April 2nd, 20200LANSING — Today Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-35, which orders all K-12 school buildings to close for the remainder of the school year — unless restrictions are lifted — and ensures continuing of learning by setting guidelines for remote learning. District facilities may be used by public school employees and...
April 1st, 20200LANSING - On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-33, which recognizes the expanded scope of economic, educational, and civic dislocation caused by the COVID-19, and equips the administration to address fully the devastation caused by virus. The order also formally declares a state of disaster.
“Since Michigan...
March 31st, 20200DEARBORN — State Rep. Isaac Robinson (D-Detroit) passed away from a suspected coronavirus infection on Sunday morning at a Detroit hospital. Robinson was beloved and respected by many in the Arab American community in Metro Detroit.
Friends and colleagues called Robinson an advocate ally of working class residents of the Fourth...
March 30th, 20200LANSING — Michigan has increased its unemployment benefits for all unemployed workers by a set amount of $600 a week for up to four months. The change applies to workers already in the unemployment systems and eligible employees about to apply for benefits. Governor Whitmer announced the new programs for workers on Monday, after...
March 28th, 20200
LANSING - President Trump has approved Governor Whitmer’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in Michigan. The declaration means that Michigan is now eligible for participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programming to provide relief for Michiganders impacted by the COVID-19 virus and measures to slow...
March 28th, 20201LANSING – Governor Whitmer has signed Executive Order 2020-26 which pushes all April 2020 state and city income tax filing deadlines in Michigan to July, as a part of continued efforts to help Michiganders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effective immediately, state of Michigan and city of Detroit income tax returns and payments due...
March 28th, 20201LANSING - Due to an overwhelming increase in claims, resulting in heavy website and telephone traffic during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has developed a schedule for workers to file for benefits based on the first letter of their last name. The agency says this new schedule will improve...
March 26th, 20200LANSING — On Wednesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel provided guidelines on how to report and file complaints about individuals and businesses that aren’t complying with Governor Whitmer’s executive orders. The AG office’s Consumer Protection intake line is now flooded with phone calls related to violations of the...
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, 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 21st, 20200DETROIT - On Friday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency provided details on travel restrictions being placed on all land ports of entry and ferries between the U.S. and Canada in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, rules which went into effect at midnight the same day. Besides the Detroit port of entry, the new...
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, 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, 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, 20200
LANSING - On Monday, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-10 to temporarily expand eligibility for unemployment benefits. This executive order is effective immediately and until Tuesday, April 14 at 11:59pm.
Under the governor’s order, unemployment benefits would be extended to:
Workers who have an...
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, 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,...
