HAMTRAMCK

A Detroit-area judge has apologized for wishing that she could send a 72-year-old immigrant with cancer to jail for a weedy property.

Hamtramck District Judge Alexis G. Krot apologizes to a 72-year old cancer patient who she criticized and threatened to give jail time to over weeds that were overly growing on his property.

Here’s what is coming up on Local 4 News at 11:

"I made a mistake," said Hamtramck Judge Alexis Krot.

A police chase ends with a car crashing into multiple homes in Hamtramck. The man behind the wheel has been arrested after crashing his vehicle during the high-speed pursuit.

Here’s what is coming up on Local 4 News at 11:

KALAMAZOO, MI – The sixth week of Michigan’s boys high school basketball season featured many marquee matchups involving Kalamazoo-area schools, with the headliner happening at River Rouge, where Kalamazoo Central defeated Hamtramck, 69-61, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Classic. That signature win boosted K-Central in the latest Kalamazoo-area prep hoops power rankings, but the Maroon Giants were far from the only team to climb heading into Week 7.

In its centennial year of being incorporated as a city, Hamtramck is now in the national and international spotlight for becoming the first known U.S. city to be run by an all-Muslim government. The city of roughly 28,400 residents located in Wayne County inaugurated Mayor Amer Ghalib on Jan. 2. The Yemen-born immigrant was joined by three new incoming Muslim city council members after nearly 100 years of Polish leadership.

A cancer patient has had a difficult time maintaining his lawn since being diagnosed, but a Hamtramck judge showed no sympathy.

"You should be ashamed of yourself," 31st District Judge Alexis G. Krot told the man. "If I could give you jail time on this, I would."

A defendant was asked why he hasn’t been keeping his walkway clear but his situation didn’t garner any sympathy from the judge.

Chante Collins believes she’s alive because she was at work later than usual when a fire started at her home.

Despite deaths, COVID and flooding, Arab Americans made history in 2021 elections by garnering for the first time three mayoral seats in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck. Once Baydoun was appointed, the Council voted on a selection of five mayoral candidates and then-Councilman Bill Bazzi was appointed as the first Arab American mayor of Dearborn Heights. Local Arab American Muslim in command of U.S. naval shipDearborn native Houssain “Sam” Sareini became one of the first Arab American Muslims to command a U.S. Historic primaries: Arab Americans lead in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck mayoral racesIn the August primary election, there was a record voter turnout in Dearborn and Arab Americans led Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck in the mayoral races in each city. Arab Americans made history on November 2Arab Americans made history on Nov. 2 as Dearborn residents elected State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud as the first Arab American Muslim mayor.

HAMTRAMCK -  The Hamtramck Public Schools (HPS) district announced this week its schools will be continuing virtual learning for all students until Jan. 14.

Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib speaks at the swearing-in of the city's new all-Muslim elected government, Jan. 2. Photo courtesy: Hamtramck ReviewHAMTRAMCK — New members of Hamtramck’s first all-Muslim City Council and its first Muslim Arab American mayor, Amer Ghalib, were sworn in on Sunday, Jan. 2Judge Alexis Krot swore in Ghalib and new Council members Khalil Al-Refai, Amanda Jaczkowski and Adam Albarmaki. At the ceremony, 14-year-old Maria Saad, a Yemeni American student from Dearborn, sang the national anthem. The speakers included former Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski, who lost last November’s election to Ghalib after 16 years of public service. The atmosphere definitely reflected that meaningfulness on Sunday, as a large crowd, many from the local Yemeni American community, gathered inside the city’s high school and community center to witness a historic inauguration of the first all-Muslim elected city government in the country.

Hamtramck will become the first known city in the US with a government made up entirely of Muslims, according to the Muslim Public Affairs Council, which says it has no record of any other such administration.

