Dearborn mother pleads for return of 3-year-old twins their father abducted to Saudi Arabia
July 22nd, 20200 DEARBORN — Madonna Saad is imploring elected officials to help with the safe return of her 3-year-old twin children Nour and Hussein Al-Abdulaziz after an ongoing abduction case that has lasted almost a year. On Aug. 6, 2019, the twins were taken by their father, Ali, a Dearborn resident, on what was supposed to be a three-week...
Gun crimes in Dearborn increased by 130 percent since June 1
July 21st, 20200 DEARBORN — In the six weeks between June 1 and July 17, police say they have seen a 130 percent increase in firearm-related offenses. During a news conference on Tuesday, the Dearborn Police Department acknowledged a spike in gun crimes in the city, as well as a recent fatal shooting. Even so, crimes involving firearms increased...
Tlaib, Whitmer denounce Trump’s threat to send federal officers to Detroit over protests
July 20th, 20200 DETROIT — State leaders are denouncing President Trump’s threats to send federal officers to crack down on-going protests against police brutality in cities, including Detroit. The warning came Monday as Trump spoke to reporters inside the White House about protests in major cities across the U.S., where, according to Trump,...
Important tips for buying and selling your home
July 19th, 20200 DEARBORN — While the housing market is currently booming, some sellers may not know how to guarantee the sale of their homes. Realtor Dave Abdallah said that it’s all about curb appeal. “It’s extremely important to take care of your home on the outside,” he said. “The exterior of a home is equally if not more important than...
Arab American medical student leads initiative to bring medical supplies to Lebanon
July 18th, 20200 ROCHESTER — Majd Faraj, a second-year medical student at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB), is leading a project to bring much needed medical supplies to Lebanon. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the Lebanese healthcare infrastructure this year. The problem has been compounded by an already...
Some people are exempt from wearing a mask, Whitmer offers clarification
July 17th, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer signed an additional order that clarifies businesses may not assume an unmasked customer cannot medically tolerate a face covering, though they can accept a customer’s verbal explanation that they fall within a specified exception and do not have to. It also requires public safety officers to wear a...
Re-elect Prosecutor Kym Worthy, keep the progress going
July 17th, 20200 Clearly the upcoming November 2020 is a critical election: President Trump will be challenged by former Vice President Joe Biden in an election that will be historical and vital to us all. Yet as former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” In Detroit/Wayne County, Michigan, the primary...
Hamtramck becomes the fifth city in the U.S. to pass resolution denouncing discriminatory citizenship laws in India
July 16th, 20200 HAMTRAMCK — The Hamtramck City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday denouncing the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which took effect in India last December, making it the fifth U.S. city to make such a stand against India’s widely criticized new law. The group Coalition of Americans for Pluralism in India...
Grants of up to $20,000 now available in Wayne County; women and minority-owned businesses encouraged to apply
July 15th, 20200 WAYNE COUNTY — Small businesses in Wayne and every other county in Michigan can now apply for grants of up to $20,000 through the state’s Small Business Restart Program. The program seeks to aid business that been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, with an application process that begins July 15 at 9 a.m. and closes on...
As Michigan sees COVID-19 positivity rates are creep up, Whitmer maintains authority
July 14th, 20200 LANSING — In an another indication this month that Lansing grows concerned over the rates and spread of COVID-19 in Michigan, Governor Whitmer announced on Wednesday she will be extending both the state of emergency and the state of disaster. “Over the past three weeks … our progress in suppressing the pandemic has...
COVID-19 therapy collaborative offers free behavioral health help to youth and families
July 14th, 20200 DETROIT – In May, the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) launched the Detroit COVID-19 Therapy Collaborative, which provides free behavioral health supports and counseling to those who need help, with support from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, Skillman Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and...
Americans divided over COVID-19 issues as U.S. sets one-day record with more than 60,500 cases
July 11th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 60,500 new COVID-19 infections were reported across the U.S. on Thursday, according to a Reuters tally, setting a one-day record as weary Americans were told to take new precautions and the pandemic becomes increasingly politicized. The total represents a slight rise from Wednesday, when there were...
