Dearborn School Board launches search for new superintendent with ambitious timeline
February 6th, 20260 DERABORN – The search for a new superintendent of the Dearborn Public Schools officially began last week, following the departure of former superintendent Glenn Maleyko, who moved on to lead education efforts at the state level after a decade marked by strong performance in Dearborn. As a first major step, the Dearborn Board of...
Preliminary Henry Ford College presidential shortlist excludes Arab American candidates, raising concerns
February 6th, 20262 Serious questions about transparency and selection procedures have emerged after the advisory selection committee charged with recommending a permanent president for Henry Ford College narrowed its field to 10 candidates from more than 120 applicants, without including a single Arab American, despite more than a dozen Arab American...
Dearborn Schools Interim Superintendent Lamis Srour explains why she will not seek permanent post
February 6th, 20260 DEARBORN — Interim superintendent Lamis Srour said she will not apply to keep her position on a permanent basis as the Dearborn Public Schools opens its search for a successor to former superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. Maleyko left his position to become the state superintendent. He was hired in late December to replace longtime...
Detroit judge, three others charged in $300K guardianship fraud scheme
February 6th, 20260 DETROIT — A sitting Detroit judge and three other individuals are facing federal criminal charges in connection with the alleged embezzlement of nearly $300,000 from people under legal guardianship, through a fraudulent scheme that operated for several years before she became a judge. According to federal court filings, Andrea...
Dearborn Police launch citywide Drone First Responder Program, first of its kind in Michigan
February 6th, 20260 DEARBORN – The Dearborn Police Department announced Monday that it has begun full-scale deployment of drones as part of its initial emergency response across the city, describing the initiative as the first of its kind in the state of Michigan. While several police departments statewide already use drones for limited purposes,...
Adam Hollier drops secretary of state bid, enters State Senate District 3 race
February 6th, 20260 DETROIT — Adam Hollier, a Democrat and U.S. Army paratrooper, announced he is suspending his campaign for Michigan secretary of state and pivoting to a run for State Senate District 3, a seat that spans Hamtramck, Highland Park and Detroit’s east side. Hollier, 40, previously served in the State Senate representing the former...
Veteran Arab American community leader Ismael Ahmed dies at 79, leaving a five-decade legacy of service in Metro Detroit
February 6th, 20260 DETROIT — The Arab American community in Metro Detroit is mourning the loss of veteran community and political leader Ismael (Ish) Ahmed, who passed away at age 79 after a distinguished career spanning nearly five decades devoted to immigrant rights, social justice and ethnic communities across Michigan. Funeral services were held...
Veteran political and community activist Ismael (Ish) Ahmed dies at 79
January 31st, 20260 The Arab American community in metro Detroit is mourning the loss of veteran political and community activist Ismael (Ish) Ahmed, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 79, following a lifetime dedicated to immigrant rights, social justice and ethnic communities in Michigan. Funeral and memorial arrangements will be announced later,...
Wealthy businessman Perry Johnson Joins Michigan governor’s race, pledges $9 million early spending push
January 30th, 20260 BIRMINGHAM — Wealthy businessman Perry Johnson has joined a growing field of Republican candidates seeking Michigan’s governorship, pledging to spend heavily on a campaign centered on eliminating the state income tax, fixing schools and making state government more efficient. Launching his campaign Monday at a restaurant in downtown...
Lebanese General Security Chief Hassan Choucair visits local community, speaks on Lebanon’s challenges and reforms, praises diaspora support
January 30th, 20260 DEARBORN — On the sidelines of his participation in a security conference in Las Vegas, Lebanese Director General of General Security Major General Hassan Ezzat Choucair made a point of visiting the Lebanese community in the Detroit area on Friday, January 23, where he addressed recent political developments in Lebanon at a private...
Former Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib appointed senior advisor at AmeriCorps after his ambassadorship nomination stalled in U.S. Senate
January 30th, 20260 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, former Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib —whose nomination as U.S. ambassador to Kuwait had encountered broad opposition in the United States Senate in October — officially began a new federal role in Washington, D.C.. He is now serving as senior advisor for strategic partnerships at AmeriCorps, following...
Hamtramck City Council appoints Hussein Farhat as interim police chief
January 30th, 20260 HAMTRAMCK — During its regular meeting on Tuesday, a majority of the Hamtramck City Council voted to appoint veteran law enforcement officer Hussein Farhat as the city’s interim police chief, following extensive discussions between the city administration and Council members, whose opinions were divided over the decision. Prior to...