GRAND RAPIDS – Hamtramck boys basketball coach Dennis Foster Jr. has a word or two for the way his team shot in Saturday afternoon’s 81-54 win over Godwin Heights. The Cosmos made 12 3-pointers against the Wolverines in the first of five games at The Showcase, a single-day tournament created by Grand Rapids Union coach Brandoen Guyton and hosted by Cornerstone University. It was our second game. “I played in Grand Rapids for two years at Grand Rapids Community College for David Selmon, so this is great. The atmosphere, the hospitality, it’s a wonderful facility.”NOTESBenton Harbor defeated Flint Carman-Ainsworth 73-62 in Saturday’s second game.

The new truck is the first to incorporate the Detroit automaker's Ultium platform, motors and batteries, all of which GM developed in-house.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking to tighten rules for allowable levels of lead in drinking water while the Biden Administration is looking to replace the country’s lead lines using new funds.

The girls high school basketball season is underway and its time to mark your calendar for the top games around Metro Detroit this winter. These two Detroit powerhouses fought each other closely last year when Jesuit won, 58-52. This is a rematch of last year’s gritty region semifinal game that St. Mary’s held on to win, 38-37. You better believe the atmosphere is going to be crazy at Brother Rice for this one. Brother Rice is returning a ton of talent this season and is expected to challenge St. Mary’s for the top spot this year.

A driver was killed overnight in a five-car chain reaction crash while driving in the wrong direction on M-59 in Sterling Heights, police say.

Lead water lines have been in the news repeatedly in recently in a number of Michigan cities, especially older communities like Hamtramck.

Lead water service lines were the norm for much of this period, which can present a very serious health concern today. Here in Hamtramck, annual routine testing revealed for a second time in recent years elevated lead levels in the water in multiple houses with antiquated lead service lines. We have been replacing the antiquated service lines for the last few years, yet there is so much more we can do together. It can cost up to $10,500 per line to replace the lead lines that remain in Hamtramck and protect our residents. — Kathy Angerer is the Hamtramck city manager and a former state representative and former majority floor leader, representing the 55th District.

GM and South Korea-base Posco plan to open a new North American facility to process critical battery materials known as Cathode Active Material in 2024.

Hamtramck Public Schools (HPS) is providing families with the resources they need to make informed decisions about their health as the state undergoes yet

This week, Governor Whitmer, announce the state would be receiving federal money towards replacing lead service lines in the state, a badly needed project.

The owner of Aladdin Jewelry in Hamtramck said a contractor disappeared after several down payments numbering in the tens of thousands of dollars.

People living in Hamtramck are rejoicing in the fact that the city is now one step closer to having lead pipes replaced.

More than one year after his prison release, Richard Wershe Jr., formerly known as “White Boy Rick,” is launching a cannabis brand.

The President is set to speak at GM’s Factory ZERO, an all-electric assembly plant in Detroit and Hamtramck.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit a General Motors plant in Detroit.

An Inkster man has been charged after two people were found shot to death in a Hamtramck apartment, according to officials.

Detroit City FC is on a roll and they’ll now be moving up in the world of soccer.

Amer Ghalib celebrated a decisive victory against a long-time incumbent mayor on Tuesday, in an election that marks the changing of political tides in the

Endorsing candidates for important offices is a major responsibility for local organizations and newspapers.

The Arab American News interviewed the six candidates who are running for the three seats on the Hamtramck City Council and have decided to endorse the foll

Hamtramck police said they found two people dead from gunshot wounds Thursday afternoon in an apartment building.

The issue of elevated lead levels in Michigan drinking water only seems to be growing.

Track live election results for Hamtramck in the 2021 Michigan General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

After high lead levels were detected in Hamtramck’s drinking water last week, city and state officials back passing out free water filters to residents for the 2nd time. They also announced crews started replacing lead water lines 2 years...

Another Michigan city is giving filters to residents as a result of high lead results in some drinking water samples.

Another Michigan city is giving filters to residents as a result of high lead results in some drinking water samples.

Hamtramck’s mayoral race has taken a historic turn during and after the primaries, with Yemeni American candidate Amer Ghalib emerging as front runner,

Another Michigan city is giving filters to residents as a result of high lead results in some drinking water samples.

