Saeid Alawathi looking to serve Dearborn as a member of City Council
May 11th, 20210 DEARBORN — As a resident of Dearborn for nearly 40 years, Saeid Alawathi has decided to put his name on the ballot for one of the seven City Council seats up for election. Alawathi is a Yemeni immigrant who grew up in the Southend of the city before graduating from Fordson High School and later completing his associate degree in...
Detroit police chief announces retirement, won’t announce candidacy for governor
May 9th, 20210 DETROIT — Detroit Police Chief James Craig announced his retirement on May 10, and while many reports speculated on his candidacy for governor, he has not yet confirmed his interest. Craig, 64, has been chief since being appointed in July 2013 by Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr. When Craig took over the department, it had been under a...
Dearborn Council candidate Jon Akkari looks to increase services through public safety reform
May 8th, 20211 DEARBORN — Jon Akkari, an attorney born and raised in Dearborn, is vying for a position on the City Council this year. A primary election is set for Aug. 3, with a crowded field of Council and mayoral candidates. Akkari is the son of a Lebanese immigrant father and third-generation Dearbornite mother. His father has been a blue...
Mustapha Hammoud wants to “give back” by running for Dearborn City Council
May 8th, 20211 DEARBORN — Lifelong resident Mustapha Hammoud has entered the race for one of seven City Council seats that are up for election. Having been born and raised in Dearborn, Hammoud attended Dearborn Public Schools, Henry Ford College and the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in...
Aiyash, freshman lawmakers, introduce COVID response bill package
May 7th, 20210 LANSING — In an effort to address exacerbated conditions faced by Michiganders since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, State Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck) and four other Detroit first-term House colleagues introduced a five bill package this week. Aiyash joined Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), Helena Scott (D-Highland Park),...
Dearborn Councilman addresses withdrawn special meeting
May 7th, 20210 DEARBORN — A special City Council meeting was scheduled for May 4 and was withdrawn shortly beforehand by Councilman Bob Abraham. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the option of putting some ballot questions before voters in the August primaries. The topics scheduled for discussion were to consider and take action on the...
Mike Jaafar promoted to Wayne County undersheriff, first Arab American to hold position
May 7th, 20210 DETROIT — Dearborn native and Fordson High School alum Mike Jaafar was promoted to undersheriff of Wayne County, making him second in command and the first Arab American to be appointed to this position. In his new role, Jaafar will be overseeing both the jails and law enforcement and will be second in command under Wayne County...
D7 school bond proposal passes
May 7th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On May 4, voters passed the $6.4 million bond proposal in the city’s D7 School District to help school enhancements. The bond is a net zero tax increase to the community members, so the district says that residents will not see an increase in their taxes. The bond will be split up between three large...
Dearborn Public Schools to offer free summer learning programs
May 7th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools is offering free summer academic and enrichment learning programs that will run from June 23 until August 13. Elementary and middle school students can participate in the programs that will be in-person at their school Monday through Thursday from at least 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.; and as long as there...
Dearborn Heights man accused of strangling mother to death
May 6th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A man is accused of strangling his mother to death just one month after she asked a judge to release him when he was charged with assaulting her. Aaron Samir Akel, 45, of Dearborn Heights was originally arrested on Nov. 2 and charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and misdemeanor domestic...
Dearborn City Council to return to in-person meetings effective immediately
May 6th, 20211 DEARBORN — Beginning May 6, the Dearborn City Council will be holding its meetings in person starting with its Committee of the Whole meeting. The regularly scheduled council meeting on Tuesday May 11 is also planned to be in person. Both meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Dearborn Administrative...
ACCESS receives $75,000 in grant money for suicide prevention
May 6th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), is one of nine organizations to receive suicide prevention grants. The funding totals $650,000 and is coming from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the Children’s...
Governor Whitmer appoints Henry Ford College president to Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
May 5th, 20210 DEARBORN — Governor Whitmer has appointed Henry Ford College (HFC) President Russell Kavalhuna to the Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services (MCRS). The 17-member MCRS reviews, analyzes and advises Michigan’s rehabilitation programs and services and works to improve public vocational rehabilitation services delivered by the...
Dearborn police seeking help identifying a murder suspect
May 5th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn police responded to the area of Oakman and Michigan Ave. at approximately 9 p.m. on Tuesday May 4 on a report of a shooting. Officers who responded found that a 24-year-old man had been shot several times and eventually succumbed to his injuries at Beaumont-Oakwood Hospital. A second subject was also...
Dearborn Public Schools looking for Teacher of the Year nominations
May 5th, 20210 DEARBORN — Nominations have now opened for the 2021 Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Student’s Choice Award in the Dearborn Public Schools. The award is sponsored by the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by LaFontaine Automotive Group. Nomination forms are due by Friday, May 28 at 5 p.m. and can be found on......
Mike Jaafar promoted to undersheriff of Wayne County
May 4th, 20210 WAYNE COUNTY — Mike Jaafar has been promoted to undersheriff of Wayne County, making him second in command at the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, under current Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Ray Washington. Jaafar was previously appointed to chief of operations in 2016, following his previous position as deputy chief. Jaafar...
Local men host Ramadan 5K to raise money for charity
May 4th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Councilman Mo Baydoun is partnering with brothers Ali Soueidan and Hamid Soueidan, Dr. Mike Eldirani and Ahmad Elzayat, of the Amity Foundation, to host a Ramadan 5K. An idea that was originally presented by the Soueidan brothers has turned into a large charity event that will help provide food to the...
Experts warn vaccine hesitancy will delay herd immunity this year
May 3rd, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Even though more than 44 percent of the U.S. population has had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with about 2.4 million people receiving shots daily, medical experts are warning that it could take the country even longer to get back to normal if more people aren’t willing to take a vaccine. Over the...
FBI recognizes Michigan Muslim Community Council for COVID service, fostering dialogue
May 2nd, 20210 DETROIT — FBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters announced on Thursday, April 29, that the Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) has received FBI Detroit’s Community Leadership Award for 2020. The field office said the MMCC is a committed member of FBI Detroit’s multicultural engagement council and in that role has......
Lola Elzein is running for one of seven seats on the Dearborn City Council
May 1st, 20210 DEARBORN — With all seven seats on the City Council up for grabs in this year’s election, Lola Elzein is one of 18 candidates vying for one of those seats. Elzein was born and raised in Dearborn and is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and recently earned an MBA from the Ross...
Anthony Camilleri running for Dearborn Heights mayor
May 1st, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Anthony Camilleri, a local businessman and resident for more than 49 years, has decided it’s time to run for mayor. Camilleri said that in his campaign, he will strive to work with and for all residents. “My goals are to build a stronger, safer, better community,” he said. “Everything I set out to......
Rachel LaPointe is in the race for a seat on the Dearborn Heights City Council
May 1st, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Rachel LaPointe is one of two women vying for one of four full-term City Council seats that are up for election this year. “Dearborn Heights is in a time of transition, following the passing of Mayor Paletko, and we need strong, creative leaders,” she said. “When I noticed that the City Council could...
Khalil Othman announces “Dearborn Residents First” campaign in bid for seat on Dearborn City Council
May 1st, 20210 DEARBORN— In late February, Khalil Othman was among the first of 19 candidates to announce his bid for a seat on the Dearborn City Council. “I can best serve the Council because I come from a problem-solver mindset and experience,” Othman said. “Every single issue we have here, I will be advocating for as a core principle I......
