Dearborn to provide free gym memberships for seniors
January 31st, 20250 DEARBORN — On Thursday, the city announced its participation in the SilverSneakers program, allowing anyone over 65 with qualifying health insurance to use the fitness amenities at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center at no cost. Starting Monday, Feb. 3, anyone on a qualifying Medicare Advantage or Supplemental Health Plan...
Fordson High School head football coach Fouad Zaban retires after 18 seasons
January 31st, 20250 DEARBORN — Fordson High School head football coach Fouad "Walker" Zaban has announced his retirement after 18 years of leading the tractors. Finishing his nearly two decade career with a 135-56 record, Zaban took the football program to the MHSAA state playoffs in 17 of his 18 seasons with the tractors. He has built a meaningful...
Three injured in armed clash during home invasion attempt in Dearborn Heights
January 31st, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – A violent armed confrontation during an attempted home invasion in Dearborn Heights resulted in three people being injured, authorities confirmed. The incident took place late Monday night, sending shockwaves through the residential community as law enforcement responded swiftly to the...
Nassib Fawaz hosts book signing for memoir “Essence of Time” at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn
January 31st, 20250 DEARBORN – Lebanese American businessman and longtime community leader Dr. Nassib (Ned) Fawaz hosted a book signing event last week at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn to celebrate the release of his Arabic-language memoir Essence of Time, along with its English translation, which bears the main title "Building Blocks" and...
Senator Gary Peters announces retirement, shaking up 2026 Michigan senate race
January 31st, 20250 BLOOMFIELD – In a surprising decision, Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters has announced that he will not run for reelection in 2026, choosing instead to retire after completing his second six-year term. This decision paves the way for an intense electoral battle to determine his successor from both the Democratic and Republican...
Jocelyn Benson is the first Democratic candidate to officially enter the 2026 gubernatorial race
January 31st, 20250 LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson officially launched her campaign for governor last Wednesday, making her the first Democratic candidate to enter the 2026 gubernatorial race. With this announcement, Benson becomes a key contender to succeed Governor Whitmer, who is term-limited. "I have decided to run for governor because...
CAIR-MI welcomes federal court decision allowing lawsuit against Oakland County sheriff for forcing Muslim woman to remove her hijab
January 31st, 20250 The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) has welcomed a federal court ruling in Detroit, allowing a lawsuit to proceed against the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office on behalf of a Muslim woman who was forced to remove her hijab during her arrest in 2023. The Sheriff’s Office attempted to have the...
Dearborn Heights appoints fourth new police chief in three years, mayor accused of violating police union contracts
January 30th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — After a nearly six-hour City Council meeting on Jan. 28, Mayor Bill Bazzi appointed a new police chief, the city’s fourth in just under three years. Bazzi confirmed in a press release that Officer Ahmed Haider will assume command of the Dearborn Heights Police Department as the acting chief while the city...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Detroiters helping each other: “It’s just straight groundwork.”
January 30th, 20250 By Amy Kuras Metro Detroit is blessed with a community of incredible people creating a better world for all of us. They range from highly professional funders and executives crafting strategies to ameliorate complicated social problems, to the hands-on staffers that carry out those plans, at organizations small and large. And then...
Trump’s war on immigrants a threat to public health
January 26th, 20250 By Edward Kissam President Trump’s inaugural speech Monday signaled his continued commitment to characterizing immigrants as criminal invaders and an impediment to his campaign mantra of “making America great again.” Following his speech, Trump signed a slew of executive orders — declaring a national emergency...
As Trump shapes up his presidency, a fight is looming on his birthright citizenship executive order
January 26th, 20250 By Amjad Khan On the first day of his second term, the nation stood watch as President Trump issued a plethora of controversial executive orders that disrupt all corners of American life. From his pardoning of violent January 6 rioters to his withdrawal from the near decade long Paris Climate Agreement, it is clear that the...Mayor Bill Bazzi raises concerns over treasurer’s performance
January 19th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mayor Bill Bazzi has raised concerns over the performance of Treasurer Lisa Hicks-Clayton and her ability to accurately conduct city business. According to a press release issued by the city, a Jan. 6 communication was sent to members of the City Council where Bazzi had expressed concerns over issues raised in the...