After tests showed six homes had high lead levels in water, the city of Hamtramck spent the day giving out free water filters to every home in the area.

After detecting lead in the drinking water, the City of Hamtramck has partnered with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to distribute one free water filter with replacement cartridges, per address, to Hamtramck...

Representative Rashida Tlaib says she's pushing for $30 billion to remove lead pipes as part of the Build Back Better plan.

The city of Hamtramck tested several dozen sites for lead in tap water, and a handful came back with levels above what Michigan says is OK.

Representative Rashida Tlaib says she's pushing for $30 billion to remove lead pipes as part of the Build Back Better plan.

The city of Hamtramck will distribute free water filters to residents on Thursday after routine tap water testing revealed substandard lead levels.

Hamtramck is the latest Michigan community to report elevated levels of lead in its drinking water. According to recent tests, the lead levels in the...

Hamtramck is known for, well, a few things, including but not limited to: incredible Polish, Yemani, and Bangladeshi food; Disneyland (no, not that one); celebrations...

Hamtramck’s municipal attorney has been placed on leave and at least one council member is calling for his resignation after a lawsuit revealed that he...

The 2020 census placed Michigan near dead last in the country for population growth during the last decade, enough to lose a seat in Congress. Net international migration is also projected to become the primary driver of population growth for the first time. The Office of Global Michigan, an office within the state labor department, considers immigrants as an asset for the state economy. Reynolds Farley, a University of Michigan professor who studies population trends, said immigration is also dampening population losses. Though foreign-born residents only represent a small fraction of Michigan’s overall population, immigration is helping boost growth in particular communities.

There’s a new coffee shop and bakery in Hamtramck where you can enjoy unique desserts along with a nice cup of java. It’s called “Dose of Sugar” and Jason Carr chatted with Yasmine Montalvo, the co-owner, to learn more.

Road work on Conant Street at the edge of Detroit and Hamtramck will cause lane closures this fall.

Police are investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday night near the border of Detroit and Hamtramck.

HAMTRAMCK, MI – A former Michigan police officer must serve three years in prison after a federal judge ruled he used unjustified and unreasonable excessive force during an arrest. He pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law on Jan. 8. He was also required to voluntarily relinquished his law enforcement license. “We live in a nation governed by the rule of law and no one is above the law. “The defendant abused the trust given to him as a law enforcement officer when he pistol-whipped two arrestees on two separate occasions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division.

A former Hamtramck, Michigan, Police Department officer was sentenced today in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan for using unjustified and unreasonable excessive force during an arrest of a civilian and violating that civilian’s civil rights. Ryan McInerney, 45, of Grosse Ile Township, Michigan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gershwin A. McInerney pleaded guilty on Jan. 8 to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. As part of the plea agreement, McInerney also voluntarily relinquished his law enforcement license. “The defendant abused the trust given to him as a law enforcement officer when he pistol-whipped two arrestees on two separate occasions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division.

The Little League World Championship trophy returned to Michigan for the first time in three generations.

One man is behind bars, another dead after a vehicle crash involving a motorcycle in Eastpointe.

It took Tolbert’s death for the family understand the need for the vaccine.

Isabelle Elwart is a talented baker, and her specialty is macarons. She runs Le Detroit Macaron and they have some really unique flavors like Pop Rocks and Cosmic Brownie.

In the last few weeks a few Detroit-area bars and venues announced that they were going to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19...

An elderly woman is worried she’s going to lose her home after severe storms caused significant damage to her roof.

The historic Hamtramck Stadium is set to get a multi-million dollar renovation.

Four candidates are running for mayor, and eight for three seats on City Council in Hamtramck this Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 3. Also on the ballot is a m

Election results for Hamtramck races in the 2021 Michigan Primary Election on Aug. 3, 2021.

A small, diverse Detroit-area community has agreed to provide election ballots in the Bengali language.

