Dearborn Schools families to receive additional SNAP food benefits
February 25th, 20210 DEARBORN — Parents of students enrolled in Dearborn Public Schools will be receiving new or additional food benefits in the coming months. Earlier this month, the state announced that it would provide additional food benefits for any students who are eligible for free lunch or breakfast through schools and whose schools were not...
Dearborn Heights mayor appoints new chief of staff
February 25th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Along with all of the other changes that have occurred over the last month at City Hall, there is a newly appointed chief of staff in the mayor’s office. Upon Mayor Bill Bazzi’s appointment, former Chief of Staff Krissy Laslo was relieved of her position and Mariana Hernandez was appointed. Hernandez, who...
Nessel’s office charges two for threats made to officials, including Stabenow
February 23rd, 20210 LANSING – Two men are facing criminal charges for reportedly making threats against public officials in the events leading up to and following the November election, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Tuesday. Daniel Thompson, 62, formerly of Gregory and now living in Harrison, is charged with three counts of...
Dearborn DPW Yard opens for household bulk materials
February 20th, 20210 DEARBORN - The city of Dearborn is opening its DPW yard on Saturday, Feb. 20 for free drop off of household bulk materials. The yard will be open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and proof of residency and a face mask are required. The city cannot accept bulk debris from businesses, apartments or commercial operations and commercial...
Winter storms causing delays in vaccine shipments; Oakland County administers 99 percent of its vaccines
February 19th, 20210 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been notified of delays in shipments due to winter weather. With extreme winter weather throughout the country, including Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky, the CDC has said that vaccine shipments coming in are continuing to be delayed. “We ask that...
Dearborn Heights mayor appoints new building director
February 19th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With so many new changes in the city of Dearborn Heights, recently appointed Mayor Bill Bazzi has appointed a new building director. Having been an employee in the Building Department for the last 27 years, Rick Watland has been through it all. “I’ve been in construction all my working life,” he said....
ACCESS will see new leadership with departure of Hassan Jaber as CEO
February 19th, 20210 DEARBORN — ACCESS is undergoing a notable change in its leadership with the departure of longtime CEO and President Hassan Jaber, who is transitioning to national advocacy and leadership projects. Jaber told The Arab American News this week that he will remain attached to the organization, in which he served for more than 41...
Effort underway to involve underrepresented communities in redistricting
February 18th, 20210 LANSING — The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) is leading an effort alongside a coalition of partners to provide training and resources to help underrepresented communities give testimony and legislative maps to the new Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC). The MNA is a statewide membership organization...
Former Hazel Park police detective charged with embezzling public asset forfeiture funds
February 18th, 20210 LANSING — Multiple felony charges have been filed against a former Hazel Park police detective who is accused of conducting a criminal enterprise. Sean Boucher, 45, of Warren, is also accused of embezzling more than $65,000 in public asset forfeiture funds. Boucher was arraigned on Feb. 18 in Oakland County’s 43rd District...
Mayor praises DPW work during snow emergency; Councilman goes on a ride-along
February 18th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With the first big snowfall of the season causing a snow emergency this week, one City Councilman was ready to go along for the ride. Recently appointed Councilman Mo Baydoun had recently spoken with Department of Public Works Director John Selmi and had mentioned wanting to go on a ride-along for the next snow...
Michigan announces $52 million in relief for small businesses
February 18th, 20210 LANSING — The state of Michigan announced that $52.5 million will be given to nearly 6,000 small businesses across the state that have been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Whitmer said the money will be coming from the Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program. “The Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program...
Unexpected shortage of second dose of COVID-19 vaccine forces Beaumont to cancel appointments
February 17th, 20210 COMMUNITY — Beaumont recently learned of an expected and significant reduction in Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine allocation from the state of Michigan. As a result of the reduction, Beaumont Health Systems had to cancel 1,884 second dose appointments scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18. Beaumont says it is working on automatically...
Beaumont updates visitation guidelines
February 15th, 20210 COMMUNITY - Beaumont Health Systems has updated their COVID-19 visitation guidelines effective Monday, Feb. 15 at 8 a.m. for all facilities in the system. Visitation will now be permitted for patients who do not have or are not suspected of having COVID-19. Beaumont Health Chief Nursing Officer Susan Grant said that having visitors...
