Governor Whitmer mourns the death of her father, credits career path to his encouragement
January 30th, 20260 Governor Whitmer's father, Richard Whitmer, died on Monday night, according to a statement from her office. "My beloved father passed away last night," Whitmer said. "He held a lot of impressive positions in his long life. He led major non-profits, sat on statewide boards and served in the cabinet of one of my predecessors, Governor...
Dearborn man sentenced to 25–40 years for years-long child sexual abuse in Macomb County
January 27th, 20260 A Dearborn man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child in Macomb County over several years has been sentenced to decades in prison. Elie Otayek, 43, was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, to 25 to 40 years behind bars following his November 2025 conviction on three felony counts of criminal sexual conduct, two counts in the...
Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun sworn in, vows new era of services, safety and lasting flood solutions
January 23rd, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS— During an official inauguration ceremony held Saturday, January 17 at the Crestwood High School auditorium, and attended by a large crowd of officials and community leaders, newly elected Mayor Mo Baydoun pledged to launch a new chapter centered on improving public services, strengthening community safety and...
Michigan Governor Whitmer’s Davos trip courts investors abroad
January 23rd, 20260 DAVOS — In her fifth international trip within a year, Governor Whitmer participated in events at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the Democratic governor joined “world leaders” to “tell Michigan’s story” on a range of issues including electric vehicles, innovation, workforce skills and...
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin elected vice chair of Michigan Law Enforcement Standards Commission
January 23rd, 20260 DEARBORN — Continuing his distinguished career in law enforcement, Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin has been elected vice chair of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) for 2026, becoming the first Muslim American to hold the senior leadership post in the agency’s 60-year history. Shahin, 50, joined the...
Syrian American pleads guilty to Social Security fraud after collecting benefits for mother living in Syria
January 23rd, 20260 DETROIT — A Syrian American man formerly of Dearborn has admitted to stealing nearly $190,000 in federal funds by continuing to collect Social Security benefits on behalf of his mother, despite the fact that she has been living in Syria for years, according to federal prosecutors. The defendant, Samer Succar, appeared earlier this...
Michigan legislature approves statewide ban on student smartphone use during class time
January 23rd, 20260 LANSING — Seeking to reduce student distractions and improve academic performance, the Michigan legislature has approved a statewide ban on the use of smartphones during instructional hours in all schools across the state, with limited exceptions and enforcement authority left to local school districts. The State House passed the bill...
Mayor Mo Baydoun completes Dearborn Heights executive team, filling key city posts with local and diverse talents
January 17th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The outlines of Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun’s new administration have taken full shape after all executive positions in city government were filled with local professionals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, in a vision aimed at improving institutional performance and enhancing the quality of services provided...
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist drops bid for governor, enters secretary of state race in major democratic shift
January 16th, 20260 LANSING — Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II announced on Monday that he is withdrawing from this year's gubernatorial race and will instead run for secretary of state. Gilchrist’s decision comes after he recently concluded that winning the Democratic nomination for governor in the statewide primary scheduled for...
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud sworn in for second term, vows more housing, flood protection and “people first” growth
January 16th, 20260 DEARBORN — In a large, formal inauguration ceremony held on Saturday, January 10, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud renewed his commitment to continuing the city’s progress, saying Dearborn has become one of the fastest-growing communities in the Great Lakes region under his leadership. Hammoud highlighted accomplishments from his...
Dearborn Board of Education elects new leadership, prepares for a busy year of major decisions
January 16th, 20260 The Dearborn Board of Education opened its meeting on Monday, January 12, by holding its annual elections, which resulted in the election of Jamal Aljahmi as board president, Nasri Sobh as vice president, Amer Zahr as secretary and Ali K. Bazzi as treasurer. The election and reorganization session took place before the board’s regular...
Wayne County urges residents to get flu shot as infections spike sharply across Metro Detroit
January 16th, 20260 DETROIT — As influenza cases and other seasonal respiratory infections surge sharply, the Wayne County Department of Public Health is urging residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible, warning that flu season is expected to reach its peak over the next two months. In a statement issued on Tuesday, health authorities said...
Dearborn plans new East-end neighborhood with 300 homes, expanding affordable homeownership
January 16th, 20260 DEARBORN — As part of Mayor Abdullah Hammoud’s broader agenda for community and economic development, the city is planning a new residential neighborhood on the east side, featuring approximately 300 homes and apartments near the intersection of Greenfield Road and Paul Street. City officials said the project — still in its...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Preparing Southwest Detroit youth for power and purpose
January 9th, 20260 By Layla McMurtrie In the Springwells neighborhood of Southwest Detroit, a new generation of leaders is gaining skills, confidence and community through the Leaders in Training (LIT) program at Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI). LIT supports youth ages 14 to 24 by creating a pathway — starting with early exposure in childhood...
