Redistricting Commission adopts final maps, offering possibilities for Arab American enclaves
December 29th, 20210 The state’s citizen-led, bipartisan Redistricting Commission has adopted its final versions of political maps by the expected timeline. Although experts are now anticipating legal challenges to the maps, residents at least get a good glimpse into how they could be represented in state House and Senate seats as well as the important...
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell receives profanity-filled, threatening voicemail, says it’s not the first one
December 28th, 20210 DEARBORN — In a recent interview with CNN, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) shared a threatening, profanity-filled voicemail she received. In the voicemail the caller calls her a series of names before telling her he hopes her family dies in front of her. “You f***ing old, senile b*tch, you’re as old and ugly as...
CDC cuts COVID-19 quarantine recommendation to five days
December 28th, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cut the isolation restrictions for COVID-19 patients from 10 to five days. The CDC said the guidance comes from growing evidence that people with COVID-19 are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop. Dr. Anthony...
Local religious leaders say people have “religious obligation” to keep others safe during COVID surge
December 26th, 20210 With COVID-19 cases continuing to surge in the area, religious and community leaders are urging people to take caution around the holidays. The Wayne County Health Department COVID-19 dashboard shows Dearborn still in the lead for total cases and deaths. County-wide cases continue to average well above 500 a day and hospital emergency...
Detroit native is the first Black woman U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan
December 24th, 20210 DETROIT — Dawn Ison, a Detroit native, has officially been sworn in as the new U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Ison replaces Saima Mohsin, who has been serving as acting U.S. attorney since Matthew Schneider resigned earlier this year when President Biden took office. She is the first Black woman to hold the...
Detroit Metro Airport police suddenly under new management
December 24th, 20210 WAYNE COUNTY — Despite the holiday rush expected over the next week, the Detroit Metro Airport Police Department is suddenly under new management. The department used to be part of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, but became its own agency 14 years ago. The airport authority sent Local 4 a statement saying the current police...
City releases tribute video to Mayor Jack O’Reilly, Jr.
December 24th, 20210 DEARBORN — As Mayor Jack O’Reilly, Jr.’s tenure in public service nears an end, the city has released a video tribute dedicated to him. O’Reilly was City Council president for 17 years before being elected mayor in 2007. He announced that he was not running for re-election earlier this year. The city described the video in...Redistricting maps continue to face criticism for lack of minority and ethnic representations
December 24th, 20210 MICHIGAN — The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) is expected to vote on the final political district maps starting Dec. 28. The upcoming finalization of the state’s political boundaries comes after months of debate and deliberation over the drawing of state and federal districts, with the aim to give...
U.S. authorizes Merck pill to fight COVID-19
December 23rd, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — Just one day after authorizing Pfizer's Paxlovid pill for at-home use, health regulators have authorized a second pill to combat COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized Merck’s molnupiravir, although Pfizer’s Paxlovid is likely to become the first-choice treatment due to having milder...
Local nonprofit seeks community engagement to continue to help students
December 23rd, 20210 DEARBORN — Communities In Schools (CIS) Michigan is looking to the community for help for local students in the Dearborn School District. Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko brought the program into 10 schools in the district five years ago. Gina Mroczka, program director of Ypsilanti and Dearborn, said that the role of CIS is...
Michigan Muslim Community Council delivering gifts across Metro Detroit
December 22nd, 20210 ROYAL OAK — Hundreds of families in Detroit will wake up to Christmas gifts thanks to volunteer efforts by local Muslims. As part of its annual Days of Ihsan campaign, which is meant to amplify and encourage volunteer efforts by local Muslims, the Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) is joining other organizations on Christmas...
Public school athletic programs – they’re more than “just sports”
December 22nd, 20210 — This article was contributed by Brian Anderson, Hamtramck Public Schools’ athletic director. It has been edited for style. For many students, school sports are much more than an after-school activity. Athletics provide a way for kids to interact with their peers, exert energy and be a part of a team working towards a common...
Dearborn native releases her first album as a member of a band
December 22nd, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn native Ameera Husein and Ver Novum —the band for which she sings lead — released their first album together on Friday, Dec. 17. Husein, a first-generation American and the daughter of Palestinian and Algerian parents, had been singing independently for about seven years before joining Ver Novum. In 2018,...
