Mold Remediation in Canton, MI

An eighth-grade student who remained seated during the Pledge of Allegiance at her Plymouth, Michigan, school says she was subjected to humiliation and offensive remarks from her teacher.

The student and the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) are demanding action from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.

The alleged incident happened on Jan. 10 at East Middle School. Danielle Khalaf, an Arab American student, says her teacher told her she was being disrespectful by not standing for the pledge.

Danielle, a U.S. citizen and member of the National Honor Society, said she tried to speak to her teacher after class to explain her actions, but the teacher was dismissive and allegedly told her, "Since you live in this country and enjoy its freedom, if you don't like it, you should go back to [your] country."

In a press conference Thursday, the ACRL said the teacher violated Danielle's First Amendment right. They claim the school district has not contacted Danielle or offered resources to help her cope and that the family has not received an apology.

"It crushed me. It broke me," Danielle said. "I felt so unwelcome. I felt uncomfortable.

"I want her to take some sort of accountability. I want the school to take accountability. Because I know that this could happen to so many other students, so many other kids with these different background, different races. She could easily treat them like she treated me, and I don't want that to happen. No one deserves to the way I had to feel. No one deserves to feel unwelcome in school. It's supposed to be a safe place."

Danielle's family has filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and is calling for accountability, saying the school district's response is inadequate. The family is demanding an investigation, disciplinary action against the teacher, a public apology and mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools says it conducted an investigation and appropriate actions were taken, including placing the teacher on leave.

The district released the following statement:

At Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, the safety and well-being of our students, staff and families are our top priority.

As part of our commitment to transparency and keeping our community informed, we want to let you know that district leaders investigated an allegation of discrimination and inappropriate conduct by a teacher at East Middle School.

As soon as we became aware of the allegation, the teacher involved was immediately placed on leave. Then, following a review and investigation, appropriate action was taken consistent with our school procedures and protocols.

We also facilitated restorative practices between the teacher and students to address any harm, foster understanding and use this as a learning moment.

We want to be clear that discrimination in any form is not tolerated by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, and any report of harassment, discrimination or bullying is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. P-CCS remains committed to fostering an environment where all students, staff and community members feel safe, respected and valued.

Our goal is to make this a learning experience so we can improve as a district and continue fostering a culture of respect, compassion and civility. We appreciate the opportunity to keep our families informed.

Joseph Buczek

Joe Buczek is manager of digital content and promotion at CBS Detroit. He previously worked at WWTV, the Grand Traverse Insider, the Leader and the Kalkaskian, the Oakland Press and the Morning Sun.

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Hometownlife.com

Have compassion for others and an hour to spare each week?

Hospice of Michigan is seeking volunteers across the metro Detroit area, especially in western Wayne County.

“We’re desperate for volunteers in places like Plymouth, Livonia and Canton,” said Ruth Moore-Lilly, volunteer program manager at the Southfield-based Hospice of Michigan. “I don't know why, but that's an area where we do not get very many volunteers.”

The non-profit organization offers a range of volunteer opportunities to support patients and families dealing with life-limiting illnesses throughout southeast Michigan.

Currently, Hospice of Michigan is looking for several types of individuals to support its mission, including companionship volunteers, caregiver relief, pet volunteers and veterans.

Companionship volunteers spend time with patients living at home or in a facility setting, often reading, watching movies, playing games, or sometimes just sitting quietly with patients, while caregiver relief volunteers allow family members to run errands, attend appointments or rest.

Pet volunteers, who bring along animals such as dogs and cats, provide additional comfort to patients by bringing their furry friends for a visit. Certified therapy animals are preferred, but not required.

Patients living in their own homes may also need help with dog walking or pet care.

Finally, veterans are needed to connect with fellow service members for meaningful conversations based on shared military experiences.

“You don’t have to have any special talents to be a volunteer,” Moore-Lilly said. “You just have to have a heart to care about another person and be willing to be present with someone. Most of our volunteers say they get more out of it than they give.”

Typically, volunteers visit one patient weekly for about an hour, although visits can vary in frequency and length.

Moore-Lilly said volunteering with the organization also provides an opportunity to hear many interesting stories, an experience volunteers find deeply rewarding.

“Every person has a story,” she said. “You take a piece of every person with you, and it helps us grow as individuals.”

Volunteers must be 18 or older. Training includes a six-hour session that can be completed online or in person.

Background checks, fingerprinting and a tuberculosis test are also required.

For those who have experienced a recent loss, Hospice of Michigan requires a waiting period of one year before becoming a hospice volunteer to allow the processing of grief.

In addition to Wayne County, volunteers are also needed in Oakland, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb and St. Clair counties.

More information can be found at Hospice of Michigan’s website or by contacting Moore-Lilly directly at 248-794-0523 or rmoore-lilly@hom.org.

To learn more about Hospice of Michigan or submit an online volunteer application, visit hom.org/get-involved.

Contact reporter Laura Colvin at lcolvin@hometownlife.com.

Thirty-three Joann fabric and craft stores in Michigan will close, according to the bankruptcy court documents the company filed Wednesday.

Joann stores are known for selling crafting supplies, including fabrics and sewing.

The retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and again Jan. 15, according to Reuters.

During the most recent filing, the company sought approval to sell its assets and was seeking a buyer for the business, according to a company news release.

If no buyer emerged, Joann would allow would allow Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC to liquidate all of its assets, including store inventory valued at $538.3 million, according to Reuters.

Wednesday's filing revealed 531 "underperforming stores" where it wanted to immediately start closing sales and start the process of reducing the company's store footprint.

As of Tuesday, the Joann website listed 41 stores across 40 Michigan towns. Joann has about 850 stores in 49 states, according to its website.

"This was a very difficult decision to make, given the major impact we know it will have on our Team Members, our customers and all of the communities we serve," a Joann spokesperson told USA TODAY on Wednesday. "A careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the Company determined which stores should remain operating as usual at this time."

Here's a list of the Joann stores in Michigan set to close and those that will remain open for now.

Joann stores closing in Michigan

Joann stores remaining open in Michigan

USA TODAY reporter Mary Walrath-Holdridge contributed to this report.