New vaccine eligibility: Mortuary services, food processing and agriculture workers
February 15th, 20210 LANSING — The state of Michigan has expanded its COVID-19 vaccine eligibility. Starting immediately, mortuary services workers can get a shot as part of the CDC recommended group 1A. On March 1, workers in food processing and agricultural settings, about 79,000 Michiganders, will be able to get vaccinations. Additionally, 41...
Warren’s Imam Steve Mustafa Elturk to receive interfaith award
February 15th, 20210 WARREN — Imam Steve Mustafa Elturk, president of the Islamic Organization of North America, will receive the Robert A. Bruttell Interfaith Leader Award on Feb. 22. Elturk is a leader of Warren's faith community, where his mosque, the Islamic Organization of North America, is based. He co-chairs the Imams Committee of the ......
Dearborn Public Schools employees to get their COVID vaccines, agree on reopening plan
February 13th, 20210 DEARBORN — In partnership with the Wayne County Health Department, the Detroit Medical Center and DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan are vaccinating Dearborn schools staff. The Detroit Medical Center and DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan are beginning to vaccinate more than 1,000 teachers and staff from Dearborn Public...
Audit shows accuracy of presidential election in Michigan
February 12th, 20211 LANSING — After months of accusations about widespread voter fraud in Michigan, results of an audit exercise to determine the accuracy of the results of the November presidential election give a clearer picture. A hand count of more than 18,000 ballots randomly selected throughout the state affirms the electoral victory of......
Henry Ford Centennial Library and Esper Branch reopening with limited in-person services
February 12th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Henry Ford Centennial Library (HFCL) and the Esper Branch Library are reopening for limited in-person services beginning Feb. 16. With strict safety protocols in place, HFCL will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. for both in-person...
Dearborn to offer small business grants
February 12th, 20210 DEARBORN — Small business owners in Dearborn who have struggled financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for assistance from the city. The Small Business Grant (SBG) program allows Dearborn business owners to apply to have up to $15,000 worth of specific business expenses reimbursed. Payments for the recipients...
New options for COVID-19 vaccine sign-up in Michigan
February 12th, 20210 MICHIGAN - Residents who don’t have access to the internet or who struggle to use a computer can now call the Michigan COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136, available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for up-to-date information about vaccine eligibility, safety information, and clinic locations Local health departments and hospitals...
Dearborn Heights reappoints Gary Miotke as corporation counsel
February 12th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — After nearly a year of back and forth, the Dearborn Heights City Council has reappointed Gary Miotke to be corporation counsel. Mayor Bill Bazzi submitted the appointment for the Council to vote on. “I’m going to talk about the elephant in the room,” Councilman Dave Abdallah said. “In this particular......
Trial postponed for five men in alleged Governor Whitmer kidnapping plot
February 11th, 20210 GRAND RAPIDS — A trial for five of the men accused of plotting to kidnap Governor Whitmer has been postponed until October. The trial was postponed to give defense lawyers more time to receive and analyze evidence. U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker decided to reschedule the trial from March until Oct. 12 in federal court in...
How to get vaccinated at local pharmacies
February 11th, 20211 COMMUNITY — The federal government is shipping 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine directly to retail pharmacies starting this week. The new shipment will be a part of the first phase of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and will go to 6,500 stores nationwide, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Rite Aid locations in select......
Help is available for young people struggling with addiction during the pandemic
February 11th, 20210 In the midst of a pandemic, the drug epidemic persists as health experts say fentanyl is still the leading cause of drug overdoses in Wayne County, while the number one drug of choice for teens is marijuana, followed by alcohol and heroin. As most of us know, substance use is still very prevalent among young people in the country and...
Democrats focus Trump trial on mob’s threat to his fellow Republicans
February 10th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Democrats prosecuting Donald Trump’s impeachment trial for inciting the deadly siege of the Capitol highlighted through video on Wednesday how members of the pro-Trump mob searched the building for his vice president, chanting: “Hang Mike Pence!” Previously unseen security videos showed the view from......
