U.S. FDA grants full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
August 23rd, 20210 On Monday, the U.S. drug regulator granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech SE COVID-19 vaccine that had earned emergency-use authorization in December, making it the first to secure such U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) validation as health authorities struggle to win over vaccine skeptics. The FDA approved the two-dose...Public health expert answers questions about COVID variants, boosters, back-to-school
August 21st, 20210 DEARBORN — The federal government is preparing to deliver "booster" shots of COVID-19 vaccines to Americans by mid-September, recommending that immunocompromised people take a booster even sooner. Health officials have acknowledged that protection from vaccines wanes, or diminishes over time, though they still remain highly...Dearborn Heights continuing to purchase homes in the flood zone
August 21st, 20211 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The city has announced it is nearing the final steps in demolishing another four homes in the flood zone. The homes are near the Ecorse Creek flood zone, which will soon become green space to help absorb some of the Ecorse Creek’s overflow. The homes are being purchased with funds provided through the...Dearborn Heights residents respond to tension-filled City Council meeting
August 21st, 20211 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — After a tension-filled City Council meeting on Aug. 10, residents have started to respond to comments made and meeting practices. During the City Council meeting and in a statement provided to The Arab American News, Council Chairwoman Denise Malinowski-Maxwell had referenced a resident named “Sam” who she...Whitmer calls on energy companies to increase payouts for power outages
August 20th, 20210 LANSING - Governor Whitmer is calling on utilities companies to automatically credit Michiganders who experienced recent widespread outages and increase the amount paid out to them towards compensations. DTE Energy drew outrage from customers who lost power for days after last week's storm by offering a tiny credit to their next...Dearborn returns to normal curbside bulk pickup, residents asked to call for special pickup
August 20th, 20210 DEARBORN - Dearborn's government is reminding residents that the city has returned to normal curbside bulk pickup, which may mean that a special pickup is needed for people that are still removing large amounts of flood-damaged materials from their homes. Residents should call 313-943-2150 for specific details, and for an assessment...Judge denies Michigan corrections director’s motion to dismiss hijab lawsuit against her
August 20th, 20210 LANSING — A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) Director Heidi Washington, who was sued by a group of Muslim women after being forced to remove their hijabs for public identification photos. The motion to dismiss the case, denied by Judge Paul Borman of the...Chief medical executive recommends mask mandate for schools, state still allowing districts to decide
August 20th, 20210 LANSING — Despite a recommendation from the state’s top health official, the State Board of Education and the governor are still not mandating masks in schools. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun has issued a recommendation for the state to issue a mask mandate in...Eric Doeh selected as new CEO to lead state’s largest behavioral health organization
August 19th, 20210 DETROIT — The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network’s (DWIHN) Board of Directors has named Eric Doeh as the organization’s new CEO. The DWIHN provides integrated behavioral health services and support to more than 75,000 people in Wayne County. Last year alone the DWIHN served nearly 200,000 individuals throughout the...Dearborn artist Danya Zituni selected as WDET’s “Artist Next Door” fellow
August 19th, 20210 DEARBORN — Danya Zituni, a Dearborn-based Arab American artist, is one of six artists awarded a stipend in WDET's "Artist Next Door" project. WDET's website says the project highlights artists whose work "gives us a greater understanding of their cultural heritage and bring us closer as a region of neighbors." Zituni, a...Dearborn Heights welcomes new DPW director
August 19th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Despite the city being flooded numerous times since June, Dearborn Heights has welcomed a new Department of Public Works (DPW) director. Bob Conrad, who grew up in Fraser and has lived in Wayne County all his life, started with the city on July 1. He graduated from Lawrence Tech in 1986 with a construction...U.S. begins preparing to deliver COVID booster shots; immunocompromised urged not to wait
August 18th, 20210 Top U.S. health officials said on Wednesday that the protection offered by current available vaccines against COVID-19 wanes over time, as federal agencies have begun preparing to offer booster shots to all eligible Americans beginning the week of Sept. 20. The booster shots will have to be administered starting eight months after a...Dearborn Heights resident accuses Council chairwoman’s fiancé, attorney of threatening him; Councilman walks out of meeting
August 14th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — During a nearly four-hour long City Council meeting on Tuesday night, tensions flared and after several disturbances, one resident filed a police report. The tensions began when Mayor Bill Bazzi mentioned that he had requested a closed session to discuss a few items, which were continually denied by Council...Dearborn man loses more than 100 lbs in the last year
August 14th, 20210 DEARBORN — After having COVID-19 last year, Dearborn native Sam Ali and his family feared for his life and that fear led Ali to make some very big life changes. The 43-year-old Ali said that he has tried many different diets and workout plans before, but none of them were successful. Ali had tested positive for COVID-19 on July...Dearborn Heights’ D7 and Crestwood School Districts address plans for the new school year
August 13th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With the CDC changing its recommendations on mask mandates due to the rise of COVID-19 cases, local school districts discussed back-to-school options. Dearborn Heights’ D7 School District has been one of the few districts in the area to have allowed parents to decide whether their children would learn virtually......
Many in Dearborn, surrounding communities still out of power; dry ice available 1-6 p.m. for Dearborn residents
August 13th, 20211 DEARBORN — Many Residents in Dearborn continue to be out of power, after strong winds and rain took out infrastructure earlier in the week, causing outages throughout southeast Michigan and surrounding communities. DTE Energy's outage map shows massive outages on the west side of town, out into neighboring Dearborn Heights....Dearborn to expand free GSRP preschool program
August 12th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools is again accepting applications for its Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) after receiving permission from the state to expand. The GSRP is a state-funded preschool program that students can participate in at no cost to eligible families. Dearborn is now adding four additional classrooms,...Dearborn offers free physical activities for students with disabilities
August 12th, 20210 DEARBORN — A free physical activity program adapted for youth with disabilities is now being offered to students in Dearborn who are ages 5- to 18-years-old. The Program for Inclusive Physical Exercise and Recreation Strategies (PIPERS) is designed to increase access to opportunities for physical activity among Dearborn youth with...Dingell, Tlaib announce $154,545 grant for Dearborn Heights Fire Department
August 12th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D- Detroit) and Debbie Dingell (D- Dearborn) announced that the Dearborn Heights Fire Department will receive a regional grant. The grant will be for $154,545 through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and will be used to purchase......
Dearborn Public Schools looking to fill more than 100 open positions
August 12th, 20210 DEARBORN — As the new school year looms right around the corner, the Dearborn Public School District is hiring for many positions throughout the district. Outside of Detroit, Dearborn Public Schools is one of the largest employers in Wayne County, with nearly 2,800 staff members, including more than 1,000 non-teaching staff. The...FDA plans for COVID vaccine boosters could be ready within weeks
August 11th, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — While nearly half of all Americans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the FDA is reportedly on the verge of administering booster doses. According to The Wall Street Journal, the FDA is expecting to roll out its booster strategy by early September. The Biden administration has been pushing for the......
State says there are no plans of reinstating COVID-19 restrictions, as students prepare to return to school
August 11th, 20210 LANSING — With COVID-19 cases spiking throughout the state from the Delta variant, the state says there are no plans on reinstating restrictions. Since last weekend, the state is averaging just over 906 COVID-19 cases per day. On Wednesday, there were 31 cases of the Delta variant in Wayne County and 356 Delta cases...Dearborn Police looking for Dodge Avenger that left the scene of an accident
August 11th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Police Department is looking for a vehicle that may have caused a serious accident and left the scene before police arrived to investigate. Police say that on Thursday, Aug. 5, at approximately 6:45 p.m., officers responded to an accident in the area of Military Street near Monroe Street. A motorcyclist......