The Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan chapter (CAIR-MI) wants prosecutors to further investigate whether a recent attack on a 7-year-old girl at a Detroit park qualifies as a hate crime.

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Police allege that 73-year-old Gary Lansky slashed the girl’s neck with a knife as she was playing in Ryan Park on Detroit’s northwest side. The victim, a Yemeni American Muslim, was playing at the park when Lansky reportedly approached her without warning, lifted her head and sliced her throat with a knife.

The girl ran home and was taken to the hospital where she received treatment and was later released. Lansky currently faces charges including assault with intent to murder and felonious assault.

“While the charges faced by Garly Lansky are serious, we urge the Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this matter to determine whether hate was a motivating factor in the attack,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid in a statement.

WDET’s Karen Brundidge and Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

Other headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024:

• The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus is asking for a formal investigation into an ad by a Republican Congressional candidate that lists the wrong election date.
• Detroit Disability Power is holding a Day of Action from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday — the day early voting starts in the city of Detroit. 
• A town hall focused on demystifying 2025 Medicare plans is taking place at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Woodbridge Senior Village, 1200 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Detroit.
• Detroit City Councilman Coleman Young II will host a virtual meeting from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday with Police Chief James White to discuss police department initiatives. To register, call 313-224-4248. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is offering a $1,000 reward for any tips leading to a conviction after a Jewish teenager was attacked in Ann Arbor over the weekend.

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Ann Arbor police say the assault took place around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, near Hill Street and S Forest Avenue. The 19-year-old victim told police he was walking down the street when a group of men asked if he was Jewish. When he replied ‘yes,’ the victim said the group assaulted him and then fled the area on foot.

The teen sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalization, according to police. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime, however, police say they have limited information about the suspects involved.

“There is absolutely no place for hate or ethnic intimidation in the city of Ann Arbor,” said Ann Arbor Police Chief Andre Anderson in a statement. “Our department stands against antisemitism and all acts of bias-motivated crimes. We are committed to vigorously investigating this and other hate-motivated incidents and will work with the County Prosecutor’s office to aggressively prosecute those who are responsible.”

Other headlines for Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024:

• The United Auto Workers has formally filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Stellantis, the Associated Press reports. 
• Detroit has introduced a new Quick Response Team funded by a city grant to help combat the opioid crisis.
• The state Department of Treasury is hosting a fundraiser dinner for its Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at MotorCity Casino.
• Detroit City Council Member Gabriel Santiago-Romero and State Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) are inviting constituents to Coffee, Council and Conversation from 11 a.m. to noon this Friday at the Grand Circus Park People Mover Station.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The city of Detroit is using money from the American Rescue Plan Act to help residents with disabilities make their homes more accessible.

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The Detroit Home Accessibility Program — a joint project of the city of Detroit, CHN Housing Partners and Detroit Disability Power — dedicates more than $6 million in ARPA funds to home modifications for eligible residents to add ramps or lifts, widen entrances, modify handrails, or add alarms to the entries and exits of their home.

“Detroit has more than 129,000 disabled residents. Members of this large, diverse and important constituency deserve the ability to fully engage in all that our City has to offer,” said Ani Grigorian, disability access consulting manager at Detroit Disability Power, in a news release. “This program is an important step towards greater accessibility, and therefore increased well-being.”

Homeowners who live in single-family homes who receive social security disability benefits, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Children’s Healthcare Services benefits or Veterans Administration disability benefits can still apply.

The program is expected to provide accessibility upgrades to at least 250 homes.

Applicants must also have homeowner’s insurance and be current on property taxes or in a payment plan. There are income requirements for participation. For more information, visit chnhousingpartners.org/Detroit/dhap or call 866-313-2520. 

Other headlines for Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024:

• Mason K-8 Academy opened its newly renovated and stocked school library today. The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) chose Mason to receive 18,000 new books from the Council of Great City Schools and Scholastic.
• Cass Tech students who live in Hamtramck and “Banglatown” – an area close to Hamtramck – are asking DPSCD to provide bus transportation to the school. Education nonprofit 482Forward organized student and adult members to take their appeal to tonight’s school board meeting. 
• The Detroit Food Commons will host a concert series this fall. The Freedom Sounds fall concert series kicks off Sunday, Sept. 22 with jazz percussionist and Jazz at Lincoln Center alum Ali Jackson. Bassist and composer Marion Hayden will perform Oct. 27; and on Nov. 24, multi-genre percussionist and food justice advocate Aisha Ellis will perform. The series is curated by violinist and flutist Michelle May. The events, held in the Mama Imani Humphrey Banquet Hall on the second floor of Detroit Commons, cost $25 to attend with funds going towards Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network’s community programs. 
• The Hamtramck Parks Conservancy has a new director of programming and communications. Alicia Chiaravalli has a background in environmental science, play design and sustainability. She will be responsible for developing recreation programs, coordinating volunteers and community partnerships for the conservancy. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is lifting some restrictions for transporting certain hazardous substances across the Ambassador Bridge this fall.

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MDOT will ease restrictions on transporting fuels and materials for batteries beginning Oct. 29. The bridge’s owners requested the looser restrictions, saying it can respond quickly to a fire or spill. 

MDOT commissioned a technical study  in June 2021 to evaluate the risks associated with transporting restricted materials on the Ambassador Bridge from Porter Street in Detroit to Canada, the state reported. MDOT subsequently collected more than 80 letters from elected officials, business owners and community members, many expressing support for the looser restrictions.

Restricted materials will only be transported during off-peak hours, under the supervision of vehicle escorts, according to the state.

Other headlines for Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024:

• The city of Detroit is holding informational sessions this month to teach local nonprofits how to apply for grants to expand or improve their programs.
• Detroit is also offering free estate planning workshops to residents during the month of September.
• The Brightmoor Artisans Collective is recruiting volunteers for its Beautification Day event Saturday, Sept. 7. 
• The Paradise Wellness Academy is hosting a free Community Health Education series this month, featuring live cooking demonstrations and tips for preparing nutritious meals, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Sept. 12, 19 and 26. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.