Trump campaign sues Michigan, wants to halt vote counting
November 4th, 20200 MICHIGAN — The campaign of President Trump has begun its legal assault on the election. The campaign announced on Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit in Michigan to stop the counting of ballots in the presidential election. “We have filed suit today in the Michigan Court of Claims to halt counting until meaningful access has...
Election Day in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights brings out more first time than experienced voters
November 3rd, 20200 DEARBORN/DEARBORN HEIGHTS — First time and experienced voters are still flocking to the polls to vote in person amid the COVID-19 pandemic. First time voter Jenna Shami of Dearborn Heights said she is excited to vote. "I just turned 18, so this is my first election and my first presidential election," she said. "I know who I'm...
Election Day in Hamtramck: Steady turnout, fire fighters hope to keep department intact
November 3rd, 20200 HAMTRAMCK — Precincts in Hamtramck showed a steady turn out by late afternoon, though the Election Day turn out seemed to be lower than expected for a major election. Hamtramck City Clerk August Gitschlag told The Arab American News that only 5,183 absentee ballots had been returned as of 3:30 p.m. Just under 700 AV were still...
Michigan officials promise safe, clean and accessible polling places on Tuesday
November 2nd, 20200 MICHIGAN — As clerks, election workers and municipal governments brace for Election Day, Michigan officials are now ensuring that polling places will be safe, clean and accessible. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said on Monday that election workers were taking precautions and are well equipped with masks, gloves,...
Crestwood Schools superintendent given an evaluation of being highly effective, three-year contract extension
October 31st, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Crestwood School Board voted to approve an evaluation and contract extension for its superintendent. Dr. Youssef Mosallam, who has an extensive background in education in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights communities, was appointed to the position of superintendent in October 2019. The evaluation itself...
Dearborn Heights man acts as “Kid Santa” to help those in need
October 30th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A 19-year-old EMT from Dearborn Heights is donating his time and money to ensure no child in the community goes without a Christmas. Kenneth Isaacson knows all too well what it’s like to spend the holidays alone. Born in Perm, Russia, Isaacson spent his first 14 months of life in a state-run orphanage before...
Enough signatures gathered for recall election of Hamtramck Councilman Ian Perrotta
October 30th, 20201 HAMTRAMCK — A petition for the recall of Hamtramck City Councilman Ian Perrotta now has more than 1,300 signatures, according to a press release put out by Councilman Mohammed Hassan this week. Hassan, who is leading the effort to recall Perrotta for abusive behavior against city employees, had 60 days to gather about 1,300...
MDHHS reduces max gathering for indoor weddings, parties to 50 people
October 29th, 20200 LANSING — Due to rising COVID-19 cases in the state, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Resources (MDHHS) has revised and extended its epidemic order. Now, the agency has reduced the maximum size of indoor gatherings such as weddings, parties and banquets, which occur in nonresidential settings without fixed seating, from...
Detroit, Dearborn are top two most expensive cities for car insurance in the U.S., report shows
October 29th, 20200 DEARBORN — A new report on the state of the car insurance industry in 2020 finds that the cost of car insurance in Dearborn is one of the highest in the nation, just behind neighboring Detroit. Drivers in Dearborn spend an average of $3,511 on their auto policies, coming in second in the nation behind Detroit, where drivers pay...
Attorney general charges local leader of White Supremacist group, “The Base”
October 29th, 20200 LANSING — Multiple felony charges have been filed against the self-proclaimed leader and an associate of the national White Supremacist group, “The Base.” Following an investigation by Michigan State Police and the FBI, the two were found to be linked to a December 2019 incident in Dexter. During this incident, a family was...
Exclusive: Q&A with Kamala Harris ahead of election
October 28th, 20200 DEARBORN — Democratic vice presidential nominee and California Senator Kamala Harris visited Metro Detroit last Sunday, making a notable, unannounced stop in Dearborn to grab dinner at the Khalaf Grill. The visit by Joe Biden's running mate was just one of several visits by both prominent Democratic and Republican candidates in the...
Dearborn Public Schools approve reopening plan
October 27th, 20200 DEARBORN — After another school board meeting lasting longer than six hours, the Dearborn Board of education approved a reopening plan for the school district. Late Monday night the board authorized administrators to start a blended learning program for elementary students once COVID conditions in the community improve, which may...
