With Republican support, Michigan Democrats pass largest state budget
July 3rd, 20230 LANSING — Michigan lawmakers approved an $82 billion budget centering on education, infrastructure and the environment in what was the first opportunity in decades that Democrats have had to craft a budget that reflects their legislative priorities. The state’s highest-ever budget was passed late Wednesday after Democrats — who...
State Sen. Santana and State Rep. Farhat secure more than $159 million for their communities
July 3rd, 20230 LANSING — State Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) and State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) and the Michigan Legislature secured funding for the 2024 state budget, including more than $159 million that they advocated for to support local residents and address the needs of their communities. The budget bills were House Bill 4437, which...
LARA and state fire marshal Urge Michiganders to be fire safe this Independence Day
June 29th, 20230 State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer is urging Michiganders to use caution when handling fireworks as the Fourth of July holiday approaches. “We anticipate many people will purchase consumer fireworks over the Fourth of July holiday weekend,” Sehlmeyer said. “All Michiganders should consider the dry conditions when setting off...
Air quality alert extended due to Canadian wildfires
June 29th, 20230 DETROIT – Smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to impact air quality in Southeastern Michigan. Due to these poor air quality conditions, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Alert through at least Thursday, June 29 for many parts of Michigan, including Wayne County. ...
Dearborn Police seeking information on individual tied to unauthorized ATM usage
June 29th, 20230 DEARBORN – Dearborn Police are requesting the community's assistance in identifying a subject (photo included below) in connection with unauthorized use of ATM machines to acquire personal financial data. Anyone with information on this individual is encouraged to contact the Dearborn Police Department at 313-943-2298. If you wish to...
Dearborn native in the running for Miss Arab USA
June 29th, 20230 DEARBORN — A Dearborn native of Palestinian and Lebanese descent has been selected as one of 30 finalists in the running for Miss Arab USA. Razan Zaher was born in Michigan before her family returned to Lebanon, where she was raised, and went on to earn her bachelor of arts in English studies and her diploma with honors. Zaher, a...
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell announces more than $9.6 million in HHS grants for the University of Michigan
June 25th, 20230 ANN ARBOR – U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) announced on Thursday that the University of Michigan will receive $9,667,033 in federal grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct research in areas including pharmacology, physiology, biological chemistry, allergy, immunology, transplantation,...
Dearborn Fire Department offers free smoke detectors and installation for Dearborn and Melvindale residents
June 25th, 20230 DEARBORN – Dearborn and Melvindale residents can schedule an appointment to have Dearborn Fire Department staff install smoke detectors in their homes at no cost. Funded through a federal grant, the program provides smoke detectors and installation for free to any owner-occupied household, regardless of income. Appointments...
Troy man charged in hit-and-run that injured 7-year-old girl on bike
June 25th, 20230 TROY — Troy police have arrested a suspect in connection to a hit-and-run that injured a 7-year-old girl while she was riding her bike in May. The crash happened at about 10:51 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, near Silverstone Drive and Dryden. The suspect driver struck the girl while she tried to cross the street on her bicycle. The...
Maleyko presented with gavel as incoming president of state superintendents association
June 25th, 20230 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Glenn Maleyko was recognized as the incoming president of the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators during a brief presentation at the June 19 Board of Education meeting. MASA is an organization for school superintendents and administrators that serves more than...
Hamtramck mayor defends city’s decision on Pride Flag ban, intends to run for reelection
June 25th, 20230 HAMTRAMCK — Mayor Amer Ghalib fired back at critics of the city's new law that banned the display of LGBTQ+ flags on government property, saying the city was being subject to "extortion" for choosing to "stay neutral when it comes to flying flags of different groups." He also chose the opportunity to announce he intends to run for...
Dearborn man sentenced to 14 years in prison for providing material support to ISIS
June 25th, 20230 DETROIT — On Thursday, June 15, a Dearborn resident was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after having been convicted at trial earlier this year on charges of providing and conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and attending an ISIS training camp. Prosecutors sought a...
Michigan legislature passes bills to end child marriage
June 25th, 20230 LANSING — On Thursday, the Michigan Senate voted to pass multiple bills that would establish 18 as the minimum age of consent for marriage in the state. State senators passed Senate Bills 209-217 and Senate Bill 246 almost unanimously. On Wednesday, House legislators passed a bill that would ban all child marriages in the state,...
