The Arab American News
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New Lebanese Consul General assumes responsibility in Detroit
June 8th, 20120 DETROIT - Mr. Bilal Kabalan was appointed by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry as the new Consul General of Lebanon to head the Lebanese mission in Detroit. Mr. Kabalan will succeed Mr. Houssam Diab who was appointed to the same position as an Acting Consul General in February 2011. Mr. Diab will move to his new post in Muscat as the...
U.S. Muslims sue to stop NYPD spying program
June 8th, 20120 Eight American Muslims have filed a federal lawsuit to put an end to a post-9/11 surveillance program run by the New York Police Department. The lawsuit follows a New Jersey Attorney General probe saying the NYPD had done nothing wrong. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Newark Wednesday by Muslim Advocates, a group who has taken...
Federal judge bans Obama from indefinitely detaining Americans
June 8th, 20120 NEW YORK — A U.S. Federal judge has clarified a decision made last month confirming that the White House cannot use the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to indefinitely detain American citizens. Judge Katherine B. Forrest has answered a request made by President Barack Obama last month to more carefully explain a May 16...
State Rep. Santana seeks reelection, promises passion in public service
June 8th, 20120 In many ways, Democratic State Rep. Harvey Santana who represents Michigan's 10th House District is not your typical politician. The duties he performs on a daily basis aren't generally what most people serving on the state legislature find themselves doing. Representative Harvey Santana-D, Detroit, appearing on Off the Record...
State officials and locals crack down on synthetic marijuana
June 8th, 20120 LANSING - Synthetic marijuana branded with names like K2 and Spice has recently come under fire in the state of Michigan as more teens have been smoking the drug-like substances which has led to negative side effects that have included death, hospitalizations and even murder. Local communities and state legislators are quickly coming...
Romney leads in Michigan according to new poll
June 7th, 20120 LANSING — A new poll released by Epic-MRA, based in Lansing has found that Mitt Romney is leading Michigan for the Presidential race against Barack Obama. According to the poll, Romney leads Obmama 46-45 percent respectively. In April, that same poll had Obama leading 47-43 percent. The poll demonstrates that middle class tax...Calls for jihad split Salafist movement
AMMAN — The Arab Spring brought a host of new actors to the political stage. In Jordan, it pushed the Salafists to the fore, where some of the group's more radical elements are now calling for holy war in neighboring Syria.The Jordanian regime is growing increasingly concerned about the possible spillover effects of violence in Syria,...Dearborn Heights budget: Don’t candy coat it — act on it
For those following the 2012 – 2013 budget deliberation in Dearborn Heights you know I am in disagreement with the approach the administration is taking toward our budgetary issues. The budget is heavily dependent upon revenues generated from tickets written by police, early retirements and a four day work week. In my...Cuts made in Dearborn 2013 fiscal budget
DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council has approved the budget for the 2013 fiscal years, bringing with it some notable changes. Among them include staff cuts, milage increases, capital improvement cuts as well as health care changes.Among the staff cut from the $105 million budget include an executive secretary from the 19th district...Annual Chaldean Festival this weekend in Southfield
The 7th Annual Chaldean Festival will be held June 8-10 in Southfield, in front of City Hall on Evergreen Road. The festival is an exciting and fun-filled event for families. There's food, live entertainment, games, a full carnival and traditional Chaldean dancing. Several merchant tents will be set-up from various businesses in...Strategic Staffing Solutions and FOX 2 settle lawsuit
Strategic Staffing Solutions, Inc., (S3) the Detroit-based global information, technology and business services company, said Wednesday it has resolved its lawsuit against FOX 2. The local television station has agreed to permanently remove from its website the report that prompted the lawsuit. In addition, FOX 2 has agreed to have...List of words released that the government monitors on social media sites
After a failed FOIA request and a lawsuit, the Department of Homeland Security finally released a list of words that it uses to monitor online media and social networking sites. Some words are understandably listed, and include Al Qaeda, assassination and attack, but others are more simple such as agriculture, San Diego and smart....AFPD to host reception for Governor
The Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers is hosting a reception for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder at its headquarters in West Bloomfield, 5779 West Maple Road from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday June 11. Seating for the event is limited, and registration is required. General reception admission is $500, and if you are interested in a VIP...Schools hold fundraisers in support of Cipriano family
DEARBORN — Two separate fundraisers will be held in June to raise money for the Cipriano family. In April, Dearborn Public School Administrator, Robert Cipriano was brutally beaten with a baseball bat by his son Tucker Cipriano. Two other family members were severely injured in the attack. The motive behind the attack was allegedly to...Arizona State University students divest from Israel
TEMPE, AZ - The student body Arizona State University has become the latest Western institution to back divestment from companies involved with the Israeli army. Arizona State University's student union unanimously passed a bill demanding the university divest from and blacklist companies that continue to provide the Israeli army with......
