Briana Gasorski
Author's Posts
Former Detroit councilman sentenced to 2.5 years probation
June 10th, 20210 DETROIT — Former Detroit Councilman Gabe Leland has been sentenced to two and a half years probation after illegally taking campaign contributions and violating state law. During a court appearance earlier this week, Leland said that he “crossed a line” when he took money he knew he shouldn’t have. The misconduct...
Dearborn Chamber partnering with Ford Motor Company to provide free air filtration kits for local businesses
June 10th, 20210 DEARBORN — Businesses throughout Southeast Michigan can now take advantage of free air filtration kits being distributed by the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce. The kits were developed by Ford and Lasko Products as an effective air filtration unit that allows for quick and simple assembly on site. The kits also supplement a...
Dearborn Public Schools to offer students free meals over the summer
June 10th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools will continue its free meal distribution to students throughout the summer, beginning June 24. Families will be able to pick up meals every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Dearborn, Edsel Ford or Fordson High Schools. The distribution will go from June 24 until August 12. “We are...
Former assistant attorney general pleads no contest to willful neglect
June 10th, 20210 LANSING — A former assistant attorney general has pleaded no contest to two counts of willful neglect of duty by a public officer. Brian Kolodziej resigned after admitting to a relationship with a victim in a rape case and was also the lead prosecutor on another controversial sex crimes case in September 2019. Kolodziej was...
William Ford Elementary to host another COVID vaccination clinic
June 10th, 20210 DEARBORN — William Ford Elementary School will host another district COVID-19 vaccination clinic on June 17 for parents, students and community members. Appointments will be available from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and the second dose will be scheduled for July 8. The Pfizer vaccine is being offered, which can be administered to...
Teacher accused of sexually molesting visually impaired 8-year-olds in Garden City, Livonia schools
June 10th, 20210 LIVONIA/GARDEN CITY — A teacher and vision specialist is accused of molesting two legally blind 8-year-old girls a year apart in 2018 and 2019. According to a federal lawsuit filed this week, James Baird allegedly placed occluders — goggles that allow no light — over the eyes of two visually impaired girls and sexually...
Secretary of State Benson announces changes to increase and advance service
June 9th, 20210 LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that her offices are adding appointments to serve 350,000 more Michiganders and making some changes. The changes include adding greeters at office doors to assist in scheduling visits and priority service for residents needing a disability placard. “We were able to do this...
Dearborn reminds residents of fireworks ordinance
June 9th, 20210 DEARBORN — With Independence Day coming, the city of Dearborn is reminding residents of the city’s fireworks ordinance, which matches state law. During and leading up to Independence Day, residents are permitted to use fireworks between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on June 29, June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3 and July 4. Anyone found...
Superintendent Maleyko receives positive evaluation
June 9th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education has given Superintendent Glenn Maleyko a ranking of “highly effective”, extending his contract. A rating of effective or highly effective automatically extends Maleyko’s contract by one year to maintain a continuous three-year agreement. Trustee Adel Mozip chaired...
U.S. Secretary of Education visits Henry Ford College
June 8th, 20210 DEARBORN — U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited Henry Ford College’s (HFC) COVID-19 vaccine clinic to promote the vaccine and the American Families Plan. The clinic was arranged in partnership with Rite-Aid as a part of the COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge. One student who was getting his vaccine told Cardona...
Four members of a Muslim family killed in a “hate-motivated” attack
June 7th, 20211 OTTAWA — A family of five was run down in London, Ontario on Sunday night by the driver of a pickup truck who, police say, chose his victims because they were Muslim. Police said a man in a black pickup truck drove up on a curb and mowed down a family standing on the sidewalk as they were waiting to cross the street. The victims...
U.S. Secretary of Education to visit Henry Ford College
June 6th, 20210 DEARBORN - U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, will be at Henry Ford College on Tuesday, June 8 to promote COVID-19 vaccines and discuss the American Families Plan. The COVID-19 College Challenge is a part of the Biden Administration’s month of action in June to encourage vaccinations. While on campus, Cardona will tour...
