ACC president writes to Biden urging support for Jordan’s King Abdullah
July 17th, 20210 TROY — Dr. Haifa Fakhouri, founder, CEO and president of the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC), wrote to President Biden on Thursday, urging "moral and financial support" for Jordan's King Abdullah II, on the occasion of his visit to the White House on July 19. "As Jordan being the United States' longest and strongest ally...
What to know when filing flood claims with the insurance company
July 17th, 20210 DEARBORN/HEIGHTS — With residents still reeling from the devastating flooding that impacted Wayne County in June, one attorney is offering advice for dealing with insurance agencies. Rabih Hamawi, an attorney based in Southfield, is an expert when it comes to insurance claims and property damage. Hamawi began working as a...
Biden declares disaster in Wayne County
July 15th, 20211 WAYNE COUNTY — President Biden has issued a presidential disaster declaration for Wayne County following the storms that devastated the area in late June. The declaration comes after Governor Whitmer requested FEMA’s help. “President Biden’s declaration opens up critical resources to help Michigan residents recover from...
Peters, Stabenow announce Detroit Metro Airport will receive more than $111.7 million through the American Rescue Plan
July 15th, 20210 LANSING — U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow announced that Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport will receive federal funding. The airport is expected to receive $111,717,342 in federal funding to come from the American Rescue Plan to help the airport maintain operations and provide economic support that was lost as a...
Dearborn Heights votes to allocate $300,000 for clean-up efforts
July 15th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Near the end of an almost three-hour meeting, one City Councilman spoke up to change the rules a little bit. Nearly two weeks after heavy rainfall devastated the city by causing flooding and sewer backup in many homes, Councilman Mo Baydoun said there is still debris sitting on curbsides. “There is still...
Hamtramck Public Schools purchases new property to expand services
July 14th, 20210 HAMTRAMCK — Hamtramck Public Schools (HPS) announced this week the purchase of additional property, the second such purchase this year. The district, which services much of the area's diverse population, including Yemeni and Bengali families, has finalized the purchase of the property at 8633 Joseph Campau Avenue. This comes after...
Whitmer requests disaster declaration to secure federal aid for flood victims
July 13th, 20210 LANSING — The state completed a crucial step in getting federal aid to Wayne County communities affected by recent flooding on Tuesday. Governor Whitmer requested that President Biden declare a major disaster for the state as a result of the heavy rainfall and flooding in late June. The request comes at the conclusion of an...Dearborn call center lets residents report flood damage by Aug. 9 deadline
July 13th, 20210 DEARBORN — The city government is reminding residents of a phone line for flooding-related business. Residents can call the Dearborn Flood Response Call Center at 313-586-3181 to report flood damage to the city and get information on resources. The deadline for residents affected by the storms of June 25-26 to report flood...
Q&A: Dearborn Engineering Dept. answers questions about flooding, sewage, east and Southend of Dearborn
July 10th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Engineering Department answered the following questions regarding recent flooding in the city. The questions from The Arab American News were conveyed through the city's public information director, Mary Laundroche. A federally-mandated sewer separation project to mitigate pollution into the Rouge River was...
Mayor O’Reilly makes statement on public absence during flood crisis, cites health issues
July 9th, 20210 DEARBORN — After alarm from the community about the very public absence of the city’s longtime mayor during a historic flood, Mayor O’Reilly made a statement declaring he has had health issues on Friday. The statement, attributed to O'Reilly, says health issues have impacted his "ability to attend public engagements" and make...
What to know before buying or selling a home in a flood zone
July 9th, 20211 DEARBORN/HEIGHTS — With many first time homebuyers in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights experiencing a flood for the first time, one local realtor is offering some tips of the trade. Dave Abdallah, a realtor in the community for more than 35 years, said that homeowners need to do their research before they buy. “When properties...
First person: Dearborn’s devastating flood exposes mistrust, deep divides
July 9th, 20210 Bilal Baydoun is a Michigan-based policy advisor and writer. He previously served as a lead policy and communications advisor in the Michigan Department of Attorney General. Ali Abazeed is a public health advisor with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services based in Washington D.C. The authors were born and raised in East...
