Niraj Warikoo
@warikoo.bsky.social
Staff Writer at the Detroit Free Press, a daily newspaper in Michigan. Open to story ideas and news tips. Message me or email: [email protected]
Immigrant inmate dies at ICE prison in Michigan www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Immigrant inmate dies at ICE prison in Michigan
Nenko Stanev Gantchev, 56, a native of Bulgaria, had been detained at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, a prison for inmates held by ICE.
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December 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Immigrant inmate dies at ICE prison in Michigan www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn mayor's pay hiked 25% over 2 years, boosting salary to $212k
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn mayor's pay hiked 25% over 2 years, boosting salary to $212k
The annual salary of the mayor of Dearborn will increase to $212,083 for 2026.
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December 11, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Dearborn mayor's pay hiked 25% over 2 years, boosting salary to $212k
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Catholics in Michigan raise $1 million for Gaza, Holy Land relief www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Catholics in Michigan raise $1 million for Gaza, Holy Land relief
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the religious leader of Catholics in the Palestinian territories and Israel, is visiting metro Detroit.
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December 6, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Catholics in Michigan raise $1 million for Gaza, Holy Land relief www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Hmong refugee in Michigan freed by ICE after several months in prison
Lue Yang spoke to the Free Press about his detention, saying it was like "traveling down the dark tunnel."
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Lue Yang spoke to the Free Press about his detention, saying it was like "traveling down the dark tunnel."
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Hmong refugee in Michigan freed by ICE after several months in prison
Lue Yang, an auto supply engineer and Hmong refugee, was freed by ICE on Dec. 3 after spending more than four months in prison.
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December 4, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Hmong refugee in Michigan freed by ICE after several months in prison
Lue Yang spoke to the Free Press about his detention, saying it was like "traveling down the dark tunnel."
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Lue Yang spoke to the Free Press about his detention, saying it was like "traveling down the dark tunnel."
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Hamtramck mayoral candidate sues, asking 37 uncounted votes be counted www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Hamtramck mayoral candidate sues, asking 37 uncounted votes be counted
The votes were found in the Hamtramck clerk's office after the Nov. 4 election. Mahmood trailed by six votes in the certified election totals.
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November 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Hamtramck mayoral candidate sues, asking 37 uncounted votes be counted www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Hamtramck mayoral candidate requests recount after 6-vote loss
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www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Hamtramck mayoral candidate requests recount after 6-vote loss
Hamtramck mayoral candidate Muhith Mahmood, currently a councilman, requested a recount of the mayoral race by Wayne County.
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November 22, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Hamtramck mayoral candidate requests recount after 6-vote loss
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud after protests: 'Dearborn belongs to everyone' www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud after protests: 'Dearborn belongs to everyone'
The City of Dearborn held an event calling for unity, three days after contentious protests.
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November 22, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Mayor Abdullah Hammoud after protests: 'Dearborn belongs to everyone' www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Protesters scuffle in Dearborn over faith as Quran-burning attempt is thwarted
Dearborn police urge residents to not engage with protesters
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Dearborn police urge residents to not engage with protesters
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Protesters scuffle in Dearborn over faith as Quran-burning attempt is thwarted
Three groups of protesters rallied and marched in the streets of Dearborn, each with different messages.
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November 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Protesters scuffle in Dearborn over faith as Quran-burning attempt is thwarted
Dearborn police urge residents to not engage with protesters
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn police urge residents to not engage with protesters
www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn Heights mayor hit with fees after not filing campaign finance reports
“There is no public record of the money received and spent by the campaign of Mayor Mo Baydoun over the past three months.” www.freep.com/story/news/p...
“There is no public record of the money received and spent by the campaign of Mayor Mo Baydoun over the past three months.” www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Dearborn Heights mayor hit with fees after not filing campaign finance reports
Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun has not filed a campaign finance report that was due two months ago.
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November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Dearborn Heights mayor hit with fees after not filing campaign finance reports
“There is no public record of the money received and spent by the campaign of Mayor Mo Baydoun over the past three months.” www.freep.com/story/news/p...
“There is no public record of the money received and spent by the campaign of Mayor Mo Baydoun over the past three months.” www.freep.com/story/news/p...
A city in metro Detroit rescinds agreement with ICE after outrage from activists www.freep.com/story/news/l...
A city in metro Detroit rescinds agreement with ICE after outrage from activists
Center Line officials had reached an agreement to work with ICE, but has now pulled out of the partnership.
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November 8, 2025 at 11:32 AM
A city in metro Detroit rescinds agreement with ICE after outrage from activists www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Just 11 votes separate Hamtramck mayoral race; Hammoud wins reelection bid in Dearborn www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Just 11 votes separate Hamtramck mayoral race; Hammoud wins reelection bid in Dearborn
Just 11 votes separate candidates in Hamtramck mayor's race, while Abdullah Hammoud is reelected in Dearborn.
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November 8, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Just 11 votes separate Hamtramck mayoral race; Hammoud wins reelection bid in Dearborn www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Wayne County voters to elect mayors, council members and decide on ballot proposals www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Wayne County voters to elect mayors, council members and decide on ballot proposals
Voters in cities across Wayne County are headed to the polls, with hotly contested races for mayor and council in some cities.
