Analysis ranks Michigan as top state for bridging COVID racial disparities
October 16th, 20200 LANSING — A Politico analysis of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. by various state governments shows certain states stand out in their approaches to public health, mass unemployment and school reopenings. Politico reporters looked at the states' responses by consulting various health researchers, academic experts and...
State of Michigan and MSU launch COVID-19 app
October 16th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) and Michigan State University (MSU), have partnered to launch a COVID-19 exposure notification app. The app will pilot on MSU’s campus and for the surrounding community as a next step to help...
Attorney General Nessel announces 14th person charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot; eighth person in terrorism plot
October 16th, 20200 LANSING — Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office is reporting that there is now a 14th person charged in the plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. Ryan Jarvi, a spokesperson for Nessel’s office, told local news outlets that a 14th person was arrested in the plot to kidnap Whitmer, but would not provide further details regarding the...
Your vote is your voice, don’t be silent
October 15th, 20200 By Edgar L. Vann A paraphrased quote attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. says, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” The current zeitgeist has cast a pall of perplexing uncertainty for many over the status of the soul of this nation. It is a seismic moment of truth for us all. The malaise...
Attorney General Dana Nessel announces felony embezzlement charges against Detroit investment adviser
October 15th, 20200 LANSING — A Detroit investment adviser has been arraigned on multiple felony charges, including embezzlement. Lawrence Roberson, 74, allegedly took $90,000 from two of his clients and spent the money for himself, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today. He was arranged on Oct. 6 in the 36th District Court in Detroit on two...
Downtown Dearborn seeks community help in launching vision plan
October 14th, 20200 DEARBORN — Residents, students, visitors, businesses and employees are being encouraged to share their input on the downtown experience by taking the Downtown Dearborn Vision Plan survey through the end of October. The goal of the survey is to get community input on how the community can grow and enhance the downtown...
Dearborn Board of Education extends virtual learning into November
October 14th, 20200 DEARBORN — On Monday Oct. 12, the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education voted to extend virtual learning into November. The approved motion called for continuing and expanding in-school learning labs where up to three students at a time come in and meet with teachers under current conditions. Depending on local COVID...
Parents need support during these difficult times
October 11th, 20200 COVID-19 has impacted individuals and families around the world, forcing many working parents to now become virtual, homeschooling teachers. Parent support is crucial now more than ever, especially for those parents whose children may have an intellectual or developmental disability such as autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, epilepsy...
Seven steps to home buying
October 11th, 20200 In the current real estate market that favors sellers more so than buyers, there’s more to home buying than meets the eye. Realtor Dave Abdallah said that buying a home is an extensive process. “The first step to buying a home is to get pre-approved,” he said. “Speak with a local mortgage lender. This is where income,...
Candidates running for Dearborn School Board address their ideas if elected
October 11th, 20200 DEARBORN — 10 out of 12 candidates vying for one two-year-term and three six-year-terms seats for Dearborn School Board discussed their plans if elected. Candidates Nofila Haider and Batoul Biaz declined to respond. The Arab American News asked each candidate the following questions: What issues are of priority to you? What...
Ballot language approved for recall of Hamtramck Councilman Ian Perrotta
October 9th, 20200 HAMTRAMCK — The Wayne County Election Commission has approved ballot language for a proposal to recall Hamtramck City Councilman Ian Perrotta. The proposal, spearheaded by Councilman Mohammed Hassan, seeks to recall Perrotta for angry outbursts, most recently directed at a city employee. Perrotta has been censured by the Hamtramck...
Wayne County issues emergency order, amplifying COVID orders made prior to Supreme Court ruling
October 9th, 20200 DETROIT – Wayne County issued a new Emergency Public Health Order that clarifies and amplifies the COVID-19 orders issued by the state of Michigan. County Executive Warren C. Evans said the order carries forward the public health safety precautions implemented by Governor Whitmer in response to the coronavirus pandemic. A copy...
AG Nessel, Feds charge 13 people in plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, commit domestic terrorism
October 8th, 20200 LANSING — On Thursday, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against seven Michiganders for plotting to kidnap Governor Whitmer. “I’d like to announce that my office has filed additional charges in addition to the charges already announced by the U.S. Attorney’s office,” she said. “I’d like to announce the...