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans endorses Abdullah Hammoud for mayor: Best choice for Dearborn
July 8th, 20210 DEARBORN — Abdullah Hammoud, who is one of seven candidates running for mayor of Dearborn, has earned the endorsement of Wayne County Executive Warren Evans. Hammoud, a state representative in his final term, announced his candidacy for mayor in January. Hammoud announced the endorsement in a Facebook post. “We are...
FEMA visits Dearborn; Dearborn Heights mayor writes letter to President Biden
July 8th, 20211 DEARBORN/HEIGHTS — With residents in both cities still reeling from the damage caused by the recent storms, city leaders are trying to get help from the federal government. Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) visited with local leaders in Dearborn on July 8 to assess the damages from the storms that...
How to get help clearing flood damaged property
July 8th, 20210 DEARBORN/HEIGHTS — Residents who are still in need of flood clean-up assistance now have more resources to utilize in helping clear out flood-damaged items. The Samaritan’s Purse, the same group that provided relief to Dearborn Heights in 2019, is in the area available to help residents remove flood-damaged items from their homes......
ACCESS to host flood relief distribution event
July 7th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) will be hosting two flood relief distribution events this week. During the events, ACCESS will be distributing fans, liquid disinfectant, spray bottles, disinfectant wipes, rolls of garbage bags and personal protective equipment to flood victims from the...
Drive-in movie event highlights need for foster parents in Wayne County
July 7th, 20210 DETROIT — A drive-in movie night in Detroit organized by state health and county officials will highlight the need for foster parents in Wayne County. Wayne County residents can enjoy a night at the movies while finding out how they can become foster parents during an event on Friday night, July 9. The Michigan Department of...
Arab American-owned Point Blank Firearms opens in Dearborn Heights
July 6th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Point Blank Firearms gun store celebrated its grand opening this week, which the owners say was very successful. Ramy Hijazi of Dearborn Heights and Muhammad Zion of Dearborn have been friends for 11 years and both have a passion for firearms, having grown up around hunting and firearms in general, which led them...
Gary Woronchak cites his experience as to why he is the best candidate for Dearborn mayor
July 6th, 20210 DEARBORN — Gary Woronchak, a former editor of the Press & Guide, state representative and chairman of the Wayne County Commission, is running for mayor. Woronchak’s parents moved to Dearborn from the east side of Detroit right before he started kindergarten at Whitmore-Bolles Elementary school. He then went on to Edison......
Hussein Berry campaigning for Dearborn mayor, with focus on public safety
July 3rd, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public School Board Trustee Hussein Berry is looking to become the next mayor of the city he loves and calls home. “My story is Dearborn’s story,” he said. “I grew up in the Southend, watching the smoke stacks as I went to school. I watched my father create a business that still thrives today —...
Ziad Abdulmalik wants to lead as a “we” if elected to Dearborn City Council
July 3rd, 20210 DEARBORN — Ziad Abdulmalik is looking to obtain enough votes to take one of the seven City Council seats that are up for grabs in this election. The 34-year-old was born and raised in Dearborn, met his wife in Dearborn before getting married nine years ago and has a 4-year-old son in the Dearborn Public School District, with......
Dearborn government answers questions about sewer system and flooding
July 3rd, 20210 DEARBORN — The city government released a Q & A memo regarding the recent flooding and the sewage backup through its public information department. The answers below were up-to-date as of June 28. What is believed to have caused the significant flooding that occurred June 26? The storm that led to severe flooding on June 26...
Dearborn Artspace Lofts denies tenant help after flooding, threatens eviction
July 2nd, 20212 DEARBORN — Ever since his basement level apartment flooded last Friday night, Ramsey Turkmani, a tenant at Dearborn’s City Hall Artspace Lofts, has had no real help from his building’s management. In fact, after almost an entire weekend of pleading with them to remove the continued water seeping into the apartment he shares......
