Wayne County Exec. Evans orders hiring and spending freeze to help eliminate revenue shortfall from pandemic response
April 27th, 20200 DETROIT — Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans signed executive order 2020-001 instituting hiring and spending freezes across the county's government in response to a projected revenue shortfall of at least $152 million created by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown. “The ongoing global pandemic and 'Stay Home' orders...
Whitmer to announce new executive order allowing partial reopening of the economy
April 24th, 20200 LANSING - Governor Whitmer is set to address the state at 11:00 am today. Whitmer will be announcing a new executive order (2020-59), effective through May 15, that will reopen certain parts of the economy and ease up on certain restrictions. Some workers will be allowed to go back to work: This includes landscapers,...
Young Arab American Aya Alcodray brings much needed food relief to families
April 24th, 20200 DEARBORN — 17-year-old Aya Alcodray, a student at Dearborn High School, understood that the COVID-19 outbreak had adversely affected many of her fellow students and their families. Many students rely on lunches their schools provide; and while schools continue to provide food during the weekdays, Aya knew something needed to be done...
While restrictions continue, Muslim houses of worship prepare for Ramadan
April 23rd, 20200 DEARBORN — To kick off 2020’s first Ramadan weekend, The Arab American News spoke to local Muslim leaders representing some of the most frequented and well-know houses of worship, to find out how they plan to adapt their Ramadan plans in light of the continuing state-imposed COVID-19 related restrictions. Unsurprisingly, mosques...
Michigan Department of State to temporarily lay off 60 percent of staff
April 23rd, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) will temporarily lay off more than 900 members of its staff starting on Sunday, April 26. The layoffs will last two weeks, and could be extended. “This is an extremely challenging time for our state, our state government and our department,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn...
Stimulus checks have been sent out to deceased people, while others still aren’t receiving them
April 23rd, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Some Americans have been surprised to discover that their dead loved ones have been sent stimulus checks in recent days, while others in need have been unable to receive or cash their checks. “Okay this is insane, but just the tip of the iceberg,” tweeted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), who shared an image of...
Muslims applaud popular children’s television show for recognizing Ramadan
April 23rd, 20201 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, the immensely popular children's television show SpongeBob SquarePants brought a smile and message of love and peace to Muslims across the globe with a social media post depicting the show's main characters wishing audiences "Ramadan Mubarak." Muslims everywhere, including high-profile Muslim figures,...
Community organizations host first ever Ramadan Lights challenge in Dearborn
April 23rd, 20200 DEARBORN — Three community organizations are teaming up to bring the first ever Ramadan holiday lights competition, the Ramadan Lights challenge, to Dearborn. The organizer of the renowned Ramadan Suhoor Festival is joining Halal Metropolis and the Michigan Muslim Community Council to bring some holiday cheer despite restrictions on...
UIA says $1.37 billion paid out to 820,000 unemployed Michiganders
April 23rd, 20200 LANSING - The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has released tallies for benefits given out to unemployed workers in Michigan as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak in the state. The UIA said it has provided an estimated 820,000 unemployed Michigan workers $1.37 billion in benefits, an unprecedented number. The agency...
Whitmer says possible short-term extension of stay-at-home order is needed, highlights improved numbers within the state
April 22nd, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer's stay-at-home order will likely be extended beyond May 1, at least for a short term, she said during a press conference earlier this afternoon. Whitmer had previously said on Monday that the ensuing 10 days would help decide whether or not an extension would be warranted, but said today that those who are...
ACCESS continues to serve community amidst COVID-19 pandemic
April 22nd, 20200 In response to the rapid spread of COVID-19, ACCESS—the largest Arab American community nonprofit in the nation—has restructured its service delivery to continue to provide necessary services to the community, while ensuring their safety and well-being. For the first time in the organization’s nearly 50-year history, much of its...
MDHHS launches large-scale contact tracing effort, expands testing criteria to include all essential workers
April 21st, 20200 LANSING — As part of efforts to continue expanding COVID-19 testing and contact tracing of potentially exposed Michiganders, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) again expanded its testing criteria to include all essential workers still reporting to work in person, whether they have symptoms or not, and...