Pause on student loan repayment extended through May 1
December 22nd, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration has extended a student loan moratorium through May 1, giving borrowers an additional three months before repayments start back up. Under the action, payments on federal student loans will remain paused, debt collection efforts will be suspended and interest rates will remain at 0...
Pfizer pill Paxlovid becomes first authorized home COVID treatment
December 22nd, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — Health regulators have officially authorized the first pill against COVID-19 that Americans can take at home. The milestone comes as cases, hospitalizations and deaths are rising at rapid speeds, with the omicron variant also spreading rapidly. The drug Paxlovid, created by Pfizer, will have limited supplies......
CDC updates side effects of COVID-19 vaccines
December 22nd, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — While the COVID-19 cases keep increasing nationwide, the CDC has updated the side effects of getting the vaccine. As of Dec. 20, 241.9 million people or 72.9 percent of the U.S. population had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of those, 204.1 million or 61.5 percent are fully vaccinated and more...
$15 million cash bond set for two involved in Dearborn strip club shooting
December 21st, 20210 DEARBORN — The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office approved a 16-count felony complaint against Khalil Elgarmi and Izeddine Elgarmi for the double shooting at BT’s Executive Club last Saturday. The two were also arranged on a $15 million cash bond. The incident occurred Saturday, Dec. 18. Dearborn Police Department officers......
Biden signs drunk driving prevention bill honoring Abbas family
December 21st, 20210 NORTHVILLE — President Biden signed a bill into law this week that brings drunk driving detection systems to vehicles in honor of a local Arab American family killed by a drunk driver. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) first introduced the bill in 2019. The Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate (HALT) Drunk Driving Act is...
Dearborn Heights fire officials urge safety in holiday plans
December 21st, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With the holiday season in full swing, the Dearborn Heights Fire Department is urging residents to be careful and aware when it comes to their holiday plans. According to Dearborn Heights Fire Chief David Brogan and Fire Marshal Max Mitts, holiday fires kill or injure upward of 2,000 individuals and cause more...
Nessel to help save DTE Gas customers more than $110 million
December 21st, 20210 LANSING — The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) released its final order in DTE Gas’ most recent rate case, approving an $84,173,000 annual increase in DTE Gas’ rates, which is nearly $111 million less than the original request. In February, DTE Gas requested a $195 million increase, so the commission’s decision...
Art teacher charged with making threats against St. Clair Shores middle school
December 21st, 20210 MACOMB COUNTY — A 59-year-old art teacher is accused of slipping hand-written threatening notes into three classrooms at a St. Clair Shores middle school. Johnna Rhône claimed that the allegations were not true when she appeared in court on Dec. 20. Police say that she made the false threats at Jefferson Middle School last week......
Biden announces more hospital aid, free at-home COVID-19 tests to combat virus
December 21st, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — With the rapid spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19, President Biden announced new actions in an attempt to combat the virus. While Biden was scheduled to speak on Dec. 21, the White House provided details on his updated COVID-19 winter plan. A major update to his plan is the decision for the U.S....
Mayor-elect Hammoud selects Issa Shahin as next Dearborn chief of police
December 20th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn Mayor-elect Abdullah Hammoud has selected Dearborn Police Department Commander Issa Shahin as the city’s next chief of police, effective Saturday, Jan. 1. Shahin has served in that department for some 24 years, serving as executive commander for the last three. He will succeed current Chief Ronald Haddad, who......
Vaccine clinic opening in Dearborn Heights
December 20th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Residents looking to get their COVID-19 vaccines, their COVID-19 boosters and flu vaccines will have a chance to do so this week. Dearborn Heights residents and residents of surrounding communities are invited to take advantage of a free vaccination clinic on Dec. 23 at the Dearborn Heights Berwyn Senior...
COVID-19 vaccine clinic closing for the holiday break
December 20th, 20210 DEARBORN - The COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Henry Ford Community and Performing Arts Center will be closed for the winter holiday break. The clinic, operated by the Wayne County Health Department, will not be on site from Dec. 24 until Jan. 3. The clinic offers Johnson and Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer vaccines and the booster......