State Rep. Alabas Farhat appointed as vice chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee
January 17th, 20250 LANSING – Recently, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township), appointed Arab American State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) as vice chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee. In his new role, Farhat will oversee the state’s $82 billion budget alongside Committee Chair Ann Bollin (R-Brighton...
Dearborn Board of Education reorganizes, elects officers
January 17th, 20250 DEARBORN — As part of School Board Appreciation Month, Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko took time at the January 13 school board meeting to thank trustees for their service to the community and to recognize each trustee. Over the past few years, school board members across the state and throughout the country have encountered an...
Cautious optimism among Arab and Muslim Americans in Detroit over the Gaza ceasefire agreement
January 17th, 20251 After 647 days of relentless violence and genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday was seen as a moment of hope, marking the potential end of a devastating nightmare. This long-overdue agreement represents more than just a pause in conflict; it is a......
Dearborn Public Schools combat teen vaping with new detectors placed in bathrooms
January 17th, 20250 DEARBORN — A Metro Detroit school district is taking measures to hopefully stop students from vaping on campus with vape detectors. Dearborn Public Schools is tackling vaping, which school officials say is not isolated to Dearborn, as more public school districts are taking actions on the three fronts of epidemics affecting teens:...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Seniors A Go-Go keeps Brightmoor seniors engaged
January 15th, 20250 By Julie R. Riddle In the Detroit neighborhood of Brightmoor, a group of pole dancing, crime-fighting, take-no-guff seniors believes their twilight years are for having fun, not sitting still. Organizers started Seniors A Go-Go, a project of the Brightmoor Alliance, a few years ago, after a Brightmoor resident lost patience with......
U.S. health and medical organizations renew calls to end genocide in Gaza, organize free clinic for victims of Israeli war crimes
January 10th, 20250 Amid the international community's failure to end the Israeli war on Gaza, various health and medical organizations in the United States and Canada joined the Doctors Against Genocide organization to renew demands for an end to the ethnic cleansing and human rights violations in the occupied territories. This call was marked by protests...
As winter intensifies: Tips and guidelines for safe driving on Michigan roads
January 10th, 20250 After a relatively mild start to the season, Michigan's winter is expected to worsen in the coming weeks, with forecasts of dropping temperatures and heavy snowfall. These conditions could put many drivers in challenging situations, especially those inexperienced with the hazardous conditions of the Great Lakes State's winter...
Michigan’s Democratic and Republican Parties seek new leadership ahead of 2026 elections
January 10th, 20250 LANSING – The Democratic and Republican Parties in Michigan are preparing to elect new leadership following the resignation of their respective leaders late last year for varying reasons. On the Democratic side, significant electoral losses in November prompted Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes to announce she would not...
Michigan officially celebrates “Muslim American Heritage Month” for the first time this month
January 10th, 20250 LANSING – In a historic move highlighting the contributions of American Muslims to the history and culture of the United States, Governor Whitmer declared January as "Muslim American Heritage Month" for the first time in the state’s history. The Democratic governor’s announcement comes as part of growing recognition of the......
Tale of Two Cities scheduled to outline 2025 visions for Dearborn, Dearborn Heights
January 7th, 20250 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual “A Tale of Two Cities” luncheon for both Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi to outline their 2025 visions. The two mayors will address local business leaders and the public at the event, which is presented by Comcast...
Memorial service planned for former Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr.
January 7th, 20250 DEARBORN — A public memorial service to honor former Mayor John “Jack” B. O’Reilly Jr. has been scheduled for Feb. 1. The former mayor passed away at 76-years-old on Jan. 1. O’Reilly became mayor in 2007 when former Mayor Michael Guido died of pancreatic cancer and he was elected to full terms in 2009, 2013 and 2017.......
2024 a year of political, social and cultural milestones for local Arab Americans
January 4th, 20250 Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Lebanese activities continue amid regional conflicts with Israeli invasion of Gaza At the beginning of 2024, activities supporting the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples continued in the Dearborn area, mirroring similar events from the previous year. These activities were organized alongside Israel's aggressive...
Dearborn man sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding retailers of more than $4 million
January 4th, 20250 SEATTLE – A 27-year-old Dearborn, Michigan, man was sentenced Dec. 19 in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for a fraud scheme damaging retailers across the country, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Teal L. Miller said in a press release. Sajed Al-Maarej operated “Simple......