Setting the standard in healthcare law and compliance: Hassan Abdallah’s leadership approach
January 30th, 20260 As healthcare organizations manage expanding volumes of sensitive patient information and rely more heavily on digital platforms, compliance and privacy leadership has shifted from a supporting role to a strategic one. For Hassan Abdallah, vice president and chief compliance & privacy officer at MRO, that evolution has shaped both...
Former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten suspends campaign for state attorney general
January 30th, 20260 LANSING — Former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced Tuesday that he is suspending his campaign to become Michigan’s next attorney general, citing a lack of momentum following key labor union endorsements. Totten, a Democrat, made the announcement on social media Tuesday afternoon, saying he no...
Governor Whitmer mourns the death of her father, credits career path to his encouragement
January 30th, 20260 Governor Whitmer's father, Richard Whitmer, died on Monday night, according to a statement from her office. "My beloved father passed away last night," Whitmer said. "He held a lot of impressive positions in his long life. He led major non-profits, sat on statewide boards and served in the cabinet of one of my predecessors, Governor......
Dearborn man sentenced to 25–40 years for years-long child sexual abuse in Macomb County
January 27th, 20260 A Dearborn man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child in Macomb County over several years has been sentenced to decades in prison. Elie Otayek, 43, was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, to 25 to 40 years behind bars following his November 2025 conviction on three felony counts of criminal sexual conduct, two counts in the...
Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun sworn in, vows new era of services, safety and lasting flood solutions
January 23rd, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS— During an official inauguration ceremony held Saturday, January 17 at the Crestwood High School auditorium, and attended by a large crowd of officials and community leaders, newly elected Mayor Mo Baydoun pledged to launch a new chapter centered on improving public services, strengthening community safety and......
Michigan Governor Whitmer’s Davos trip courts investors abroad
January 23rd, 20260 DAVOS — In her fifth international trip within a year, Governor Whitmer participated in events at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the Democratic governor joined “world leaders” to “tell Michigan’s story” on a range of issues including electric vehicles, innovation, workforce skills and...
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin elected vice chair of Michigan Law Enforcement Standards Commission
January 23rd, 20260 DEARBORN — Continuing his distinguished career in law enforcement, Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin has been elected vice chair of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) for 2026, becoming the first Muslim American to hold the senior leadership post in the agency’s 60-year history. Shahin, 50, joined the...
Syrian American pleads guilty to Social Security fraud after collecting benefits for mother living in Syria
January 23rd, 20260 DETROIT — A Syrian American man formerly of Dearborn has admitted to stealing nearly $190,000 in federal funds by continuing to collect Social Security benefits on behalf of his mother, despite the fact that she has been living in Syria for years, according to federal prosecutors. The defendant, Samer Succar, appeared earlier this...
Michigan legislature approves statewide ban on student smartphone use during class time
January 23rd, 20260 LANSING — Seeking to reduce student distractions and improve academic performance, the Michigan legislature has approved a statewide ban on the use of smartphones during instructional hours in all schools across the state, with limited exceptions and enforcement authority left to local school districts. The State House passed the bill......
Mayor Mo Baydoun completes Dearborn Heights executive team, filling key city posts with local and diverse talents
January 17th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The outlines of Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun’s new administration have taken full shape after all executive positions in city government were filled with local professionals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, in a vision aimed at improving institutional performance and enhancing the quality of services provided...
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist drops bid for governor, enters secretary of state race in major democratic shift
January 16th, 20260 LANSING — Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II announced on Monday that he is withdrawing from this year's gubernatorial race and will instead run for secretary of state. Gilchrist’s decision comes after he recently concluded that winning the Democratic nomination for governor in the statewide primary scheduled for......
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud sworn in for second term, vows more housing, flood protection and “people first” growth
January 16th, 20260 DEARBORN — In a large, formal inauguration ceremony held on Saturday, January 10, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud renewed his commitment to continuing the city’s progress, saying Dearborn has become one of the fastest-growing communities in the Great Lakes region under his leadership. Hammoud highlighted accomplishments from his...
Dearborn Board of Education elects new leadership, prepares for a busy year of major decisions
January 16th, 20260 The Dearborn Board of Education opened its meeting on Monday, January 12, by holding its annual elections, which resulted in the election of Jamal Aljahmi as board president, Nasri Sobh as vice president, Amer Zahr as secretary and Ali K. Bazzi as treasurer. The election and reorganization session took place before the board’s regular......
