Arab American votes can make a difference in this election
October 23rd, 20200 With less than two weeks left in this election season, by now many in our communities have already cast their vote. According to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, more than 1.5 million Michiganders have already turned their absentee ballots in. That is phenomenal news. We have been working diligently to ensure that all...Jill Biden visits Dearborn, promises Arab Americans a “seat at the table”
DEARBORN — Jill Biden, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, spoke at a voter mobilization event at the popular Shatila Bakery on Warren Avenue on Tuesday. The event was invite-only and not open to the general public due to COVID-19 concerns. Dearborn was one of four stops Biden made in the state this week, as...
Senator Sanders endorses Brian Mosallam for MSU trustee
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING — Michigan State University (MSU) Trustee Brian Mosallam has been endorsed by progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for his 2020 re-election bid. Mosallam has been on the Board of Trustees since January 2013. He announced his reelection campaign in June, saying that he had decided to run after “careful...
Lawsuit stops Trump cuts to SNAP food assistance for 700,000 unemployed Americans
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING – Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Thursday that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has permanently blocked an effort by the Trump administration to revoke Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for more than 700,000 unemployed Americans. A lawsuit filed in January by...
Whitmer signs bills worker, business COVID-related bills, as state sees cases increase
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer signed two bills on Thursday that protect workers from retaliation from businesses if they get sick from or are exposed to COVID-19, and protects businesses from COVID-19 related liability. A trio of Michigan House bills (House Bills 6030-6032) say employers are required to allow workers who are exposed...
MDHHS issues emergency order to allow indoor visitation at residential care facilities
October 22nd, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued an emergency order that updates requirements for residential care facilities to allow for indoor visitation. Emergency order under MCL 3332253 expands and updates such requirements as a means of protecting the public and containing the spread of...
Secretary of state urges voters to hand deliver absentee ballots
October 21st, 20200 LANSING — With just two weeks until the election, Michigan’s secretary of state is urging voters to hand deliver their absentee ballots. Jocelyn Benson told the media during a press conference that voters are being urged to not risk post office delays. “Only the absentee ballots received by 8 p.m. on November 3 can be...
Governor Whitmer extends unemployment benefits for the rest of the year
October 21st, 20200 LANSING — Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bills 886 and 991, which expand unemployment benefits for all Michiganders. The bipartisan bills Whitmer signed will extend unemployment benefits for Michiganders who have lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of the year. Both bills were sponsored...
Dearborn Public Schools suspend in-school learning labs
October 21st, 20200 DEARBORN — With COVID-19 cases rising again, the Dearborn Public School District’s Learning Lab Committee has decided to suspend in-school learning labs indefinitely. School nurses and administrators met Tuesday and decided to suspend the labs effective Oct. 21 until further notice after receiving concerning news from the Wayne...
Free COVID-19 testing in Lincoln Park this weekend
October 20th, 20200 LINCOLN PARK — The Wayne County Public Health Division, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, will host free drive-through COVID-19 testing Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln Park Middle School on 2800 Lafayette Street in Lincoln Park. Tests will be administered by Michigan...
Jill Biden mobilizes voters at Shatila Bakery in Dearborn
October 20th, 20200 DEARBORN — Jill Biden, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, will be attending a voter mobilization event at Shatila Bakery on Warren Avenue in Dearborn on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. The event is invite-only and not open to the general public due to COVID-19 concerns. Dearborn is one of few stops Jill Biden will...
MCCFAD and Arab Xpressions present skit on the word ‘kharaf’ and stigmas around dementia
October 17th, 20200 DEARBORN — The Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease has teamed up with Arab Xpressions at the University of Michigan (U of M) to bring a unique skit that explores how a medical word for dementia is often misused in the Arab community. The skit premiered Friday, Oct. 9 as part of a MCCFAD community event...
D7 School Board candidates discuss their plans if elected
October 17th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With elections right around the corner, candidates for Dearborn Heights’ District 7 Board of Education discussed their goals if they were to be elected. Incumbent Board Member Mandy Diroff, who could not be reached for comment, is seeking another four-year term and is competing against newcomers Latanya Gater,...
“An evening of unity” with a fascist criminal is shameful
October 16th, 20201 This Sunday, Michigan's top elected officials will be addressing and attending the virtual event, "An evening of unity", sponsored by Yeshiva Beth Yehuda, the self-described "oldest and largest Jewish educational institution in Michigan." Governor Whitmer, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator Gary Peters, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan...
Dearborn Heights city councilman hosts first annual U.S. Marine Corps Challenge
October 16th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Councilman Bill Bazzi hosted what he plans to be the first annual U.S. Marine Corps Challenge for students in the community. Being a veteran of the Marines himself, Bazzi arranged the challenge as a means to engage local students in a multi-school fitness competition. “As students have been facing an......
Analysis ranks Michigan as top state for bridging COVID racial disparities
October 16th, 20200 LANSING — A Politico analysis of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. by various state governments shows certain states stand out in their approaches to public health, mass unemployment and school reopenings. Politico reporters looked at the states' responses by consulting various health researchers, academic experts and...
State of Michigan and MSU launch COVID-19 app
October 16th, 20200 LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) and Michigan State University (MSU), have partnered to launch a COVID-19 exposure notification app. The app will pilot on MSU’s campus and for the surrounding community as a next step to help...
Attorney General Nessel announces 14th person charged in Whitmer kidnapping plot; eighth person in terrorism plot
October 16th, 20200 LANSING — Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office is reporting that there is now a 14th person charged in the plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer. Ryan Jarvi, a spokesperson for Nessel’s office, told local news outlets that a 14th person was arrested in the plot to kidnap Whitmer, but would not provide further details regarding the...
Your vote is your voice, don’t be silent
October 15th, 20200 By Edgar L. Vann A paraphrased quote attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. says, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” The current zeitgeist has cast a pall of perplexing uncertainty for many over the status of the soul of this nation. It is a seismic moment of truth for us all. The malaise......
Attorney General Dana Nessel announces felony embezzlement charges against Detroit investment adviser
October 15th, 20200 LANSING — A Detroit investment adviser has been arraigned on multiple felony charges, including embezzlement. Lawrence Roberson, 74, allegedly took $90,000 from two of his clients and spent the money for himself, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today. He was arranged on Oct. 6 in the 36th District Court in Detroit on two...
Downtown Dearborn seeks community help in launching vision plan
October 14th, 20200 DEARBORN — Residents, students, visitors, businesses and employees are being encouraged to share their input on the downtown experience by taking the Downtown Dearborn Vision Plan survey through the end of October. The goal of the survey is to get community input on how the community can grow and enhance the downtown......
Dearborn Board of Education extends virtual learning into November
October 14th, 20200 DEARBORN — On Monday Oct. 12, the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education voted to extend virtual learning into November. The approved motion called for continuing and expanding in-school learning labs where up to three students at a time come in and meet with teachers under current conditions. Depending on local COVID...
Parents need support during these difficult times
October 11th, 20200 COVID-19 has impacted individuals and families around the world, forcing many working parents to now become virtual, homeschooling teachers. Parent support is crucial now more than ever, especially for those parents whose children may have an intellectual or developmental disability such as autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, epilepsy......