AG Nessel charges three in signature collection fraud involving governor’s election
June 25th, 20230 LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed charges Thursday against three people accused of submitting thousands of forged nominating signatures that ended the candidacies of five Republican gubernatorial candidates last year. Willie Reed, 37; Shawn Wilmoth, 36 and Jamie Lynn Wilmoth-Goodin, 36, were each charged with...
Two Detroit men charged in separate gas stations attacks, including setting clerk on fire
June 25th, 20230 DETROIT – On Tuesday, police announced arrests in two unrelated incidents involving incendiary devices used in city gas stations — an argument that allegedly ended with a man setting a Sunoco gas station clerk on fire with a blowtorch, and a suspect who is accused of trying to ignite an SUV full of explosives at a downtown Speedway......
State Representative Alabas Farhat appointed to Growing Michigan Together Council
June 20th, 20230 LANSING — Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) announced his appointment of State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) to the Growing Michigan Together Council. The council was created by Governor Whitmer to develop a statewide strategy to grow Michigan’s population, while cultivating a Michigan people want to call home. After hearing he was...
Building trust when cultural differences and society biases impact healthcare for minority groups
June 16th, 20230 By Linda Perkins Health disparities continue to disproportionately affect minority populations despite improvements in overall health for most Americans. In Michigan, minority groups have a higher rate of chronic disease than average, so improving healthcare for these groups is critical. Unfortunately, cultural differences and......
Michigan car insurance rates increasing in July
June 16th, 20230 You'll be paying more to insure your vehicle in Michigan beginning next month. Last year, drivers received refund checks from no-fault auto insurance reform and a $5 billion surplus in the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Fund. The MCCA is a nonprofit corporation controlled by the insurance industry that manages the catastrophic...
Local Arab American actor Mike Batayeh’s cause of death revealed
June 16th, 20230 PLYMOUTH — The New York Post reported that the cause of death for Breaking Bad and Detroit Unleaded Arab American actor Mike Batayeh, who died June 1 at his Michigan home, has been confirmed. The Post reported that it received an email from a representative of the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s Office, who revealed that the...
Vaccinate your children to protect them from COVID-19
June 16th, 20230 Everything you need to know about COVID-19 vaccination for your children When children are left unvaccinated, they are vulnerable to potentially deadly diseases like COVID-19. Overwhelming consensus exists within the medical community that vaccination is the best thing you can do to protect them from serious illness. Although...
Man assaulted by Dearborn police officer awarded $9.3 million
June 16th, 20230 DEARBORN – Luther Gonzales Hall was coming from a friend’s house on his bike. He had a bit to drink and wanted to be sure he was heading the right way to get home when he was attacked by a police officer seemingly without provocation. The suit he won not only alleges violations of constitutional rights, but false imprisonment,......
U.S. Customs and Border Protection provides travel tips for Hajj travelers
June 16th, 20230 DETROIT – U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations reminds travelers preparing for their pilgrimage to the Hajj to be aware of important travel tips to help ensure a smooth return into the United States. Travelers should familiarize themselves with regulations regarding traveling with currency over...
Celebrating Mike Mosallam: A Dearborn native and proud Arab American wins a Tony Award
June 16th, 20230 By Rashid Baydoun DEARBORN — In a moment of triumph for the local community, Mike Mosallam, a native of Dearborn and a proud Arab American, has clinched a prestigious Tony Award, solidifying his place as an influential figure in the performing arts. Mosallam’s win, a result of his co-producing efforts in the acclaimed musical......
Wayne County residents facing foreclosure can apply for payment plans now
June 16th, 20230 DETROIT — Beginning June 15, Wayne County residents facing foreclosure can enter payment plans to take care of back property taxes for 2021 and earlier. The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office offers several payment plan options to help taxpayers avoid foreclosure and pay back property taxes over certain time periods: Interest...
AG Nessel announces $338 million Walgreens opioid settlement
June 16th, 20230 LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a settlement with Walgreens Pharmacy worth $338 million for its role in Michigan’s opioid epidemic. “The opioid epidemic was born, in part, out of a concert of action by many large corporations who reaped incredible profits as a result,” Nessel said in a press......