Rima Fakih to appear on FOX dating show
Former Miss USA winner Rima Fakih is scheduled to appear on the FOX dating show, "The Choice," which premiers on the network Thursday, June 7.In a similar concept to NBC's singing competition show "The Voice," the show takes four celebrities with their backs turned to the stage and gives them the option to press their button if they like...Wayne County Commission officially reprimands Ficano
The Wayne County Commission officially reprimanded Robert Ficano June 7, holding him accountable for what they believe is corruption on his behalf. The censure was passed by a vote of 14-1. Commissioner Laura Cox voted no in protest that the motion was not severe enough. The resolution originally called for Ficano to resign,......
Local pregnant woman arrested for drunk driving with infant in vehicle after crash
Rania HiijaziSOUTHFIELD — Rania Hiijazi, a local woman who is eight months pregnant was arrested for being intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle with her 10-month-old baby in the car as well.According to reports, Hijazi, 37 was arrested by Southfield Police after she crashed her vehicle into a street sign on Southfield Road near...Diane Webb receives support of community leaders in re-election campaign
Wayne County Commissioner Diane Webb, who has officially launched her re-election campaign to continue representing the citizens of Dearborn Heights and Redford Township on the Wayne County Commission, has received the endorsements of the chief elected officials in both communities. Webb is being challenged by Democratic State...Romney: Going negative, subtly
Republican presidential challenger, Mitt Romney was given credit last week for refusing to endorse a proposed ad campaign that sought to link President Barack Obama with the controversial sermons delivered by his former pastor Jeremiah Wright. In doing so, Romney appeared to be demonstrating the same streak of decency that wouldn't allow...Israel, not Iran, feels isolated
JERUSALEM — As a result of the diplomatic momentum geared to disarm international suspicions over the explosive issue of Iran’s nuclear program, the one country not directly party to the two-track negotiation process feels more isolated than Iran. Iran nuclear talks in Baghdad on May 23, 2012. Following the putative breakthrough......
Nine years after Saddam’s fall: Human rights in Iraq still face ‘serious problems’
BAGHDAD — Iraq still has "serious problems" in terms of human rights and the situation remains fragile, despite authorities voicing support for addressing shortcomings, a UN report released on Wednesday said. The document expressed concern over the still-high level of civilian casualties, arbitrary arrests and prolonged detentions,...Egypt: Brotherhood marches on toward presidency
CAIRO - Results of the first post-Mubarak presidential election last week have left most Egyptians stunned, with Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi coming in first and Ahmed Shafiq - ousted president Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister - coming in a close second. The two are now slated to face off in a hotly-contested runoff vote......
U.S. hawks push for arming Syrian rebels
Clinton defuses military intervention talk on Syria U.S. Senator John McCain (L) speaks as Senator Joseph Lieberman (R) looks on during a press conferences at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 31, 2012. U.S. hawkish senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman said Thursday it was time to arm Syria's rebels in the wake of last week's Houla...
Houla Massacre deepens Syrian crisis, diplomatic divisions
June 1st, 20120 Europe talks of intervention while Russia and China firmly oppose itKillings ignite diplomatic frenzy against Syrian government A mass burial for the victims took place in Houla.UN monitors in Syria have confirmed that a horrific massacre in the village of Houla has left at least 116 people dead and 300 more injured, including......
