The Arab American News
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State of the Union: Obama says he will act without Congress for the middle class
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama vowed on Tuesday, Jan. 28, to bypass a divided Congress and take action on his own to bolster America's middle class in a State of the Union address that he used to try to breathe new life into his second term after a troubled year.Standing in the House of Representatives chamber before lawmakers,...U.S. border officials ground fleet of drones after crash at sea
LOS ANGELES — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has indefinitely grounded its remaining fleet of nine drones after operators were forced to crash a pilotless aircraft off the Southern California coast because of a mechanical problem, a spokesman said on Tuesday.The mishap on Monday marked the second crash of one of the agency's drones...House passes bill that cuts food stamps
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive farm bill on Wednesday that cuts payments for food stamps by about 1 percent and ends a direct subsidy to farmers, while expanding government-backed crop insurance programs. After months of negotiations and criticism from both sides of the political spectrum the...U.S. Marines will retry sergeant accused of killing Iraqi civilian
LOS ANGELES — A U.S. Marine sergeant who was found guilty of murder in the 2006 death of an Iraqi civilian, only to have his conviction overturned, will face a retrial on the same charges, a Marine spokesman said on Monday.Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins III was arraigned at the Camp Pendleton Marine Base in California this week, Lieutenant...Edward Snowden nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize
OSLO — Two Norwegian politicians nominated former NSA contractor Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize on Wednesday, Jan. 29Baard Vegar Solhjell and Snorre Valen of the Socialist Left party said in a joint statement that Snowden has "contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order" by exposing U.S. surveillance practices...
Dearborn Heights residents complain about lack of snow cleanup services
January 31st, 20140 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A city-declared snow emergency requires residents to move their vehicles off of side streets in order for trucks to service neighborhoods during severe snowstorms. But for some residents in Dearborn Heights, the snow storm concludes long before the plow truck ever comes.Several residents in the city have told The...Ibrahim Mashhour heads Student Services, Athletics at Dearborn Public Schools
DEARBORN - Ibrahim Mashhour has been involved with Dearborn Public Schools (DPS) for many years now, but this school year, he was appointed to his most defining position yet, the district's Director of Student Services.Mashhour, who attended Henry Ford Community College and obtained Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Wayne State...Dearborn’s Gino Polidori passes away, leaves legacy of public service behind
DEARBORN — Gino Polidori, who served Dearborn as a city councilman, a state representative and its longtime fire chief, passed away Sunday, Jan. 26 in Dearborn. He was 72. Polidori was also known in the Arab American community as one of the co-sponsors of the "Amer Foster Care Improvement Act," which was officially introduced as a...Community leader and businessman Ned Fawaz honored in Dearborn
DEARBORN — Arab American entrepreneur Dr. Ned Fawaz was honored at the Islamic Institute of Knowledge (IIOK) on Tuesday, Jan. 28, for his achievements and contributions to the community over the past six decades.Hundreds of community members attended the ceremony, where a host of religious and community leaders and elected...
Actress Scarlet Johansson snubs charity, supports Israeli company in West Bank
January 31st, 20140 LOS ANGELES — Scarlett Johansson is ending her relationship with a humanitarian group after being criticized over her support for an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank. Johannson.A statement released by Johansson's spokesman Wednesday, Jan. 29, said the 29-year-old actress has "a fundamental difference of opinion" with...Three Arab films nominated for Academy Awards
Three Arab films have made their way onto the Academy Awards’ nomination list this year. "The Square," directed by Jehane Noujaim and produced by Karim Amer, was nominated in the Documentary Feature category. This is the first Academy Award nomination for both Noujaim and Amer. Omar.The film depicts a unified front in Egypt...Michigan coalition pushing to get minimum wage increase proposal on Nov. 4 ballot
MICHIGAN — On Monday, a coalition consisting of community, social justice, and labor organizations was formed. It will focus on getting a proposal to appear on the Nov. 4 ballot that would increase the minimum wage statewide. Michigan’s current minimum wage is $7.40 an hour. In a report, Frank Houston, the director of the Restaurant...RNC chairmen ask Dave Agema to resign over controversial remarks about gays and Muslims
MICHIGAN — Both Republican and Democratic public officials are still issuing statements condemning Republican National Committee (RNC) member Dave Agema over the recent controversial remarks he made about the LBGT community and American Muslims. Agema recently questioned whether Muslim Americans have made any positive...Watch out for tax scams as filing season opening nears
With the start of the 2014 tax season approaching on Jan. 31, the Internal Revenue Service urged taxpayers to be aware that tax-related scams using the IRS name proliferate during this time of year. Tax scams can take many forms, with perpetrators posing as the IRS in everything from e-mail refund schemes to phone campaigns. The IRS...Romulus Police Chief’s wife found guilty on several corruption counts
ROMULUS — The wife of former Romulus Police Chief Michael St. Andre was found guilty on several counts. Prosecutors say it is in connection with a probe that unveiled corruption and the misuse of drug forfeiture funds. A Wayne County Circuit Court jury convicted Sandra Vlaz-St. Andre of four crimes. Former Romulus Police......
