March 26th, 20200WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as directed by President Trump, has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline to 12 months beyond this year’s deadline, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new deadline is now October 21, 2021.
Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement that the department...
March 26th, 20200LANSING — Governor Whitmer gave a further COVID-19 related update this week from her offices in the state’s capital, this time focusing on the urgent need for equipment for healthcare staff currently fighting the pandemic.
Grim statistics of the virus’ exponential spread set the tone of her serious address on late Thursday...
March 25th, 20200WASHINGTON, D.C. — The latest version of the coronavirus stimulus bill expected to be signed sometime today reportedly carries with it a 120-day ban on evictions for many renters, beginning on the day the bill passes, according to a report from the website Slate.com.
The bill would also include a moratorium on foreclosures of up to...
March 25th, 20200LANSING — The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) today acknowledged the high call volumes and increased traffic on its claims website, as an unprecedented number of people take part in the state's expanded unemployment compensation program in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
In a press statement, the agency said that...
March 24th, 20200LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this morning sent a cease and desist letter to two related Rockford-based businesses for marketing to consumers the “Coronavirus Defender Patch”, which the companies falsely claim will help protect people from contracting the coronavirus disease 2019...
March 24th, 20200LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced today that absent voter ballot applications will be mailed by her office to all voters in the May 5 election to help ensure both public health and democratic rights are protected.
“Our country has a long history of carrying out elections in times of crisis, and we are...
March 23rd, 20200DEARBORN — Since the announcement of Monday's executive order by Governor Whitmer, dubbed "Stay Home, Stay Safe", Michigan residents have questioned how much the new rules restrict their travel on the road during the COVID-19 outbreak in their state.
Lets take a look at travel and driving components of the order to clarify what the...
March 23rd, 20200LANSING — On Monday, Governor Whitmer addressed the state to elaborate on her government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Though she emphasized the serious nature of the pandemic, her latest “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order seems to be an extension of the state’s response from last week. This is in no way a complete,...
March 23rd, 20200LANSING — On Monday, Governor Whitmer signed the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order (EO 2020-21), directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life.
The order also directs Michiganders to stay in their homes unless they’re a part...
March 21st, 20200DEARBORN — On Saturday afternoon, the state of Michigan once again revealed its latest tallies of coronavirus infections. As of 2 p.m., the state has announced a total of 787 confirmed cases and five total deaths. With the expansion of testing capabilities, health experts are now beginning to understand the scope of the outbreak in...
March 19th, 20200WATERFORD TOWNSHIP — News of the second coronavirus related death came Thursday morning, as a woman, more than 50-years of age and with underlying conditions, reportedly passed away at McLaren Hospital in Pontiac. The county later confirmed with The Arab American News that the woman was in fact a Wayne County resident.
This means...
March 19th, 20200MICHIGAN — Hospitals in two separate counties in Michigan have reported two more COVID-19 related deaths on Thursday. McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac and Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit both reported the passing of patients more than 50-years-of-age with underlying conditions who died after contracting the virus.
Henry...
March 18th, 20200WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post (WAPO) has published a simulation feature that shows how contagious diseases are able to spread so rapidly across a community or the globe.
WAPO's Senior Publicist Azhar AlFadl Miranda told The Arab American News that the feature has become very popular, and that readers find it helpful in...
March 18th, 20200LANSING — At a news conference in Lansing on Wednesday, state officials announced 30 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan, bringing the total up to 110. Governor Whitmer was joined by the state's chief medical executive, Dr. Joneigh Khladun, who spoke of the number of new cases across the state.
"As of last night, Michigan...
March 18th, 20200LANSING — The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity today provided guidance to Michigan employers on how to avoid potential layoffs related to COVID-19.
“We know that many families and businesses are and will experience economic pain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said LEO Director Jeff Donofrio. “Through...
March 18th, 20200DEARBORN — A Beaumont Health patient, a man in his 50s who tested positive for COVID-19 and had other underlying medical conditions, passed away early this morning at a Beaumont Hospital in Wayne County.
“Our medical team went to extraordinary efforts to care for this patient and we are deeply saddened by his passing and...
March 17th, 20200Health system COVID-19 hotline staff expanded to meet demand
Beaumont Health has started processing a limited number of COVID-19 tests in its own laboratory. On-site processing allows doctors to have results in hours instead of days.
“We’re proud to have developed a mechanism to process tests within our health system,” said...
March 16th, 20200DETROIT — On Monday, Michigan United (MU), a Michigan based advocacy non-profit, organized a teleconference with community leaders from the state to discuss responses, legislation and outcomes relating to the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S.
The teleconference featured critical information about current bills and future legislation in...
March 16th, 20200
LANSING - On Monday, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-11, to prohibit all events over 50 people or assemblages in shared indoor spaces over 50 people beginning Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00am.
The order overrides limits set in an earlier order which put a stop on gatherings over 250 people.
Executive Order...
March 16th, 20200WASHINGTON, D.C. —Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday urged an additional $750 billion to address the coronavirus crisis, a report from Reuters said.
A wide-ranging economic stimulus bill passed by the House of Representatives was said to be on its way to the Senate, but Schumer believes it doesn't provide enough...
March 16th, 20200
LANSING - Today, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-9, which temporarily closes theaters, bars, and casinos, and limits restaurants to carry-out and delivery orders.
Under Executive Order 2020-9, effective Monday, March 16 at 3:00pm, the following places of public accommodation will be closed; restaurants, cafes,...
March 13th, 20200WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Trump faced one of the gravest threats of his political career as the coronavirus pandemic spread, leaving fellow Republicans to worry that the White House’s response and the hit to the economy would harm his re-election prospects.
U.S. stock market indexes that Trump has touted throughout his term as...
March 13th, 20200
LANSING - Today, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-5 to cancel all events over 250 people and all assemblages in shared spaces over 250 people beginning on Friday, March 13 at 5:00pm and ending on Sunday, April 5 at 5:00pm. The governor’s executive order also closes all K-12 school buildings to students from Monday,...
March 12th, 20200LANSING — State health officials confirmed there are now 10 additional cases of coronavirus in Michigan, bringing the state total to 12 as of Thursday night.
On Thursday, Governor Whitmer announced that in order to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan, she is ordering the closure of all K-12 school buildings,...
March 12th, 20200DEARBORN — The city of Dearborn announced on Thursday that it is taking several precautions to mitigate any spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The city said in a press release that it is taking measures to ensure its residents' safety and as a result, some city services and resources will be unavailable in the short-term. A...
March 11th, 20200WASHINGTON — Under mounting pressure to take action against the spread of the coronavirus, President Trump suspended travel from Europe to the U.S. on Wednesday, except for the U.K., for 30 days starting on Friday.
The president, who faces re-election in November, took the dramatic step in a somber Oval Office speech as he...
March 11th, 20200Wayne County has issued the following FAQ bulletin following the confirmed case of COVID-19:
What is 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?
COVID-19 is caused by a new respiratory virus in the coronaviruses family. This family of viruses is common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats and...
March 11th, 20200LANSING — Following the announcement of the state’s first presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are providing recommendations designed to help prevent the spread of the virus.
“I urge all Michiganders to take these recommendations seriously and...
