State officials announce extension of food stamp benefits through December
December 17th, 20200 LANSING — Families that are eligible for food stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive additional benefits continuing through December. State officials announced that eligible households will see benefits on their Bridge Cards by Dec. 30, with some households receiving payments on Dec. 21, but...
MI COVID Alert app hits nearly half a million downloads in its first month
December 17th, 20200 LANSING — Just one month after the statewide launch, the MI COVID Alert app has reached nearly 500,000 downloads. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) announced that there have been 461,192 downloads of the app. “So much about...
Grand jury indicts six men for Michigan governor kidnap plot
December 17th, 20200 LANSING – Six men facing charges of plotting to kidnap Governor Whitmer were indicted by a grand jury this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan said. The men — Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta — were arrested and charged in October with conspiring...
Detroit Police announce co-response team for mental health crises
December 16th, 20200 DETROIT — In an effort to better serve the community and respond to calls appropriately, the Detroit Police Department has announced a co-response team. Collaborating with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, the department and health network will allow for police officers to respond to mental health crisis calls with a...
State officials provide vaccine facts and warn of scams
December 16th, 20200 LANSING — In a press conference on Tuesday, state officials provided facts about the COVID-19 vaccine and warned of new scams that have already started. With the Pfizer vaccine starting to be administered to healthcare workers throughout the state and the Moderna vaccine expected to be coming soon as well, Michigan Department of...
Secretary of State to expand online and self-services options in March
December 16th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Secretary of State's Office is expanding its online and self-service options and is expecting them to be available in March. Some of the new options include renewing standard and enhanced driver’s licenses and state identification cards at self-service stations and online. Michiganders will also be able...
Wayne County Cares program to help at least 12,000 county residents
December 16th, 20200 DETROIT — While the application period has closed for the Wayne County Cares Program, there was a record number of applicants to receive $500 cash grants. The program was announced last week by Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans to assist workers and small businesses most impacted by COVID-19. “This pandemic has been...
Lawsuit filed against Michigan prisons for violating Muslim religious liberties
December 15th, 20200 DETROIT — The Michigan branch of the Council on American and Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) has filed a lawsuit against the state’s prison system for violating religious liberties of Muslim inmates. The Civil Rights group initiated its lawsuit against the state’s prison systems after more than 15 Muslim and Moorish Science women...
FDA announces approval for over the counter COVID-19 tests
December 15th, 20200 WASHINGTON D.C. — A rapid, at-home COVID-19 test that can be purchased over the counter without a prescription will be available on store shelves soon. Regulators authorized the test, which can be done entirely at home. “The test will be sold in places like drugstores,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said, “where a patient...
Only two weeks left to apply for tuition-free college
December 15th, 20201 MICHIGAN — The application deadline for the tuition-free pandemic program "Futures for Frontliners" is fast approaching. The application deadline is Dec. 31. The program lets frontline workers apply for free college tuition towards an associate's degree or industry-recognized skills certificate at community college, even if they...
Michigan begins historic COVID-19 vaccinations
December 14th, 20200 MICHIGAN — Frontline health care workers at two Michigan hospitals today were the first people to receive the new COVID-19 vaccines. Marc McClelland, pulmonary and critical care physician, 46, of Ada, was among the first people to receive the vaccine in the state, at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. “To me this is a day of...
Michigan electors join nation to cement Biden’s victory
December 14th, 20200 LANSING — On Monday, Michigan joined the rest of the nation in casting its electoral votes, making official the November 3 election victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Michigan’s electors met in the Senate chamber of the Michigan Capitol Building, to cast all 16 electoral votes for Biden...
First deliveries of COVID vaccine depart Michigan plant
December 13th, 20200 MICHIGAN — A few days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, trucks carrying the vaccine left the company’s plant in Portage, Michigan on Sunday. An estimated 2.9 million vaccines are expected to be delivered this week, with priority given to health care workers...
Wayne County anticipates delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in few days
December 10th, 20200 DETROIT — With panelists giving the green light on the use of the Pfizer vaccine, Wayne County is anticipating delivery of the first round of COVID-19 vaccines. Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said that it’s currently unknown how many vaccines the county will be given: “Wayne County is working closely with the state of...
Supreme Court says American Muslims on No-Fly List for refusing to spy can sue FBI
December 10th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that American Muslims who were placed or kept on the No-Fly List in retaliation for refusing to spy on their communities may sue individual FBI agents for interfering with their freedom to practice their religion. Muhammad Tanvir originally filed the lawsuit in......
Downtown Dearborn to host third annual Winterfest Market
December 10th, 20200 DEARBORN — In an attempt to encourage residents to get into the holiday spirit, the Dearborn Downtown Authority has scheduled its third annual Winterfest Market. On Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., residents are encouraged to come and visit more than 20 different vendors from the community for a fun-filled day of...Wayne County Executive Warren Evans announces $500 bonus for food service workers
December 10th, 20200 DETROIT — Wayne County Executive Warren Evans announced a new program to provide a one-time $500 cash bonus to food service workers impacted by COVID-19 health orders. “The public health orders were a difficult but necessary step to keep our communities healthy,” Evans said. “However, we know many Wayne County families are...
Businesses that depend on indoor dining get tax payment extension
December 10th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan businesses that depend on indoor dining for their revenue are receiving a tax payment extension effective immediately. During a press conference today, Governor Whitmer announced that businesses can postpone their monthly sales use and withholding tax payments that are due Dec. 20 until Jan. 20, 2021. Whitmer...
Local car wash accepting Toys for Tots donations
December 10th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A local car wash is looking to give back to the community this holiday season, especially with so many families struggling to provide. For the first time ever, VIP Car Wash in Dearborn Heights has become a Toys for Tots donation center. Vice President Paul Abousouan and his family have owned VIP Car Wash since......
AG Nessel joins coalition in filing a lawsuit against Facebook
December 10th, 20200 LANSING — Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a bipartisan coalition of 48 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Facebook. The lawsuit alleges that Facebook illegally stifles competition to protect its monopoly power and that, over the last decade, the social networking site illegally acquired threatening...
Debbie Dingell’s medical marijuana research legislation passes House
December 10th, 20200 WASHINGTON D.C. — The House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) that would eliminate barriers on legitimate research of medical marijuana. “Antiquated laws written during the war on drugs have built blockades to urgent research that could help us better understand......
Fundraiser set up to help metro Detroit’s restaurant industry
December 10th, 20200 DETROIT — Great Lakes Hotel Supply and the Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association have set up a fundraiser to help Metro Detroit’s restaurant industry. The fundraiser with a goal of $500,000 was launched by Marc Israel, owner of Great Lakes Hotel Supply, in partnership with the Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association. The...
Henry Ford College and Dearborn Public School District pilot financial literacy program
December 9th, 20200 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools is partnering with Henry Ford College to launch a financial empowerment curriculum. The goal of the curriculum will be to help teach youth the basic principles of managing their money. Lt.Governor Garlin Gilchrist II said that this is an exciting opportunity. “This program could not come......
