The Arab American News
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Heights Councilwoman named to county bench
DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Margaret Van Houten of the Dearborn Heights City Council was named to the 3rd Wayne County Circuit Court bench in Detroit on Monday by Gov. Rick Snyder. Van Houten fills the vacancy of Mary Beth Kelly, who was appointed to the state Supreme Court. Van Houten's term ends January 1, 2013, but she will have to run...Investigation launched into Michigan profiling incident
LIVONIA – An investigation will be launched into the actions of a policofficer who pulled over a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent in Livonia who was allegedly threatened with deportation and bodily harm.The ACLU sent a letter on behalf of the man, Tiburcio Briceno, 41, from Grand Rapids who said he was also handcuffed for hours at a...Wife of gas station killer: Husband told her about shooting
DETROIT- Tanganyika Felton, the wife of the man charged with the murder, torture, and robbery of Highland Park gas station clerk Hussan A. Hussein, reportedly testified that her husband told her about the shooting, according to a Detroit Free Press report. Brian Evans, 33 the man charged with killing 59-year-old Hussein, told her...Second bone marrow drive brings out more than 600 potential donors
DEARBORN — The second of two bone marrow drives for local women was held on Sunday, March 25 at Greenfield Manor, with more than 600 people turning out to 'Be the Match' in honor of Hanya Alwerfalli, who is fighting acute leukemia and is in need of a transplant. Her sister Hebah Alwerfalli said that the family was thankful for the...Bridge of Knowledge Radio show hosts fundraiser April 14
LIVONIA — In commemoration of its 15th anniversary, the Bridge of Knowledge Radio Program on WNZK 690 AM will host a fund raising event with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Michigan human service organization 'Gift of Life' and its multicultural outreach programs. The event will be held on April 14 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary...YABA elects new executive committee and board members
DEARBORN — The annual election meeting for the Yemen American Benevolent Association were held on Sunday, March 25, with new executive committee and board members elected by the group. Guests and comments were welcomed by Fahd Saleh, YABA's president, with presentations given by Ali Baleed Almaklani, Adel Nasser Alsoofi, and...Detroit Public Schools open to community as part of March 31 All-Schools Open House
• More than 100 schools open for information, tours from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.• Culturally-diverse schools offer robust ESL programs to serve multilingual learnersDETROIT — This year Detroit Public Schools is offering more choices, earlier than ever, including unique programs for multilingual learners, during a new Open...
Trayvon Martin case: Massive rally held at Detroit’s Hart Plaza
March 27th, 20120 Hart Plaza in Detroit was the site of a massive rally on Monday, March 26 in support of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old black teenager who was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida. The rally was part of several held that included thousands of people at cities from coast-to-coast. In Detroit, hundreds...
Attorney Harb appointed 19th District Magistrate in Dearborn
March 22nd, 20120 DEARBORN– On Wednesday, March 21, it was officially announced that 19th District Chief Judge Richard Wygonik has appointed Dearborn criminal and family law attorney Adel A. Harb to serve as Magistrate for the court.Harb, a 1990 graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, is widely respected family law mediator, arbitrator,...Palestinian hunger striker Shalabi at risk of “imminent death,” hospital transfer reportedly refused
According to Addameer (Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association) and Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHR-I), the Israel Prison Service has refused to transfer Hana al-Shalabi to hospital despite her grave medical situation due to more than a month of hunger strike and immediate risk of death, Electronic Intifida reports...Three men arrested for food stamp fraud; abuse still an ongoing issue in community
DETROIT — Last week three Arab men from the Detroit area were charged with felony counts amounting to $262,000 in food stamp fraud operations at Schaefer Dollar Mania, a store located on Schaefer Rd in the west side of Detroit. This news echoes a story The Arab American News ran last month regarding Food Stamp fraud in the local...Arab Student Union hosting Congressman Kucinich at 7th Annual Banquet in Dearborn
DEARBORN — The Arab Student Union of Michigan-Dearborn has become one of the most active and energized Arab American organizations in Michigan, and the group will host one of the state’s largest student events of the year on March 23. Kucinich (right) visiting war-torn Lebanon following the 2006 bombings by Israel. The ASU...Celebration held in honor of International Women’s Day
Guests enjoy a traditional Arabic dance, the debke. PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab/TAAN DEARBORN- The American Arab Women's Community Network hosted an event for International Women's Day on Sunday, March 11 at Byblos Banquet Hall, punctuated by Arabic orchestra music, singers and awards for deserving honorees.The event celebrated the spirit...Hana Shalabi: The bravest form of nonviolence
No sooner had Khader Adnan ended his 66-day life-threatening hunger strike than new urgent concerns are being voiced for Hana Shalabi, another West Bank hunger striker now without food for more than 24 days. Both strikes were directed by Palestinian activists against the abusive use of administrative detention by Israeli West Bank...How dangerous Is Iran?