Detroit receives $750K grant to aid undocumented residents impacted by COVID-19
July 11th, 20200 DETROIT – Members of the Immigration Task Force (ITF) have received a $750,000 grant from the national philanthropic group Open Society Foundations (OSF) to establish the Detroit COVID-19 UndocuFund, which will help Detroiters without legal immigration status (undocumented residents) who have been impacted by COVID-19. The fund was...
Housing market in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights is booming and here is why
July 11th, 20201 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With COVID-19 cases spiking and the pandemic still being very much alive, a lot of people have been concerned about the housing market. Among the concerns, the biggest that seem to be evident among sellers and buyers is whether the market will crash. Dave Abdallah, a realtor of 31 years, said that couldn't be...
It is time for the power of the collective
July 11th, 20200 It is time to get uncomfortable. It is time for us to move outside our comfort zones from what has always felt “cultural” and “traditional” and into a place of growth and understanding. It is time for us to un-learn colonial and racist language and ideologies within the community and re-learn from a place of education, history......
As cases rise over the week, Whitmer warns of stricter mask laws, dialing-back reopening
July 10th, 20200 LANSING — At a Thursday live address, Governor Whitmer warned that some residents may not understand the severity of the situation as the state saw mask-less holiday weekend crowds and a sure uptick in cases over the week. “Over the past week, we have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases in Michigan and over the holiday weekend, we...
Wayne County and other Michigan communities get small business COVID-19 recovery grants
July 7th, 20200 WAYNE COUNTY — Wayne County and many other communities across Michigan will receive grants for small businesses that are trying to reopen and recover from impacts of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. $50 million in grants to be awarded to Wayne County small businesses Wayne County will allocate up to $50 million in CARES Act......
Nessel says DeVos tried to unfairly reroute pandemic funds to private schools, takes legal action
July 7th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and other state attorneys general are taking legal action against a rule issued by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that they say unfairly diverts federal pandemic relief funds to private schools. Nessel and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra are leading a coalition...
U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear bid by Iraqis to avoid deportation
July 4th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a bid by a large group of Iraqis convicted of crimes in the United States to prevent imminent deportation to their home country, where they say they could face persecution and torture. The justices let stand a lower court’s 2018 ruling that the federal...
American Moslem Society sues Woodmere Cemetery for breaching contract, gouging Muslims amid pandemic, holds press conference
July 2nd, 20200 DEARBORN— A press conference is planned at the American Moslem Society (AMS) mosque at 9945 Vernor Hwy, Dearborn, Michigan at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 3, regarding a recent lawsuit filed by the mosque that claims Woodmere Cemetery breached its contract with AMS over grave sites. The Arab American News will carry the press...
State says indoor bar service closure is due to COVID-19 “super-spreader” events linked to bars
July 1st, 20200 LANSING — In an act to curb upticks in new cases across Michigan, and perhaps reprimand careless bar goers, Governor Whitmer announced on Wednesday that she will be closing down indoor bar services through most of lower Michigan. Bars will be able to serve customers outdoors and will be able to offer cocktails-to-go. The Upper......
Whitmer signs bill extending expiration of driver’s licenses, state ID cards, vehicle registrations to Sept. 30
July 1st, 20200 LANSING — On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bills 876-878, which makes into law her previous executive orders, further extending the renewal dates for driver’s licenses, CDLs, state ID cards and vehicle registrations. Those with driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations expiring after March 1 have until Sept. 30 to...
New website allows Michiganders to easily find closest COVID-19 testing site, phone registration available
June 30th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has unveiled a new online tool that lets users conveniently find a COVID-19 testing site near them and register for testing online. The test finder tool at michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest has filters which allow users to find sites that are free, test people with......
Whitmer releases plan for Pre-K to 12 school reopening
June 30th, 20200 LANSING — On Tuesday, June 30, the state of Michigan and Governor Whitmer released the executive order “MI Safe Schools Roadmap”, putting an extensive safety plan in place before schools reopen in the fall for in-person instruction. The protocol is a roadmap for all pre-K to 12 schools within the state and includes...
Gleaners brings free meal distribution to Dearborn’s Ford Community and Performing Arts Center
June 30th, 20200 DEARBORN — Gleaners Community Food Bank will provide free meals for children and adults with special needs at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, as part of its Summer Food Service Program, beginning in early July. The Ford Community and Performing Arts Center meal distributions will take place from 9 to 11......
