Hamtramck’s race for mayor is over—for now.  The Wayne County Board of Canvassers has certified the results of this month’s contest. 

Adam Alharbi has won the election for mayor by just six votes.  The outcome of the contest was controversial, with more than three dozen ballots thrown out after they were found in the office of City Clerk Rana Faraj. 

Losing candidate Muhith Mahmood tells WDET that he will ask for a recount.  He says the 37 ballots should not have been ignored. “Canvassers denied a legitimate 37 votes.  That is concerning, because this is not the 37 people who made a mistake.  Since the race is so close to each other, they could find a way to count this ballot.”   

Incumbent Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib did not seek re-election.  He was nominated by President Trump to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait. 

Additional headlines from Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Dearborn protests 

Anti-Islamic protesters clashed with Dearborn residents Tuesday. 

Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Anthony Hudson initiated the protests after he called for an end to Sharia law governing Dearborn – even though there is no Sharia law governing Dearborn.  He has since backtracked on this statement.

Muslim residents came out to stand up against anti-Islamic sentiments.  Shouts were exchanged and in some cases there was shoving.   One man reportedly tried to set a Quran on fire. 

At a City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Mayor Abdullah Hammound said there’s room for all faiths to live together peacefully in Dearborn. 

Belle Isle Zoo demolition 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is tearing down the remains of the Belle Isle Zoo. 

The zoo was closed in 2002 when the city of Detroit decided it was too costly to operate.  Animal enclosures and other buildings at the site have been empty since then. 

They’ve been overgrown by weeds and vines.  Officials say the remaining structures posed a danger.  The DNR says most of the site will be returned to nature, although some parking spaces for other island attractions will be placed there. 

Muirhead retires 

Long-time public relations expert Georgella Muirhead is retiring.  She currently works at the 98Forward PR firm.  But she worked for years in the administrations of Mayors Coleman Young and Dennis Archer, helping to get their priorities out to the public. 

She left her government office in the late 90s to begin the public relations firm Berg, Muirhead and Associates with famed Coleman Young spokesperson Bob Berg.  They sold the firm in 2016.  Good luck in your retirement, Georgella! 

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When protests on college campuses in response to the Israel-Hamas war erupted across the nation, leaders at some universities cracked down.

The conflict between demonstrators and university officials raises questions about the limits of free speech for college students, and it’s just one of many points of friction on campuses that major institutions must confront. 

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum is a psychologist who has spent over 40 years in higher education. She spent 13 of those years as the president Spelman College. Dr. Tatum believes these institutions need to create an environment to work through deep divisions. 

She joined the show to discuss her new book “Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times” and how officials at major institutions can do that. 

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The criminal charges were dropped, but the punishments keep coming.

In May 2024, students at the University of Michigan protested outside the campus art museum. They chanted, linked arms, and called on the university to divest from Israel. Some video clips reviewed by The Metro show campus police escalating the situation, pushing their bikes and barricades into protesters. In another clip, an officer pepper-sprays students as they chant and raise their fists. That same month, police violently raided and broke up an encampment at the university, spraying protesters with what students say was a mix of pepper gas and tear gas.

Nearly one year later, the university began disciplining those involved. Some students were fired from campus jobs. Others were permanently banned from future university employment. One recent graduate was let go from a research position for a protest she attended as a student.

Meanwhile, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel dropped all criminal charges she had been pursuing against students amid mounting political pressure and the ongoing devastation in Gaza.

But the University of Michigan continued its internal punishments, labeling peaceful protests as “violence.”

The university also hired outside consultants and private security to surveil student activists, following them on and off campus.

After that revelation came to light, thanks to reporting by Tom Perkins in The Guardian, the university announced it was ending its undercover surveillance program.

Now, several lawsuits say the university retaliated against students not for breaking rules, but for what they believe.

Liz Jacob, staff attorney at the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, represents the students and alumni suing the University of Michigan. She joined The Metro’s Robyn Vincent to discuss the lawsuits and the broader implications for free speech on campuses everywhere.

The University of Michigan has yet to respond to The Metro’s request for comment.

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Two protesters were arrested on Detroit’s west side Monday after police say they attempted to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from detaining a resident in the neighborhood.

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ICE was in the area to arrest a Honduran man who had already been deported twice but returned to the U.S. each time. Protesters say the immigration officers failed to show a signed warrant for his arrest. Officers used pepper spray on protesters when confronted.

At a Detroit City Council meeting Tuesday, Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero said ICE could have avoided the protest by simply showing a signed warrant.

“The family knew their rights. They said they didn’t show us the warrant. They didn’t even leave me a copy of the warrants,” she said. “That, to me, seems like a very basic, simple solution to this not getting out of hand…” 

At least one of the two protesters arrested have been charged in federal court for allegedly blocking ICE agents from leaving after making the arrest.

Police Chief Todd Bettison says protesters should stay peaceful, and warned that anyone who interferes with federal agents will be arrested.

Other headlines for Wednesday, July 2, 2025:

• The Department of Natural Resources’ explorer guide program is offering more than 100 free activities over the July Fourth holiday weekend. DNR guides will lead programs at 30 state parks Friday through Sunday, with activities ranging from poetry writing to fossil-hunting. 
• The Brightmoor Artisan Collective will host a Nigerian cooking class at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, offered in partnership with the Detroit Partnership for Food Learning and Innovation program through Michigan State University Extension. The registration fee is $15 per person. Register by emailing edwar649@msu.edu.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is hosting a drop-in summer studio, with the next session taking place on Thursday, July 3. Visitors of all ages will have the chance to make art with some creative prompts and materials provided. Next week, MOCAD will welcome families for its Family Day with free exhibitions for kids, teens and parents.

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