The federal three-judge panel, which ruled 13 Metro Detroit State House and Senate seats violate the constitution and need to be redrawn, refused a request for a stay from the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.

The saga over 13 Metro Detroit State House and Senate seats took a turn Thursday when the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission voted to appeal to the United States Supreme Court.

A Dearborn Heights mosque is calling for an end to gun violence .Islamic House of Wisdom held a community candlelight vigil for victims of violence and terrorism locally and across the country.Different faith leaders as well as city and state officials decided to come together because they’re all tired of the same thing.

Ali Hammoud said he can’t go on defending Jones, claiming there was a “breakdown in the relationship.”

DETROIT – Former Michigan Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo said last year was an “absolute blur.”She said the year was difficult and emotional for her family. The loss of Isaac Robinson, my former colleague, was certainly a point where it became real, and then my sister getting sick, getting COVID 19 and then passing two weeks after being the hospital,” Gay-Dagnogo said. Sherry said the last year has exposed a lot, not just for the city of Detroit, but the entire country. “The disparate impact that COVID-19 had on our community is not just because it’s COVID but because of COVID it’s highlighted,” she said. READ: More Michigan COVID coverage

LANSING, Mich. – Testifying in front of a joint committee of the state Legislature, state superintendent Dr. Michael Rice advocated for increasing the number of required school days, which currently stands at 180 days. We’re gonna have to make sure we extend the time for the purpose of competency and ensure our children are on the right level,” said Detroit school board member Sherry Gay-Dagnogo. Michigan health department launches program offering weekly COVID testing to educatorsThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said it is moving forward with offering a voluntary COVID-19 testing program to educators. Officials said the MI Safe Schools Testing Program, which began Tuesday, will provide weekly tests for educators at private and public schools. Gretchen Whitmer pushed for schools to resume in-person learning by March 1.

DETROIT – After nearly eight years behind bars, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick walked free Wednesday from prison in Oakdale, Louisiana, and arrived in Georgia to meet family. READ: US releases former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from prison“I saw a boatload of text messages and calls. She helped pushed the effort forward last February when she personally delivered a letter to then-President Donald Trump asking for clemency. He served seven years, close to eight years, being away from his family away and from his mother.”READ: Key people in Kwame Kilpatrick’s life and career: Where are they now? “I believe Kwame Kilpatrick will be an excellent example of redemption and grace.”PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

DETROIT – Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will be released from prison after serving seven years of a 28-year sentence for his role in a major corruption scandal after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence late Tuesday night. UPDATE Jan. 20: US releases former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from prisonHere’s the statement from the White House:“President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. Kwame Kilpatrick has earned every day he served in federal prison for the horrible crimes he committed against the People of Detroit. He filed another motion in 2017 to vacate his prison sentence, and that was denied by a district court judge. Before serving as mayor, Kilpatrick served in the Michigan State House of Representative.

DETROIT – Mayor Mike Duggan announced his run for re-election in 2021 on Wednesday. Duggan has been in office since 2013. He won re-election in 2017, meaning this would be his third term if elected. Other potential 2021 candidates for Detroit mayor include Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a Michigan state representative, and state Rep. Shri Thanedar, who ran for Michigan governor in 2018. Related: City of Detroit extends moratorium on residential water shutoffs through 2022

DETROIT – Here are four key races in Metro Detroit to watch in the Nov. 3 General Election. There is Berman v. Pulver, Schroeder v. Breadon, Tisdel v. Anness and Turner v. Breen. Warren term limitsWill Warren Mayor Jim Fouts be forced to have the same term limits as the rest of the elected leaders in Warren? However, it’s unclear if there is anybody who actually lives in Macomb County who thinks that’s true. Follow here: Michigan General Election Results for Macomb County on Nov. 3, 2020ClickOnDetroit will have live election results after the polls close Tuesday, Nov. 3 -- follow here.

Gretchen Whitmer signed a multiple bill package into law that both Democrats and Republicans have been working on for the last year in the Legislature. Under the Michigan Clean Slate Bills the state will be the first in the nation to have an automatic expungement process. This will help people with minor crime convictions or former marijuana convictions and some traffic offenses. Under the bill package the state will set up a computer system to process those automatic expungements. The bills target minor crimes, but not major felonies or traffic offenses like Driving Under the Influence incidents.

DETROIT – Michigan State House Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo is calling on the Detroit public schools superintendent to reconsider the district’s plan to offer in-person classes at the start of this fall semester amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) has has been very clear that it has wanted parents to have a choice between face-to-face or remote learning. The approved plan includes the choices of in-person or online learning, smaller in-person class sizes and daily safety protocols like cleaning, masks and social distancing. Gay-Dagnogo said Superintendent Nikoli Vitti and the school board should reconsider the plan. For more information about DPSCD’s return-to-school plan, go here: https://www.detroitk12.org/returntoschoolRelated: How Detroit public schools are bridging the digital divide

Michigan lawmaker traveling to White House to request clemency for Kwame KilpatrickPublished: February 27, 2020, 12:09 pmA Michigan lawmaker will visit the White House to request clemency for former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Michigan State Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo will travel to Washington D.C., as a part of a Black History Month event. In an email newsletter, Rep. Gay-Dagnogo says she was invited by President Trump to attend the event and will discuss possible clemency for the former Detroit mayor. She says she will be delivering a letter to President Trump “signed by several Detroit Caucus Members, Elected Officials, and Ecumenical Leaders.”

DETROIT - Here's our top story on Local 4 News at 5:State Rep. house demolishedPolice said they've solved the mystery demolition of a Detroit home owned by State Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo. The chief said a trucking company owner was behind the demolition and could face charges. Get your full weekend forecast on Local 4 News at 5Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

DETROIT - Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo appeared at Tuesday's City Council meeting in Detroit demanding answers after a house she owned was demolished without warning. The house was in the process of being fixed up by a nonprofit to be given to a deserving family during Christmastime. ORIGINAL: Detroit house meant to be rehabbed for deserving family demolished without warning"I've reached out to utility companies. It's still unclear who demolished the house and why, that mystery is now a criminal matter. Detroit police have launched a criminal investigation as to why the house was illegally demolished.

It's happened a few times in recent years: demolition contractors tearing down the wrong Detroit house. It's usually a mistake involving the wrong address, but this situation is more of a mystery. The house was owned by Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo and was in the process of being fixed up by a nonprofit to be given to a deserving family during Christmastime. The house was boarded up, and the nonprofit was going through the permit process to continue the rehab. An investigation has been launched to find out who demolished the house as proper protocol was not followed.