Viability of Arab American candidates, like Brian Mosallam, shows importance of the Arab vote
October 27th, 20200 MICHIGAN — Michigan could be the most important swing state in the country. And the Arab American vote could make the difference. Though Metro Detroit has its large concentration, Arab Americans have been an integral part of the historic and cultural fabric of the entire country. More so, Arab Americans enjoy a variety of...
Grants available for Michigan teachers, support staff, for additional time and costs during COVID closures
October 27th, 20200 LANSING — On Tuesday, Governor Whitmer and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks announced that eligible Michigan teachers and support staff who worked additional time and incurred additional costs during the 2019-2020 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic can receive a grant through two new grant programs. Eligible teachers can...
Crestwood School Board president passes away; community responds
October 26th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Crestwood School Board President Donna Ancinec passed away on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the age of 66. According to a GoFundMe page that was set up on Oct. 5, Ancinec had been battling a chronic liver condition for a few years that had impacted her ability to work full time. “Donna has given over 20 years to the......
Netanyahu doesn’t appear at fundraiser for historic Michigan Jewish school following community outrage
October 24th, 20200 OAK PARK — Last Sunday, Yeshiva Beth Yehuda, the oldest and largest Jewish school in the state, held its annual Yeshiva fund raising event, “An Evening of Unity”, celebrating 106 years of the institution. Guests this year included prominent Democratic political leaders such as Governor Whitmer and U.S. Senator Gary Peters...
Accountability For Dearborn addresses racism in Dearborn, shares data of racial targeting by police
October 24th, 20200 DEARBORN — Accountability For Dearborn (A4D) has turned to the City Council to address racial segregation in Dearborn while also releasing police records for the last decade. Having submitted a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request almost three months ago, A4D announced that it had finally received the information it had......
Toledo paper reveals juvenile criminal record of Tony Dia, City Council candidate and slain police officer’s father
October 23rd, 20200 TOLEDO — Younes “Tony” Dia, the father of slain Toledo Police officer Anthony Dia, was convicted as a juvenile for fatally shooting another teen. The news came Thursday after the Toledo Blade obtained public records that show Dia was charged with the shooting in the mid-eighties. Dia is currently running for a Toledo City...
Dearborn police arrest Detroit man after an alleged road rage shooting
October 23rd, 20201 DEARBORN — Luis Angel Berrios-Rosario, 38-years-old, of Detroit, has been charged in connection with a road rage incident that occurred in Dearborn on Sunday. Berrios-Rosario has been charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, felonious assault...
Arab American votes can make a difference in this election
October 23rd, 20200 With less than two weeks left in this election season, by now many in our communities have already cast their vote. According to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, more than 1.5 million Michiganders have already turned their absentee ballots in. That is phenomenal news. We have been working diligently to ensure that all...Jill Biden visits Dearborn, promises Arab Americans a “seat at the table”
DEARBORN — Jill Biden, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, spoke at a voter mobilization event at the popular Shatila Bakery on Warren Avenue on Tuesday. The event was invite-only and not open to the general public due to COVID-19 concerns. Dearborn was one of four stops Biden made in the state this week, as......
Senator Sanders endorses Brian Mosallam for MSU trustee
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING — Michigan State University (MSU) Trustee Brian Mosallam has been endorsed by progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for his 2020 re-election bid. Mosallam has been on the Board of Trustees since January 2013. He announced his reelection campaign in June, saying that he had decided to run after “careful...
Lawsuit stops Trump cuts to SNAP food assistance for 700,000 unemployed Americans
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING – Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Thursday that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has permanently blocked an effort by the Trump administration to revoke Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for more than 700,000 unemployed Americans. A lawsuit filed in January by......
Whitmer signs bills worker, business COVID-related bills, as state sees cases increase
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer signed two bills on Thursday that protect workers from retaliation from businesses if they get sick from or are exposed to COVID-19, and protects businesses from COVID-19 related liability. A trio of Michigan House bills (House Bills 6030-6032) say employers are required to allow workers who are exposed...
MDHHS issues emergency order to allow indoor visitation at residential care facilities
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued an emergency order that updates requirements for residential care facilities to allow for indoor visitation. Emergency order under MCL 3332253 expands and updates such requirements as a means of protecting the public and containing the spread of......