Dearborn Public Schools move toward new bond proposal to fix aging buildings
January 9th, 20260 DEARBORN — Nearly seven years after voters rejected a bond proposal to fund Dearborn Public Schools, the district began discussions this week on possible options to secure hundreds of millions of dollars needed to repair, rebuild and modernize its aging and deteriorating infrastructure, amid signs that the school board is leaning......
Dearborn sees decline in traffic crashes as police issue record number of citations
January 9th, 20260 DEARBORN — Data released by the Dearborn Police Department for 2025 shows a noticeable improvement in curbing reckless driving and traffic accidents, amid a record number of citations and the implementation of additional measures aimed at improving road safety across the city. According to figures published on the city’s public...
Adam Alharbi sworn in as Hamtramck mayor amid legal challenges and ongoing court battle
January 9th, 20260 HAMTRAMCK — Amid a tense legal atmosphere and reciprocal court challenges, Adam Alharbi was sworn in on Sunday as the new mayor of Hamtramck, succeeding outgoing Mayor Amer Ghalib. At the same time, hopes remain alive for his rival, outgoing City Council member Muhith Mahmood, who is awaiting an imminent decision from the Michigan......
Detroit records lowest homicide total since 1964, police say
January 9th, 20260 DETROIT – In a clear sign of continued improvements in public safety in a city once known decades ago as the “crime capital” of the United States, 2025 saw Detroit record its lowest number of homicides since 1964, according to Police Chief Todd Bettison. The city recorded 165 homicides last year, a 19 percent decline from the...
Body discovered during search for missing man
January 8th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A body matching the description of a local missing Autistic man during a multi-jurisdictional search has been discovered by a police drone in the Rouge River near Hines Park. While the individual has not formally been identified, officials stated that the body matched the description of 30-year-old Yousif Hassan...
Mayor Mo Baydoun names Michael Guzowski as new Dearborn Heights police chief
January 6th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mayor Mo Baydoun has announced the appointment of DHPD Captain Michael Guzowski, who will serve as the city’s new chief of police. Guzowski, a 22-year veteran of the department, has served in a wide variety of law enforcement assignments, including Patrol Operations, Special Operations, member of the DEA Task...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Senegalese immigrants find community of support in west Detroit
January 3rd, 20260 By Carole Hawke-Diop On August 13, the courtyard of the Khadimu Rassul Foundation was a colorful scene of men in kaftans and women in sequined robes and bright headwraps. It was Magal Touba, a feast commemorating the life and teachings of Ahmadou Bamba, a revered saint and leader for Senegal’s Mouride Muslims. On this day, a large......
Resilient Neighborhoods: Interfaith partners come together to support Detroit families during the holidays
January 2nd, 20260 As the holiday season unfolds, faith communities across Metro Detroit are coming together to ensure hundreds of local families experience warmth, generosity and connection. An initiative is set to combat the pressure low-income families face during the holiday season in the Detroit area and its surrounding neighborhoods. The Michigan...
Rep. Alabas Farhat named Lawmaker of the Year for bipartisan leadership and policy impact
December 26th, 20250 LANSING — State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) has been named Minority Lawmaker of the Year by the Michigan Information & Research Service Inc. (MIRS), a recognition that highlights his growing influence in the Michigan Legislature and his role as a key bridge between Democrats and Republicans on major policy issues. The honor......
Judge rejects ballot challenge and upholds Hamtramck’s mayoral election results, opposition appeals
December 26th, 20250 DETROIT, HAMTRAMCK — Hamtramck Mayor-elect Adam Alharbi took another decisive step toward confirming his victory in the November 4 municipal election after a Wayne County Circuit Court judge ruled on Tuesday to reject a request by his opponent, Muhith Mahmood, to count 37 absentee ballots that had been excluded by the county’s Board...
Hussein Berry switches races, leaves State Senate bid to take on Alabas Farhat in Michigan House District 3
December 26th, 20250 DEARBORN — Former Dearborn Board of Education member Hussein Berry announced last week that he is running for the Michigan House of Representatives as a Democrat in District 3, setting up a potential primary challenge against incumbent Rep. Alabas Farhat, who is seeking re-election next year for his third term in the House. District 3......
