Community members encouraged to apply to serve on Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission

May 19th, 20200 DEARBORN — Many in the state may have heard of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Michiganders voted to create the commission in 2018 to give citizens exclusive power over the drawing of district boundaries for the Michigan Senate and House, and the U.S. Congress, every 10 years.  This means that 13...

Republican-controlled legislature refuses to extend Whitmer’s emergency order

April 30th, 20200 LANSING — On Thursday, as another wave of protesters converged on the state’s capitol, Michigan Republicans refused to extend Governor Whitmer's emergency declaration and voted to authorize a lawsuit challenging Whitmer’s authority and actions to combat the pandemic. Whitmer’s emergency declaration expired on Thursday. The...

Michigan Republicans gut paid-leave time and delay minimum wage raise

December 8th, 20180 LANSING — Many Michigan workers would not qualify for paid sick time or a minimum wage raise to $12 per hour until 2030 instead of 2022 under changes to citizen-initiated laws approved by the Republican-controlled Senate Government Operations Committee on November 28. Back in September, the legislature passed bills to raise the...

Arab American candidates lose in Hamtramck primary elections

August 12th, 20180 HAMTRAMCK – Two Arab American candidates lost in the Democratic primary election in Hamtramck on August 7. Abraham Aiyash ran for State Senate in the Second District, while Saad Almasmari campaigned for the Fourth District seat in the Michigan House of Representatives. Aiyash earned 5,764 votes while his primary opponent,...

Bills under consideration to make registering to vote easier

April 6th, 20180 LANSING — Legislation before the Michigan House of Representatives is expected to make it easier for citizens with driver’s licenses or state identification cards to register to vote. The bill was passed by the Senate unanimously. “Our online services already allow for changes in address for both driver’s license and voter...

State Senate OKs carrying concealed weapons in houses of worship, schools

November 17th, 20173 DEARBORN — Amid a recent spike in threats against places of worship, officials and mosques in Metro Detroit are tightening security and bashing a new gun legislation that passed in the Michigan Senate last week. It was tense at the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 8, when the Senate passed in a 25-12 vote a bill allowing the...