Unemployed Michiganders will receive an additional $300 a week through federal funding
August 21st, 20200 LANSING — On Friday, the United States Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) approved the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s application for funding that would provide an additional $300 per week payment to Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits. “This is good news for the thousands of...Tlaib, Dingell lead effort to urge temporary deportation protections for Lebanese nationals after Beirut blast
August 20th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) are co-leading an effort to put pressure on the Trump administration to use its powers to defer deportation of Lebanese nationals in light of the Aug. 4 Beirut explosion. The relief effort for the people of Lebanon comes after the Beirut...Dearborn/Heights join other local police departments to kick off Operation Safe Streets
August 20th, 20200 DEARBORN — Several local communities will be increasing their police presence over the next two weeks as part of the Operation Safe Streets initiative. Dearborn Police Captain Timothy McHale said that this is a two week traffic enforcement initiative. “The communities involved include Melvindale, Westland, Allen Park, Wayne,...Governor Whitmer signs bipartisan “Return to Learn” legislation for school districts
August 20th, 20200 LANSING — On Thursday, Governor Whitmer signed the bipartisan “Return to Learn” bills she and legislative leaders agreed upon on last Friday. The package of bills has new, more flexible instructional requirements for school districts for the 2020-2021 school year. It also provides significant financial security to...$600 million preliminary settlement reached for Flint water lawsuits
August 20th, 20200 FLINT — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Thursday that a preliminary agreement in the Flint water-related civil lawsuits has been reached, offering a state of Michigan-backed settlement of $600 million to parties who claim they were affected by the Flint water crisis. The settlement has been agreed to by state...Dearborn Heights Public Works director clears the air about the water
August 19th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With residents concerned over their water quality, the Dearborn Heights Department of Public Works wants to clear the air. All residents citywide recently received letters in the mail regarding the “lead in their water”, which sparked numerous social media posts about the topic and several residents being...13 commissioners selected to redraw election districts statewide
August 17th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced on Monday the final selection of 13 commissioners for the state’s first ever Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The commissioners were randomly selected by an independent accounting firm, Rehman LLC, from a final pool of 180...Tlaib casts vote for Sanders, single-payer healthcare, as DNC gets set to nominate Biden
August 17th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrats kicked off a four-day virtual convention on Monday that is set to end in the official presidential nomination of Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the party to overhaul its planned, in-person convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The event will instead be...Commercial real estate struggling during COVID-19 pandemic
August 15th, 20200 While the housing market has been booming during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial real estate continues to struggle as more and more businesses are having to shut their doors. Realtor Dave Abdallah said that another reason for the struggling market is fear. “In general, the real estate market is doing extremely...Dearborn Heights City Council votes to table payment for corporation counsel
August 14th, 20200 Dearborn Heights — During a recent meeting, the Dearborn Heights City Council announced that it currently does not have a valid contract with its corporation counsel and voted to remove charges billed until a valid contract is in place. The items listed under the city’s current claims and fund transfers included a charge of $16,423...Dingell and other officials announce autonomous vehicle corridor in Southeast Michigan
August 13th, 20200 DETROIT — On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn), joined Governor Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Bill Ford, Mayor Mike Dugan and other members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation to announce plans to develop an autonomous vehicle corridor from Ann Arbor to Detroit. The corridor will have a...Dearborn Heights City Council overrides a ninth mayoral veto for financial records
August 13th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Despite having agreed to proceed with its financial audit during a City Council meeting in June, the Dearborn Heights City Council has overridden yet another veto by Mayor Paletko on the matter. The latest of nine vetoes was in regards to a resolution that the Council had voted on at its July 28 meeting requesting...Former border patrol agent charged in homicide of 93-year-old Dearborn woman
August 12th, 20200 DEARBORN — Police say the victim of a mid-July homicide victim was Maxine Callaghan, 93, a “vibrant and independent” woman who gave back to her community at the time of her death. Callaghan was a volunteer at The Henry Ford. She was also well known in her community and described to have enjoyed bird watching and taking...Dearborn Heights councilman looking for volunteers to beautify the city
August 12th, 20200 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights City Councilman Tom Wencel is looking for at least 50 volunteers to help participate in different events to beautify the city. On Saturday, Aug. 15, the annual Ecorse Creek cleanup will be taking place along with the Richard A. Young Center Rain Garden Maintenance at 9 a.m. However, Wencel said...Dearborn Schools to start year online, with optional in-school support
August 11th, 20200 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education agreed Monday night for the district to start the school year online for all students. Students from preschool through high school will take classes online at least until the first week of October. The board will reevaluate conditions later in September to see if it is......
Mnuchin sees possible virus deal, but no talks set with Congress
August 10th, 20200 WASHINGTON (REUTERS) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday that the Trump administration and Congress could reach a coronavirus aid deal as soon as this week, but Democratic aides said the two sides have not spoken since talks collapsed last Friday. With negotiations at a standstill, it was unclear whether...After going viral, the bride from Beirut tells her story
August 8th, 20200 BEIRUT — Aug. 4, 2020 was meant to be the happiest day of Israa Al Seblani’s life, but it quickly turned to be the most terrifying. Al Seblani is the bride from the now viral video shoot taken during the explosion in Beirut that has killed more than 150 people and injured more than 5,000 more. “The first thought that...Dingell, Hammoud announce AK Steel will withdraw permit request to increase emissions in South Dearborn
August 7th, 20200 DEARBORN — U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) and State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn) announced on Thursday that Cleveland Cliffs, the owner of AK Steel, is withdrawing its permit requests to increase allowable thresholds for manganese and lead emissions. This comes after months of conversations, led by Dingell, Hammoud...In solidarity: Western Union allows money transfers to Lebanon for zero fees and paid out in U.S. dollars
August 7th, 20200 DENVER – Western Union announced that it is offering zero-fee, international money transfers paid out in U.S. dollars to Lebanon, as the country grapples with its recent tragedy amidst other economic and pandemic-related threats. “We owe the people of Lebanon recognition for their spirit of resilience, especially during times of......
Dearborn Heights welcomes Dearborn Fresh to its downtown
August 7th, 20201 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Fresh Supermarket celebrated its grand opening in Dearborn Heights on Aug. 3. Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said the store’s opening is great not just for the community, but for the entire county. “This is an important day for Wayne County,” he said. “It’s important to be around so many...Dearborn Heights resident questions mayor about criminal background of a city employee; employee responds
August 6th, 20204 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — During a recent Dearborn Heights City Council meeting, a resident brought a city employee’s past to the attention of the City Council. Resident Dana Parish questioned Mayor Paletko on his knowledge of an employee’s background. “Through the chair, I requested extra time this evening and it was approved in......
Dearborn Heights councilwoman responds to mayor’s “personal attack” against her
August 5th, 20201 Dearborn Heights — During last Tuesday's City Council meeting, Dearborn Heights City Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton responded to what she calls a “personal attack” by Mayor Paletko. The comment made by Paletko during a City Council meeting on July 14 questioned Hicks-Clayton’s understanding of finances when Hicks-Clayton...Majority of voters say no to Hamtramck School District’s bond proposal
August 5th, 20202 HAMTRAMCK — The Hamtramck School District lost out on a proposal on Tuesday that could have meant the construction of a new elementary school and other infrastructural projects by levying seven mills in property taxes. The proposal had meant to modernize the district and make learning equitable by getting rid of temporary......