Drive-through rapid COVID-19 testing now available in Dearborn
April 21st, 20202 DEARBORN — Governor Whitmer announced on Monday further expansion of state-wide testing sites and capabilities. Part of this expansion is a partnership between the state and CVS Health, which will provide rapid, drive-through COVID-19 testing in Dearborn. According to Whitmer's office, testing will be conducted in the parking lot...
Netanyahu, Gantz agree on national emergency government in Israel, paving the way for potential annexation of West Bank
April 20th, 20200 JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz have agreed on the formation of a national emergency government, according to a joint statement from the two leaders' political parties. The announcement, made by Netanyahu's Likud party and Gantz's Blue and White party, includes a...
Governor Whitmer announces 10 percent pay cut during COVID-19 pandemic, says next 10 days will determine length of stay-at-home order
April 20th, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer announced on Monday that she will take a 10 percent pay cut during the COVID-19 pandemic and added that the next 10 days will determine what happens after the expiration of the upcoming April 30 deadline for her stay-at-home executive order. Whitmer made the announcement during a 3 p.m. press conference......
Whitmer says stay-at-home orders are working, plans press conferences to announce new “strategic” plans to reopen the economy
April 19th, 20200 Governor Whitmer defended her stay-at-home order, one of the nation's most conservative, on news programs Sunday as she prepares to reopen the economy in “strategic” phases during press conferences this week. “My stay-at-home order is one of the nation's more conservative, but the fact of the matter is it's working," she said on...
Lansing mayor promises consequences for protests that violate stay-home order
April 19th, 20201 LANSING — After Wednesday's "Operation Gridlock" protests made national news, Lansing's Mayor Andy Schor is promising tough measures on any future protest that fail to correctly observe CDC social distancing guideline and openly violate Governor Whitemer's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order. The protesters gathered Wednesday afternoon......
Police arrest Dearborn Heights man accused of stabbing his mother to death
April 18th, 20200 Mo Mohamed Ali Saad, 32, was arrested on the highway of Tennessee today by Police with the help of U.S. Federal Marshals. Saad is accused of killing his mother in Dearborn Heights on Thursday. Tennessee Highway Patrol and Dearborn Heights Police arrested 32-year-old Mohamed Ali Saad at around 10:30 a.m. Saturday in connection with the...
Church group members come together with Muslim neighbor in Dearborn to provide face shields for healthcare workers
April 18th, 20200 DEARBORN — East Dearborn resident Jamie Wise and her family knew about the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients in their area and found a way to help. Wise and her family are part of a church group called 2/42. While Wise had been sewing cloth face masks, she found...
Why was a large group allowed to converge on the capitol in open violation of stay home order? The state has no answer
April 17th, 20200 LANSING — By Wednesday afternoon, news outlets and social media accounts were buzzing with images and video of the state’s capitol building in Lansing, where thousands of right-wing, pro-Trump protesters converged against Michigan's now extended “stay home” executive order. Many were in violation of the order themselves....
U.S. Marshals offer $5000 reward for information on Mohamed Saad
April 17th, 20200 Detroit – The U.S. Marshals Service is offering $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of fugitive murder suspect Mohamed Ali Saad. The U.S. Marshals Service Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team, in conjunction with the Dearborn Heights Police Department, are offering the reward for information directly leading to the......
Son on the loose after killing mother in Dearborn Heights
April 16th, 20209 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — An awful crime was committed Thursday evening at Simone Street and John Daly in Dearborn Heights. Police are at the scene. Please be advised, the following story has disturbing details about the event. The Arab American News learned that an Arab American in his 30s is on the run after allegations of the grisly...
Car wash owner warned by Nessel and Worthy for violating stay home order
April 16th, 20200 LANSING – Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday that Fast Splash Car Wash in southeast Michigan is the latest business contacted by authorities for failing to comply with the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order. The Attorney General’s office – in coordination......
AG Nessel stops management company at iconic Detroit apartment building from evicting 80 tenants, many elderly
April 16th, 20200 DETROIT – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is protecting nearly 80 tenants, many of them elderly, after their apartment building’s management company threatened to illegally evict those who were behind in rent payments during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The Attorney General’s Office...
Outdated regulations hamper charitable giving when the world needs it most
April 16th, 20200 Americans generously donate more than $427 billion annually to charities—a powerful driver of positive impact as communities across the country, including in Michigan, respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Charitable giving plays a vital role in supporting high-need communities, both at home and abroad. Religious faith often plays a role......
