coronavirus relief package on Tuesday, including nearly $1 trillion in assistance for state and local governments affected by the pandemic. The package also includes funding for the post office and testing. Among the provisions in...
Biden names former impeachment manager Val Demings among potential VP picks
May 7th, 20200 ORLANDO, FLA — Former Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday that U.S. Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) was on his list of potential running mates, adding that he has just begun the process. “She is one of a group of close to a dozen really qualified and talented women who are on the list,” Biden told WFTV in Orlando. The interview...
Trump, Pence test negative for coronavirus after White House valet was reportedly infected
May 7th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both tested negative for the coronavirus after a member of the U.S. military who works at the White House was found to be infected, a White House spokesman said on Thursday. The military official was identified as a personal valet to Trump by CNN. “We were...
Massive new “Rooseveltian” coronavirus response bill could be voted on next week, Pelosi says
May 7th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi laid out broad outlines of the next massive coronavirus-response bill Democrats are expected to seek, with votes possible as soon as next week. The bill's major components will include additional aid to state and local governments, more money for coronavirus......
U.S. sends $225 million in emergency food aid to Yemen as famine-stricken country reports first COVID-19 related deaths
May 6th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States will send $225 million in emergency aid to Yemen to support food programs, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Aid groups have been forced to scale down operations in the country, which has been rocked by food insecurity and war in recent years, because of the...
Iraq-born Arab American boxer chasing spot in 2021 Olympics while balancing work, education in Tennessee
May 5th, 20200 KNOXVILLE, TN — When 22-year-old Esam Abid first moved to Tennessee from Turkey by way of his native Iraq, the going was a bit rough. “It was a little difficult at first not speaking the language,” said Abid, an aspiring Olympic boxer who is currently in his third year at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, studying civil......
Emmy Award winning Palestinian American poet from Dearborn releases first collection of poetry
May 5th, 20200 “How the Water Holds Me”, the first collection of poetry by Detroit-based and Dearborn-born community organizer and Emmy Award-winning poet Tariq Luthun was released late last month, after which it quickly found its way onto top 10 lists for both Amazon new releases and small press distribution. The book's release came as a part...
U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says Trump eyeing restaurant tax changes, travel boost
May 4th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday that bipartisan discussions are underway over whether more government funding is needed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Mnuchin said the administration was prepared to back additional coronavirus stimulus money for American businesses if needed, but added that it is...
Report: Trump told Saudis to cut oil supply or risk losing U.S. military support
May 2nd, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. —President Trump gave Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman an ultimatum in an April 2 phone call to begin cutting oil production or he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the kingdom, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The message was...
Roughly half of states easing coronavirus restrictions as jobless numbers rise, nation passes 1 million case mark
May 2nd, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Initial White House social distancing guidelines were set to expire on Thursday, with about half of all U.S. states pressing ahead with plans to ease restrictions on business and social life, including Michigan. The enormous pressure placed on states to reopen was highlighted by new data from the Labor Department......
Lebanon legalizes cannabis farming for medicinal use in bid to help ailing economy
May 2nd, 20202 BEIRUT — The Lebanese parliament has legalized cannabis farming for medicinal use, a potentially lucrative export for an economy in dire need of foreign currency as it struggles through a paralyzing financial crisis. Cannabis has consistently been farmed openly in the fertile Bekaa Valley, although growing it has long been illegal...
Four U.S. Reps, including Tlaib and Dingell, introduce Arab American Heritage Month resolution
May 2nd, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-New Jersey), Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), Donna Shalala (D-Florida) and Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) introduced a resolution honoring Arab American Heritage Month this past Thursday, recognizing the many contributions Arab Americans have made to the United States. “As a strong and......
Experimental antiviral drug to become the new standard of care for COVID-19 patients, Fauci says
April 29th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Top U.S. infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci said Gilead Science Inc.'s experimental antiviral drug remdesivir will become the new standard of care for COVID-19 after results from a key clinical trial released Wednesday showed it help patients recover more quickly from the illness caused by the...
Oakland County Treasurer Meisner: No one will lose property to tax foreclosure due to coronavirus
April 28th, 20200 PONTIAC — Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner issued a pledge on Monday that no one in the county will lose their property to tax foreclosure because of circumstances related to the coronavirus, including taxpayers who contract the virus and are required to self-quarantine or anyone facing circumstances relating to the virus and its......