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November 1, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Wayne County voters to elect mayors, council members and decide on ballot proposals www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud faces challenge from engineer Nagi Almudhegi as race heats up www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud faces challenge from engineer Nagi Almudhegi as race heats up
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud is running against engineer Nagi Almudhegi to lead the city.
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October 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud faces challenge from engineer Nagi Almudhegi as race heats up www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud raises $446K in reelection bid, several times as much as opponent www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Dearborn Mayor Hammoud raises $446K in reelection bid, several times as much as opponent
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud raises significantly more money than opponent Nagi Almudhegi.
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October 26, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud raises $446K in reelection bid, several times as much as opponent www.freep.com/story/news/p...
Ex-Hamtramck police chief who promoted diversity resigns, reaches agreement with pay www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Ex-Hamtramck police chief who promoted diversity resigns, reaches agreement with pay
The former police chief of Hamtramck resigned and will get severance pay.
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October 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Ex-Hamtramck police chief who promoted diversity resigns, reaches agreement with pay www.freep.com/story/news/l...
40 Dearborn residents ask city to lower volume on mosques' outdoor call to prayer www.freep.com/story/news/l...
40 Dearborn residents ask city to lower volume on mosques' outdoor call to prayer
Residents submitted a petition to Dearborn City Hall asking them to lower the volume on the Islamic call to prayer broadcast outside on loudspeakers.
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October 21, 2025 at 11:26 PM
40 Dearborn residents ask city to lower volume on mosques' outdoor call to prayer www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Former Dearborn Heights Mayor Ruth Canfield, remembered as bridge builder, dies at 85 www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Former Dearborn Heights Mayor Ruth Canfield, remembered as bridge builder, dies at 85
Ruth Canfield served for a decade as the mayor of Dearborn Heights, the first woman to lead the city.
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October 16, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Former Dearborn Heights Mayor Ruth Canfield, remembered as bridge builder, dies at 85 www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn mailed 9,000 absentee ballots with an error, now sending corrected ballots www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn mailed 9,000 absentee ballots with an error, now sending corrected ballots
The absentee ballots included a City Council candidate who is not running, drawing criticism from some residents.
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October 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Dearborn mailed 9,000 absentee ballots with an error, now sending corrected ballots www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Michigan AG's office slams Dearborn wards proposal as 'defective,' but it's on the ballot www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Michigan AG's office slams Dearborn wards proposal as 'defective,' but it's on the ballot
The AG's office said the Dearborn ward proposal attempts to bundle multiple charter amendments into one proposal.
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October 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Michigan AG's office slams Dearborn wards proposal as 'defective,' but it's on the ballot www.freep.com/story/news/l...
In Sunday services, Grand Blanc churches offer hope: 'Stand with the hurting' www.freep.com/story/news/l...
In Sunday services, Grand Blanc churches offer hope: 'Stand with the hurting'
St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Grand Blanc offers support for LDS chapel attacked one week ago.
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October 6, 2025 at 4:23 AM
In Sunday services, Grand Blanc churches offer hope: 'Stand with the hurting' www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn Heights police investigate alleged threats to burn down a large mosque www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn Heights police investigate alleged threats to burn down a large mosque
The Dearborn Heights mosque allegedly targeted with violent threats is the Islamic Institute of America.
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October 1, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Dearborn Heights police investigate alleged threats to burn down a large mosque www.freep.com/story/news/l...
LDS Church reaching out to members traumatized by Grand Blanc Township attack www.freep.com/story/news/l...
LDS Church reaching out to members traumatized by Grand Blanc Township attack
The attack on a Grand Blanc Township congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints left five people dead, including the suspect.
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September 30, 2025 at 8:42 PM
LDS Church reaching out to members traumatized by Grand Blanc Township attack www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn mayor: City spent more than $25 million on flood prevention, with 5 projects underway www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn mayor: City spent more than $25M on flood prevention, with 5 projects underway
The city of Dearborn hopes to avoid a repeat of the June 2021 flooding that damaged thousands of homes.
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September 26, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Dearborn mayor: City spent more than $25 million on flood prevention, with 5 projects underway www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Arab Americans gather for ADC’s ArabCon national convention in Dearborn with Garlin Gilchrist, Ro Khanna www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Arab Americans gather for national convention in Dearborn with Garlin Gilchrist, Ro Khanna
Previously, the convention was held in the Washington, DC, area, but they decided to hold it in Dearborn, the only Arab-majority city in the U.S.
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September 25, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Arab Americans gather for ADC’s ArabCon national convention in Dearborn with Garlin Gilchrist, Ro Khanna www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud breaks silence on controversy, says city ‘embraces all’ www.freep.com/story/news/l...
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud breaks silence on controversy, says city ‘embraces all’
The mayor of Dearborn spoke out for the first time since he drew criticism for berating a Dearborn resident who's a Christian minister.
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September 24, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud breaks silence on controversy, says city ‘embraces all’ www.freep.com/story/news/l...