Four candidates for Hamtramck mayor and eight for City Council are vying for four-year terms and will face off in the Aug. 3 primary election, after which the mayoral race will come down to two candidates and the Council race to six. The city is also asking voters to decide on a ballot proposal which would increase property taxes to fund its fire and police pension obligations. The Hamtramck City Council has three open seats due to the resignations of Andrea Karpinski and, most recently, Ian Perrotta and the fact that Councilman Saad Almasmari, who was appointed to Karpinski’s seat after her resignation, has opted to run for mayor. Majewski served on the City Council as its president and mayor pro-tem before being elected as Hamtramck’s first woman mayor in 2005 and has won every mayoral race since. Former Hamtramck City Councilman Abu Musa.

A ballpark that once was home to the Negro League’s Detroit Stars will undergo renovations.

DEARBORN – On Tuesday, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) announced endorsements for the local 2021 primary elections.

After months of planning, the city of Detroit re-opened and re-dedicated the park back to the community Wednesday.

The project aims to connect neighborhoods in Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck and Highland Park.

The big picture is getting bigger for one massive Detroit project named after a legendary Detroit boxer which aims to safely — and green-ly —...

After a long pandemic-related hiatus, Hamtramck's women-owned independent hub for cinephiles, The Film Lab, has recently reopened to offer more than movie screenings. Since opening...

Police say three individuals were shot at while playing basketball in Hamtramck Monday evening.

Filmmakers Razi Jafri and Justin Feltman's real-life look at Hamtramck captures a city of diversity during an election season.

Piece airing Tuesday focuses on 2017 election, 'how multiculturalism can and should happen,' filmmakers say.

The city of Hamtramck, known to be the nation’s first Muslim-majority city, is the subject of a documentary set to makes its broadcast premiere on WORLD

The city of Hamtramck, known to be the nation’s first Muslim-majority city, is the subject of a documentary set to makes its broadcast premiere on WORLD

Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American NewsHAMTRAMCK – Hamtramck Public Schools (HPS) is partnering with Rite Aid to provide vaccinations for individuals 12 and older at the Hamtramck Community Center at 11350 Charest St. this upcoming Thursday. HPS recommends families schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 shot. Location: Hamtramck Community Center, 11350 Charest St. Hamtramck, 48212To schedule an appointment, visit: bit.ly/3fmBbea. “At Hamtramck Public schools, the safety and well-being of our school community remains a primary concern. “We are excited to expand our partnerships with organizations supporting Hamtramck Public Schools,” said Jaleelah Ahmed, superintendent.

A fire at Strong Steel Products raged in Detroit Monday afternoon, calling two fire departments to the scene. There are no injuries reported so far.

Police are seeking the public’s help to make sense of a shooting that occurred late Friday night.

A Hamtramck man is charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at a gas station on Detroit’s east side.

HAMTRAMCK — After Tuesday’s filing deadline for the upcoming races for mayor and three Council seats, the city now has a tentative list of candidates.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Fsle Saoeh, 38, of Hamtramck, with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree on Tuesday. A fourth degree

Five Hamtramck Public School’s students recently competed in the Optimist Club of Downtown Detroit's Annual Oratorical Virtual Competition on March 17, with

With Detroit’s vaccination rate well below the state average, MDHHS is launching mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics in the city to try and reach more communities.

General Motors says an electric version of the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck will get an estimated 400 miles of range per charge.

General Motors says an electric version of the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck will get an estimated 400 miles of range per charge.

The superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools announced a delay of the return to in-person learning.

The first production GMC HUMMER EV supertruck was sold at the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for $2.5 million. DETROIT – The Saturday auction of the first GMC HUMMER EV has brought in more than $2 million for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The auction fees and commissions have been waived for the $2.5 million auction sale, so the entire amount can go toward the nonprofit. It builds mortgage-free, accessible smart homes for the most catastrophically-injured veterans and provides mortgage-free homes for Gold Star families and the families of first responders killed in the line of duty. The HUMMER EV Edition 1 is the specially appointed and fully equipped launch model of GMC’s first full-electric vehicle.