Mo Baydoun looking to retain his seat on the Dearborn Heights City Council
June 6th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mo Baydoun, who was appointed to the Dearborn Heights City Council earlier this year, is running to retain his seat. Baydoun was appointed to finish out former Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton’s term once she was elected treasurer in November. In 2017, Baydoun ran for a full-term seat on the City Council and...
Westland mayoral candidate removed from the ballot
June 5th, 20212 WESTLAND — After a hearing on Wednesday, an election commission deemed that mayoral candidate William Asper was to be removed from the ballot. Asper told The Arab American News that he believes he was removed from the ballot illegally. “I am running for mayor to stop the corruption,” he said. “They stated that residency...
Redistricting Commission holds public hearing in Dearborn
June 4th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) met in Dearborn Thursday to address redistricting in the state. More than 150 residents from all over downriver attended the event to provide their input on the redistricting. In 2018, Michigan voters approved the creation of the MICRC under Proposal......
Whitmer to help bridge digital divide
June 4th, 20210 LANSING — Governor Whitmer signed a directive to establish the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office to try to bridge the digital divide across the state. The governor said about 865,000 households in the state are not connected to the Internet. “One in four Michigan families do not have a connection that meets their needs and...
Oakland County judge denies motion to dismiss felony charges against Southfield city clerk
June 4th, 20211 SOUTHFIELD — An Oakland County judge has denied the Southfield city clerk’s motion to drop two felony charges against her connected to the Nov. 2018 election. Last year, City Clerk Sherikia Hawkins was ordered to stand trial on one count of violating election law by falsifying returns or records, one count of forgery of a public...
Michigan House passes measure to ban vaccine passports
June 3rd, 20210 LANSING — The Republican-led Michigan House is trying to ban government-sanctioned vaccine passports, despite no current plan to enforce them. The COVID-19 Vaccination Privacy Act would ban any government entity from issuing a COVID-19 vaccine passport requiring proof of vaccination to access a public place or service, or imposing...
James Parrelly wants to show his love for Dearborn by running for mayor
June 3rd, 20210 DEARBORN — Financial planner James Parrelly is one of seven people vying for the residents’ votes for mayor in the August 3 primary election and, ultimately, the Nov. 2 general election. Parrelly had run in the 2017 election, but lost in the primary. He said he believes he is the thought leader in the campaign. “I was......
Emgage endorses Abdullah Hammoud for Dearborn mayor; Hassan Ahmad and Mo Baydoun for Dearborn Heights City Council
June 2nd, 20210 DEARBORN/HEIGHTS — Emgage has announced its endorsement for Abdullah Hammoud for Dearborn mayor and Hassan Ahmad and Mo Baydoun for Dearborn Heights City Council. Emgage's website says it is a family of civic and political institutions dedicated to strengthening the engagement of Muslim Americans in the civic and political process,...
Secretary of State seeking $25 million to hire more staff
June 2nd, 20210 LANSING — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Democratic lawmakers want $25 million to hire more staff and pay overtime to employees. The money would go towards expanding appointments and hours at branch offices that are facing large backlogs of transactions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If the spending is approved by the......
Dearborn high school students can participate in a free summer program at the Michael Berry Career Center
May 28th, 20210 DEARBORN — High school students enrolled in Dearborn Public Schools have an opportunity to get a head start on their career goals with a free summer program. The Michael Berry Career Center (MBCC) will be offering courses during its free summer program that will help students explore career-oriented classes, earn high school credit...
Dearborn’s Ford Woods community pool to reopen Memorial Day weekend
May 27th, 20210 DEARBORN — With summer temperatures in full swing and COVID-19 cases on the steady decline, the city of Dearborn is starting to reopen its community pools. On Saturday, May 29, the Ford Woods community pool will reopen. The Ford Woods pool will be open from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Until June 18 the pool......
