As Trump shapes up his presidency, a fight is looming on his birthright citizenship executive order
January 26th, 20250 By Amjad Khan On the first day of his second term, the nation stood watch as President Trump issued a plethora of controversial executive orders that disrupt all corners of American life. From his pardoning of violent January 6 rioters to his withdrawal from the near decade long Paris Climate Agreement, it is clear that the...
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...
State Rep. Alabas Farhat appointed as vice chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee
January 17th, 20250 LANSING – Recently, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township), appointed Arab American State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) as vice chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee. In his new role, Farhat will oversee the state’s $82 billion budget alongside Committee Chair Ann Bollin (R-Brighton...
Dearborn Board of Education reorganizes, elects officers
January 17th, 20250 DEARBORN — As part of School Board Appreciation Month, Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko took time at the January 13 school board meeting to thank trustees for their service to the community and to recognize each trustee. Over the past few years, school board members across the state and throughout the country have encountered an...
Cautious optimism among Arab and Muslim Americans in Detroit over the Gaza ceasefire agreement
January 17th, 20251 After 647 days of relentless violence and genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday was seen as a moment of hope, marking the potential end of a devastating nightmare. This long-overdue agreement represents more than just a pause in conflict; it is a...
Dearborn Public Schools combat teen vaping with new detectors placed in bathrooms
January 17th, 20250 DEARBORN — A Metro Detroit school district is taking measures to hopefully stop students from vaping on campus with vape detectors. Dearborn Public Schools is tackling vaping, which school officials say is not isolated to Dearborn, as more public school districts are taking actions on the three fronts of epidemics affecting teens:...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Seniors A Go-Go keeps Brightmoor seniors engaged
January 15th, 20250 By Julie R. Riddle In the Detroit neighborhood of Brightmoor, a group of pole dancing, crime-fighting, take-no-guff seniors believes their twilight years are for having fun, not sitting still. Organizers started Seniors A Go-Go, a project of the Brightmoor Alliance, a few years ago, after a Brightmoor resident lost patience with...
U.S. health and medical organizations renew calls to end genocide in Gaza, organize free clinic for victims of Israeli war crimes
January 10th, 20250 Amid the international community's failure to end the Israeli war on Gaza, various health and medical organizations in the United States and Canada joined the Doctors Against Genocide organization to renew demands for an end to the ethnic cleansing and human rights violations in the occupied territories. This call was marked by protests...
As winter intensifies: Tips and guidelines for safe driving on Michigan roads
January 10th, 20250 After a relatively mild start to the season, Michigan's winter is expected to worsen in the coming weeks, with forecasts of dropping temperatures and heavy snowfall. These conditions could put many drivers in challenging situations, especially those inexperienced with the hazardous conditions of the Great Lakes State's winter...
Michigan’s Democratic and Republican Parties seek new leadership ahead of 2026 elections
January 10th, 20250 LANSING – The Democratic and Republican Parties in Michigan are preparing to elect new leadership following the resignation of their respective leaders late last year for varying reasons. On the Democratic side, significant electoral losses in November prompted Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes to announce she would not...
Michigan officially celebrates “Muslim American Heritage Month” for the first time this month
January 10th, 20250 LANSING – In a historic move highlighting the contributions of American Muslims to the history and culture of the United States, Governor Whitmer declared January as "Muslim American Heritage Month" for the first time in the state’s history. The Democratic governor’s announcement comes as part of growing recognition of 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....
2024 a year of political, social and cultural milestones for local Arab Americans
January 4th, 20250 Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Lebanese activities continue amid regional conflicts with Israeli invasion of Gaza At the beginning of 2024, activities supporting the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples continued in the Dearborn area, mirroring similar events from the previous year. These activities were organized alongside Israel's aggressive...
Dearborn man sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding retailers of more than $4 million
January 4th, 20250 SEATTLE – A 27-year-old Dearborn, Michigan, man was sentenced Dec. 19 in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for a fraud scheme damaging retailers across the country, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Teal L. Miller said in a press release. Sajed Al-Maarej operated “Simple......
Dearborn Heights water meter replacement project begins in January
January 4th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – All Dearborn Heights homes and businesses will soon be equipped with new high-tech water meters – replacing the city’s antiquated 60+ year-old meters. According to Mayor Bill Bazzi, some 25,000 meters will be replaced city-wide. All homes and businesses in the city are required to have their meters replaced in...
Unemployment benefits to increase to 26 weeks in Michigan with new law
January 3rd, 20250 LANSING – Unemployment benefits for Michiganders who are between jobs will increase from 20 to 26 weeks under a new law just signed by Governor Whitmer. The will was sponsored by Senator Paul Wojno (D-Warren). The bill reverses previous cuts to unemployment benefits that occurred under Whitmer's Republican predecessor, former......
Minimum wage in Michigan increased on Jan. 1: What to know
January 3rd, 20250 As part of a larger plan, Michigan’s minimum wage was set to increase on New Year’s Day. The first step called for a 23-cent increase on Wednesday, Jan. 1. However, the hourly minimum wage in Michigan will see two increases in 2025, though concerns still loom from some business owners and employees who fear higher wages could be a...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...
Resilient Neighborhoods: O’Hair Park: From a “terrible waste of land” to a neighborhood treasure
December 30th, 20240 By Jaishree Drepaul For some Detroiters, the houses in their neighborhoods are more than just brick and mortar puzzled together. They're a complex Rubik's Cube of community challenges, historical and current, and of resilience over time. This is especially true for many people living in the city's O'Hair Park neighborhood, where today...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Keeping Detroit homes in the family for future generations
December 30th, 20240 By Sarah Williams Poppy red stairs splash from the white house. Planters of brilliant geraniums hang. A front porch stretches wide to offer shade and swing. It’s a place to call home, all right. In the yard, Jeanine gardens to keep ancestors happy. Digging in the dirt is her least favorite thing, but the generations of women who......
Dearborn High School senior earns full-ride scholarship to Ivy League institution Columbia University
December 30th, 20240 DEARBORN — Bissan Elzein, a senior at Dearborn High School, has earned a full-ride scholarship to Columbia University, an Ivy League institution located in New York City. Through the QuestBridge National College Match Program, a program that that helps connect high-achieving low-income students with top universities across the...
Trump’s picks of pro-Israel “dream team” worry some Arab and Muslim Americans who voted for him
December 13th, 20240 Just weeks after winning several of the nation’s largest Arab-majority cities, President-elect Trump has filled top administration posts with staunch Israel supporters, including an ambassador to Israel who has claimed “there is no such thing as Palestinians.” The selections have prompted mixed reactions among Arab Americans and......
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield announces run for mayor
December 13th, 20240 Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield officially launched her campaign for mayor of Michigan's largest city Tuesday evening. Sheffield aims to succeed Mayor Mike Duggan, who has decided not to seek re-election and announced his run for governor last week. Sheffield, 37, who has been a Detroit City Council member since 2013, is...
State Senate approves new extension for unemployment benefits
December 13th, 20240 LANSING – Michigan residents could see their unemployment benefits grow under bills that passed the State Senate on Thursday. The legislation would extend the amount of time someone can claim unemployment benefits to up to 26 weeks in a year. That’s six weeks more than what’s currently available. Over the next three years,......