AG brings felony charges against two men for intimidating voters through robocalls
October 8th, 20200 DETROIT — On Thursday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the arrest and arraignment of two men who attempted to intimidate voters through robocalls. The two men, Jack Burkman, 54, of Arlington, Virginia and Jacob Wohl, 22, of Los Angeles, are charged with felony intimidating voters, conspiracy to commit an election law...
Dearborn Public Schools to decide if they will reopen for in-person learning
October 7th, 20200 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education will meet on Monday, Oct. 12 to decide if local COVID-19 conditions have improved enough to reopen schools. The administration is expected to make recommendations to the board regarding a plan to reopen schools safely and cautiously so students can begin to return to the......
MDHHS orders schools to notify public of COVID-19 cases; Dearborn schools experience outbreaks
October 7th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an emergency order requiring K-12 schools to provide public notice to the school community about probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19 within 24 hours. With this order, a reporting system was put in place at...
Lawsuit filed against city of Dearborn Heights and Council chairwoman for alleged FOIA violation
October 6th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A resident of Detroit has filed a lawsuit against the city of Dearborn Heights and Council Chairwoman Denise Malinowski-Maxwell for FOIA violations. In the lawsuit filed by Charles Blackwell, he alleges that Malinowski-Maxwell did not provide all of the information he had requested via Freedom of Information Act......
Biden campaign launches Chaldean Advisory Council
October 6th, 20200 DETROIT — On Tuesday, Biden for President Michigan (the state's Joe Biden presidential campaign chapter) launched a Chaldean Advisory Council to activate, engage and turn out the Chaldean/Assyrian community in Michigan. With less than 30 days until Election Day, the Chaldean Advisory Council will mobilize voters in the community...
Clerks can now start processing absentee ballots early in certain Michigan cities
October 6th, 20200 LANSING — A new bill allow clerks in certain cities or townships to begin processing absent voter (AV) ballots prior to election day. Governor Whitmer signed Michigan Senate Bill 757 alongside Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Tuesday. The bill also requires clerks to now notify voters of any reason their vote won’t be counted...
MI health department’s new order says gatherings still restricted, face masks required
October 5th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan main health authority has stepped into the ring, now that the state’s Supreme Court has deemed all of Governor Whitmer’s COVID-19 related executive orders since the April extension of the state of emergency unconstitutional. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon has...
Whitmer asks Supreme Court to clarify if ruling against her goes into effect immediately
October 5th, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer’s administration is asking for clarification from the Michigan Supreme Court after it decided last Friday that her extensions of the state of emergency and subsequent executive orders concerning COVID-19 were unconstitutional. Whitmer said previously that legally her orders would stay in effect for at......
Free COVID-19 testing in Dearborn Heights on Oct 10-11
October 4th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - The Wayne County Public Health Division and The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are continuing to host weekend drive-through COVID-19 testing. Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said that testing will continue for the rest of the year. “The Wayne County Public Division will continue to...
Peters clinches AAPAC endorsement, talks environment, foreign policy, community
October 3rd, 20200 DEARBORN — With the November election now a month away, U.S. Senator Gary Peters is in a race to maintain his seat for another term against conservative, Trump-backed John James. Several polls, including RealClear and Reuters, puts Peters ahead of James. Peters has a history of direct engagement with the Arab American community,......
Council members running for treasurer position respond to campaign material and social media posts from their opponents
October 3rd, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Two City Council members who are going head-to-head to become the city's next treasurer have turned to Facebook as a means of campaigning. Councilman Bob Constan and Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton are both on the ballot this November to replace former Treasurer John Riley. Riley retired in May and the City...
Crestwood Board of Education candidates discuss their plans if elected
October 3rd, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Five candidates — two incumbents and three newcomers — are competing for two available six-year-term seats on the Crestwood Board of Education. Sue Kaminsky has been a member of the school board for five and a half years and has lived in the Crestwood District since 1991. “My kids went to school......