While this virtual exchange helped to build some global connections over the past year, the organization is looking forward to the expected return of international exchange students to American schools this fall, if conditions permit. World Link asked their virtual program students, program alumni, host families and supporters to bake and share cookies with people in need in their local areas. World Link is currently recruiting host families who will host 155 students in select states including Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. It has identified high schools who are willing to accept exchange students planning to come this fall and the selected students now need interested host families. To learn more about becoming a World Link Host Family, email karen@worldlinkinc.org or call (515) 491-1551 for more information.

World Link, an organization that links students from different parts of the world to host families, provided these students with a virtual program linking each student with an American host family and American peers and also connected them to American school clubs and events. While this virtual exchange helped to build some global connections over the past year, the organization is looking forward to the expected return of international exchange students to American schools this fall, if conditions permit. World Link is currently recruiting host families who will host 155 students in select states, including Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. It has identified high schools that are willing to accept exchange students planning to come this fall and the selected students now need interested host families. To learn more about becoming a World Link Host Family, email karen@worldlinkinc.org or call (515) 491-1551 for more information.

General Motors says on Thursday, March 4, 2021, its looking for a site to build a second U.S. battery factory with joint venture partner LG Chem of Korea. (General Motors via AP)DETROIT – General Motors says it's looking for a site to build a second U.S. battery factory with joint venture partner LG Chem of Korea. A joint venture between GM and LG Chem currently is building a $2 billion battery factory in Lordstown, Ohio, near Cleveland, that will employ about 1,000 people. The Wall Street Journal first reported that GM and LG Chem are pursuing a site in Tennessee to build a new battery plant. Last year full battery electric vehicles accounted for only 2% of the U.S. market of 14.6 million in new vehicle sales.

Hamtramck police are still investigating the case. HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – A person was injured in a shooting that happened Monday shortly before 8 a.m. in the area of Belmont and Lumpkin streets, police say. Police responded to the scene after a call was made about several shots being fired in the area. Several rounds of gunfire struck a home on Belmont leaving the victim injured, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hamtramck Police Department at 313-800-5281.

DETROIT – Wayne County announced it will open several vaccination clinics for residents 65 and older. According to county executive Warren Evans, the vaccination clinics for residents of Canton Township, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Inkster, Melvindale, Pontiac Romulus and the city of Wayne will begin Feb. 23. ”I’m pleased Wayne County is now in a position to begin vaccinating seniors,” Evans said. “I also want to thank the state of Michigan for working with Wayne County to ensure we have more doses to vaccinate our seniors more quickly. The vaccine distribution process is limited by the available vaccine -- of which no one is getting enough -- but Wayne County is putting shots in arms as fast as we get them.”More information can be found on the official Wayne County website here.

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Officials in Wayne County are calling a new piece of technology a game changer. County leaders held a press conference Thursday morning at the William Dickerson Detention Facility in Hamtramck to unveil new technology that aims to stop the spread of coronavirus in jails. The technology targets the COVID-19 particles that might be in the air, as well as other airborne particles that can cause people to become sick. County officials believe the tech is so groundbreaking that it can serve as an example that other agencies can follow too -- including schools, hospitals and more. “We’re going to attack COVID where it lurks in the air,” said Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington.

ORIGINAL STORY: Wayne County announces new vaccination clinics for seniors“I have really talked to a number of ladies, particularly that each and every one of them has indicated that, you know, they’re all waiting,” Coutilish said. “Up to now, particularly in Wayne community, everything has been located in the Detroit area with very little elsewhere,” Coutilish said. “I’m hopeful that they are now going to spread it around a little bit.”So far Wayne County has given out over 36,601 vaccines. “I also want to thank the state of Michigan for working with Wayne County to ensure we have more doses to vaccinate our seniors more quickly. The vaccine distribution process is limited by the available vaccine -- of which no one is getting enough -- but Wayne County is putting shots in arms as fast as we get them.”More information can be found on the official Wayne County website here.