State health officials update COVID mask requirements after “post-surge recovery phase”
February 16th, 20220 LANSING — The state’s health authority said this week that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline since this winter’s surge brought on by the spread of highly infectious variants and that it is adjusting its approach to the pandemic in the recovery phase. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services...
Dearborn trash and recycling collection schedule unaffected by Presidents’ Day: Monday, Feb. 21
February 16th, 20220 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Administrative Center, the 19th District Court and all branches of the Dearborn Public Library will be closed on Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of the Presidents' Day holiday. Curbside trash and recycling pickup will not be disrupted by the holiday and will be on its normal schedule during the week of Feb....
Dearborn Heights purchases and demolishes four more homes in Ecorse Creek area in an effort to mitigate flooding
February 16th, 20220 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The city of Dearborn Heights is continuing its efforts to mitigate flooding by demolishing flood-prone homes along the Ecorse Creek corridor. In this effort, the city demolished four more homes on Currier Street, bringing the total number of homes demolished along and near the creek to more than 20 since the...
New program covers up to $25,000 in expenses for homeowners experiencing COVID hardship
February 15th, 20220 LANSING — The state’s housing authority has launched a new program to help homeowners experiencing pandemic-related financial hardships get current on housing expenses and avoid foreclosure. The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) is expected to help more than 8,300 homeowners stay in their homes by giving them direct...
Updated: Local mosque arson suspect believed to be Arab American, may have suffered mental health episode
February 12th, 20220 UPDATE: The Arab American News has learned from sources that the suspect in the attack on the Al-Huda mosque Saturday morning is believed to unfortunately be a member of the Arab American community. Authorities believe he may have been suffering a mental health episode at the time of the fire attack. Local and federal law...
Dearborn Heights welcomes new human resources director
February 12th, 20220 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Over the last year, there have been several new faces in City Hall and most recently the city welcomed a new human resources director. Margaret Hazlett has served in human resource management for more than 25 years, with 20 years of experience in assisting school districts negotiating union contracts and...
Dearborn Public Schools releases 2022-23 school calendar
February 12th, 20221 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools is helping parents and students get a head start on their summer plans by unveiling the 2022-23 school calendar. The school year will again start with a half day on the Monday before Labor Day, which this year falls on Aug. 29, and the last day of class will fall on June 14, 2023. This year’s...
Wayne County opens five hybrid COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites
February 12th, 20220 WAYNE COUNTY — Wayne County will be opening five hybrid sites throughout the county to offer both COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. The sites will offer first doses, second doses and boosters. The sites will have both the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and tests and Antigen Rapid Tests. COVID-19 vaccines are available for...
Mask mandates in Wayne County to be rescinded by Feb. 28
February 12th, 20220 WAYNE COUNTY — Wayne County officials said in a press release that they are expecting to lift the mask mandate by Feb. 28, joining counties like Oakland and Washtenaw. The decision comes from a downturn in daily COVID-19 cases over the last month and the most significant decline over the last week. “We are encouraged by the...
Community Foundation names Ric DeVore new president
February 11th, 20220 DETROIT — The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s Board of Trustees has named Richard "Ric" L. DeVore the next president after a nearly year-long, national search. DeVore will begin his role on April 1. DeVore was born and raised in Dearborn and earned degrees from the University of Michigan and Wayne State...
Dearborn police investigating potential homicide on city’s northeast side
February 11th, 20220 DEARBORN — At approximately 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 11, Dearborn police and fire responded to the 7500 block of Indiana for a medical assist. Upon arrival, officers discovered a deceased 78-year-old man and a 31-year-old suspect had been taken into custody in connection with the incident. Detectives and crime scene investigators...
ACRL’s new Executive Director Mariam Charara looks to continue work in advocacy, Arab American civil rights
February 11th, 20220 DEARBORN — Mariam E. Charara has begun work as the Arab American Civil Rights League’s (ACRL) new executive director. The ACRL is a non-profit organization, founded in 2011 in response to the overwhelming need in the Arab American community for advocacy and protection of civil rights and liberties. The organization is based...
The Custard Company recovering again after second accident in six months
February 11th, 20221 DEARBORN — The Custard Company, located at the corner of Monroe St. and Outer Drive in Dearborn, is recovering again after a second accident. Jamal Jawad, 32, bought the former pizza business three years ago and turned it into a specialty ice cream shop known for items such as The Sweet Bun, The Wowffle and their Injected Loaded...
Dearborn seeks Memorial Day parade participants
February 11th, 20220 DEARBORN — After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Dearborn is planning on bringing back its 96th Memorial Day Parade. The parade will be hosted in partnership with the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council (DAWVC) on Monday, May, 30 and is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. and the oldest...
Islamic Center of Detroit proposes to rename Belton Mark Twain Park after Muhammad Ali
February 11th, 20220 DEARBORN — In honor of Black History Month, The Islamic Center of Detroit (ICD) is proposing to renovate and rename the Belton Mark Twain Park. The ICD is located in District 7 at the Detroit-Dearborn border and is hoping to be able to renovate and remodel the park, located at Belton Ave. and Mark Twain Street, and rename it......
Michigan officials call on Canada to resolve Ambassador Bridge closure caused by vaccine mandate protests
February 10th, 20220 LANSING — Governor Whitmer is urging Canadian authorities to resolve a multi-day Ambassador Bridge closure so manufacturing and agriculture in the Midwest can continue humming along. Protests over Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates spread from Ottawa to Windsor, which led to protesters blocking traffic from accessing the...
Henry Ford Museum offering discounted tickets for low-income families
February 10th, 20220 DEARBORN — In partnership with Museums for All, The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn is offering discounted tickets for low-income families. Museums for All is an access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and is administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) in an...
Dearborn police introduces new traffic safety unit
February 10th, 20220 DEARBORN — As part of Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin’s plan for public safety, a new Traffic Safety Unit has been introduced. The unit will be focusing on hazardous moving violations that endanger public health, including speeding and reckless driving. The unit is also tasked with efficiently responding to resident...
Former Macomb County prosecutor set to go to trial for conducting criminal enterprise, other felonies
February 10th, 20220 MOUNT CLEMENS — Former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith is being sent to trial for a litany of felony charges made against him in 2020, including embezzlement, misconduct in office and conducting a criminal enterprise. Three others were also charged in the investigation. Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office, along with......
Dearborn City Council President Pro-tem Erin Byrnes running for state representative
February 10th, 20220 DEARBORN — Dearborn City Council President Pro-Tem Erin Byrnes has announced her candidacy for the newly drawn 15th State House District. “Today, I filed to run for state representative in the new 15th District,” Byrnes wrote in a Facebook post. “This District encompasses precincts 33-50 in Dearborn and the majority of...
City of Dearborn looking for board and commission members
February 8th, 20220 DEARBORN — The city of Dearborn is looking for residents to submit applications to voluntarily be appointed to any of its numerous boards and commissions. Commissions and boards are used in the city to aid in policy and development, including planning, zoning, development, human resources and other facets of city......
More waivers coming to those who received unemployment overpayment through no fault of their own
February 8th, 20220 LANSING — More Michigan workers who got pandemic unemployment benefits could be qualified for waivers for receiving overpayments where they were not at fault. Waivers stop the state from recovering the overpayment via collection. The state says waivers will not be applied to claims where it determines fraud is...
Health officials: Those who test positive for COVID should speak to doctors about oral medication
February 7th, 20220 LANSING — With the eligibility criteria for antivirals expanding to include more at-risk Michiganders, state health officials are urging those who test positive for COVID-19 to speak to their health care provider about treatment with oral medication. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says that the supply......