Three suspects arraigned in connection to Dearborn burglaries
DEARBORN — On Tuesday, Jan. 27, three Detroit residents, Deardis Maddox, Calvin Williams and Diamond Mitchell were arraigned by 19th District Court Judge Mark Somers. Judge Somers set bond their bond at $100,000 cash for each. A preliminary exam is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 7 at 9 a.m.On Sunday Jan. 26, Dearborn police officers...City approves Administrative Center plans, Hemlock splash park
DEARBORN — The second City Council meeting of the year, held on Tuesday, January 29, revealed details of the city's planned move into the Dearborn Administrative Center as well as developments of a plan to park residential vehicles in city parks during snow emergencies.This was the first time all seven city council members sat through......
Edsel Ford High School students show improvements in 11 areas
January 31st, 20140 DEARBORN — Edsel Ford High School has shown growth in 11 out of 12 areas in a replica of the Michigan Merit Exam tests taken in November, director of Compensatory Education and School Improvement Kathleen McBroom told the Dearborn Board of Education on Monday, Jan. 27.Although the November tests are not official, they show academic...55 bodies of mostly black children found near former Florida reform school
TALLAHASSEE (Reuters) — Excavations at a makeshift graveyard near a now-closed reform school in the Florida Panhandle have yielded remains of 55 bodies, almost twice the number official records say are there, the University of South Florida announced on Tuesday, January 28.On a hillside in the rolling, tall-pine forests near the...Hamtramck mural project in need of donations
HAMTRAMCK - The only outdoor mural with an Arab/Muslim theme has been completed. The OneHamtramck Arab Mural at 8762 Jos, Campau, is unique in Michigan because it is a portal of Arab life. The world renowned Chilean muralist, Dasic Fernandez finished up the wall on Dec 7th, 2013 before he returned to Chile. The mural will be...Law corner: You have no business doing business without legal advice
Since becoming an attorney, I have witnessed many real life examples of people getting into business deals without the benefit of legal advice and suffering serious consequences Often, people let their hopes and dreams cloud their judgment. They see what they think is a great opportunity to acquire or start a business and do not......
Upcoming “Stop Test Anxiety” seminars help eliminate worry and boost grades
DEARBORN — Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) will host the “Stop Test Anxiety” seminars on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 18, 25, and March 4, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on each day in Room LRC 117 of the Liberal Arts Building. The seminars are free and open to the public. Students must attend all sessions in order to receive the maximum benefit...Detroit mayor plans to get more taxes by cutting property assessments
DETROIT — With Detroit's revenue from property taxes expected to come in at only $118.4 million in the current fiscal year, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced a plan on Monday to lower property assessments and taxes this summer, with an eye toward boosting home ownership and, ultimately, tax collections.Property taxes for city......
Shared moments of silence, but little progress at Geneva 2 talks
January 30th, 20140 GENEVA - Opposing sides in Syria's civil war stood together in silence to honor victims of the three year conflict on Thursday, Jan. 30, but the week-old peace talks were still stuck on the question of how to proceed with just one day left before they head home.The United States said on Thursday it was concerned that Syria was falling...Yemen extends Hadi’s presidency by one year, approves federal state
SANAA — Political factions in Yemen extended Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's presidency by one more year and approved a new federal system for the country at a national reconciliation conference that ended on Tuesday, Jan. 21, officials said.Hadi, who became head of state in 2012 for a two-year term under a Gulf power transfer deal that saw......
