Michigan

Biden aides to meet with Arab, Muslim leaders in Michigan on Gaza

Published

3 months ago

February 7, 2024

Biden aides to meet with Arab, Muslim leaders in Michigan on Gaza

Senior US officials will visit the 2024 election battleground state of Michigan on Thursday to meet with Arab-American and Muslim leaders critical of President Joe Biden for not calling for a permanent ceasefire in Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

The officials include US Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power, Steve Benjamin, White House public engagement director; and his deputy, Jamie Citron, a White House official said.

Other officials include Tom Perez, who heads the White House office of intergovernmental affairs; his deputy, Dan Koh; Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser; and Mazen Basrawi, director for partnerships and global engagement at the National Security Council, the official said.

The meetings come weeks after community leaders in southeastern Michigan refused to meet with Biden campaign officials, saying they would only engage with policymakers on ending Israel’s attacks on Gaza and getting aid to Palestinians.

On Tuesday, over 30 elected officials across Michigan said they would vote “uncommitted” in Michigan’s Democratic primary on Feb. 27 to protest Biden’s response to the war in Gaza, and others have said they will not vote for Biden in November.

Demonstrators take part in an Emergency Rally: Stand with Palestinians Under Siege in Gaza at Harvard University on October 14, 2023. (credit: BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS)

Attempts at ongoing engagement

Administration officials say the meetings are part of their ongoing engagement with community leaders and elected officials since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel. They have said a broad ceasefire now would benefit Hamas but have called for more limited halts in fighting to allow for the release of hostages taken by Hamas and the distribution of aid to Gaza residents.

Ahmad Chebbani, founder and chairman of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, said community leaders remained skeptical. “They should have engaged with us months ago. I think this thing is irreversible. You can’t really cover up 30,000 people dead,” he said.

Israel began its offensive after terrorists from Hamas-ruled Gaza killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages on Oct. 7. Gaza’s health ministry says at least 27,585 Palestinians have been confirmed killed, with thousands more feared buried under rubble. There has been only one truce so far, lasting just a week at the end of November.

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Michigan

$28.6M in MI Clean Water grants given to Michigan communities

Published

3 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Press Room

$28.6M in MI Clean Water grants given to Michigan communities

MID-MICHIGAN (WNEM) – The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced Michigan communities have been given $28.6 million in MI Clean Water Plan grants.

The grants aim to help communities improve water infrastructure, ensure clean drinking water, and protect Michigan’s environment, EGLE said.

EGLE said 70 percent of Michigan residents are served by more than 1,000 community wastewater systems, and a similar number of residents rely on community water systems for drinking water, but many of those systems are struggling to address aging infrastructure and other challenges, like PFAS regulation.

Many of these grants will be given to communities to support work being done to identify or verify lead service lines in preparation for replacement, EGLE said.

The communities in mid-Michigan receiving these grants include the following:

Akron: $42,200
Bridgeport Township: $600,000
Buena Vista Township: $597,850
Harbor Beach: $138,720
Ubly: $585,068

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Michigan

BREAKING: Former Michigan State DL Derrick Harmon Commits to Oregon

Published

10 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Press Room

BREAKING: Former Michigan State DL Derrick Harmon Commits to Oregon

The odds of former Michigan State defensive tackle Derrick Harmon staying in East Lansing have officially gone out the window.

According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, Harmon has committed to Oregon. The former Spartan entered the transfer portal on April 23.

Harmon was perhaps the best defensive player on Michigan State’s roster last season. He turned in a career campaign, registering 40 combined tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble.

BREAKING: Former Michigan State Standout DL Derrick Harmon has Committed to Oregon, he tells @on3sports
The 6’5 325 DL totaled 69 Tackles, 3.5 Sacks, & 1 FF in his time with the Spartans
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Was the Top Available DL in the Portal (per On3) 👀https://t.co/i5HzDgZd5M pic.twitter.com/zq6Z17FSTn
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 3, 2024

Harmon played in 28 games in his three seasons as a Spartan. He recorded a total of 71 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, two passes defensed, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

We had reported on Thursday that Michigan State was still in contention to return Harmon, as the defensive tackle had begun to narrow his choices down to Michigan State, Oregon, Ohio State, USC and Colorado.

With Oregon joining the Big Ten, the Spartans will face Harmon on Oct. 5 when Michigan State takes on the Ducks at Autzen Stadium.

Harmon’s commitment is yet another big hit to the Spartans, who also just lost transfer defensive tackle Brandon Lane on Thursday. Michigan State also lost defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. to the portal last month.

Harmon had entered the transfer a first time back in December before deciding to withdraw his name and return to the program.

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Michigan

Meet 2024 RBSI Scholar, Maya Mikelson, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor –

Published

17 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Press Room

Maya Mikelson, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Maya Mikelson is a rising senior at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor majoring in political science and minoring in data science. While at Michigan, she has researched the ratification of human rights treaties with Professor Chris Fariss and developed her knowledge of various quantitative analysis tools including R. As a rising junior, she participated in an NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates Summer Program in Accountability, Behavior & Conflict in Democratic Politics at Vanderbilt University with Professor Emily Ritter. In this program, Maya completed an independent project examining the effect of militarization on interstate conflict. She presented her results from this work in a poster session at the 2023 American Political Science Association meeting in Los Angeles, CA. Maya is a data editor for the Michigan Daily, responsible for leading the Data Team in data analysis, data visualization, and publishing data-based journalism. As part of her work for the Michigan Daily, she received a national 3rd place award for best interactive infographic. After graduation, she plans to complete a Ph.D. in political science focusing on international conflict and security, as well as the effects of minority representation and rights and indigenous group’s sovereignty on government stability.

See all 2024 RBSI Scholars.

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