According to the doctrine of pre-emptive war, Iran can be attacked based on its alleged desire to develop nuclear weapons, just as Iraq was attacked in 2003. In fact, Congress is currently debating whether a nuclear capability alone (which Brazil, Japan, and many other countries enjoy) could justify the ‘preventive’ attack.I believe......
Palestinian rights retreat to the backburner
JERUSALEM — The latest tit-for-tat confrontation which earlier this week pitted Israel against Islamist factions operating from the Gaza Strip follows a conditioning pattern which highlights the marginalization in the international arena of the Palestinian aspirations to freedom and independence. The parents of a Palestinian militant...Syria in crisis one year later
President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron met to discuss Syria and other issues. PHOTO: ReutersPresident Barack Obama has said the prospect of international military intervention in Syria is premature and could lead to a civil war.Speaking at a White House news conference on Wednesday, Obama said military......
In your face, Chase: Occupy Detroit forecloses on popular bank
March 17th, 20120 DETROIT — At the origin of Detroit’s main boulevard, about 200 people gathered below the Spirit of Detroit statue and set off on a two-block procession to deliver a document to JPMorgan Chase Bank — and it wasn’t a birthday card for chairman and chief executive officer Jamie Dimon.It was something Chase Bank is too...
AIPAC gets the “Occupy” treatment on Capitol Hill
March 17th, 20120 WASHINGTON – The 2012 American Israeli Public Affairs Conference descended upon the United States capital from March 4-6 with the goal of yet again influencing American foreign policy and strengthening ties with politicians in one of the most massive and influential political lobbying ventures of the year, its annual Public Policy...Committee proposes new plan to keep Dearborn pools open
DEARBON — The Outdoors Pool Committee met with Dearborn city officials last week at city hall to discuss plans of maintaining local neighborhood pools in an effort to keep them from closing down. Last year budget cuts resulted in the closing of two local pools, Hemlock and Whitmore Bolles. Despite the mayor’s announcement that no...Crestwood School Board: Extra funds allocated to ESL program
DEARBORN HEIGHTS —The controversy surrounding Crestwood School District’s ESL program is far from over. At a school board meeting Monday Arab Americans continued voicing their concerns about the program, and demanded answers to questions posed at the previous meeting.There’s currently only one certified ESL teacher in the entire......
BP gas station owner plans on reaching out to victim’s family in wake of recent fatal shooting
March 16th, 20120 DETROIT — The owner of a BP gas station that attracted media coverage this week after one of its clerks shot and killed a customer over a dispute about the cost of condoms is reaching out to the victim’s family. Michael Haynes IIThe incident came as a complete surprise to the owner, and is not something he ever imagined happening at...Dearborn appoints fifth Civil Service Commissioner
DEARBORN — The city of Dearborn announced on Thursday that Mohamad I. Chehab has been appointed to Dearborn's Civil Service Commission. The four current commissioners, under the Dearborn City Charter, appointed Chehab.The voluntary board is responsible for setting policies in hiring, promoting and terminating certain city employees.......
Rick Santorum sweeps Mississippi and Alabama in blow for Mitt Romney
Rick Santorum has made a clean sweep of the Deep South primaries, taking Mississippi and Alabama in victories that put pressure on Newt Gingrich to bow out and set up a showdown in Illinois next week with the struggling favourite, Mitt Romney. Republican U.S. presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum gives a thumbs up...Palestinians prepare to lose the solar panels that provide a lifeline
Israel is planning to demolish 'illegal' solar panels that are the only source of electricity for Palestinians in West Bank villagesTwo large solar panels jut out of the barren landscape near Imneizil in the Hebron hills. The high-tech structures sit incongruously alongside the tents and rough stone buildings of the Palestinian village,......