The Arab American News
Author's Posts
Wayne County’s “NEW ME” program holding Multicultural Obesity Conference July 13
DETROIT — After kicking off its new initiative to fight what's being called an "obesity epidemic" earlier this year at Fordson High School in Dearborn, the Wayne County NEW ME program will hold its first-ever Multicultural Obesity Conference from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 at Ford Field, the state-of-the-art football...West Detroit station owner warns others about gas-stealing scheme
DETROIT – A local gas station owner is warning his peers about a new gas-stealing scheme that has already robbed his business of about $45,000.Mohamed Jaber of the Fill & Go station at Schaefer and Jeffries on Detroit's west side said that thieves have been siphoning gas from underground tanks into an unmarked Ford Econoline white...Yemen continues to inspire against great odds
The Yemeni people are unrelenting in their demands for democracy. Millions continue to stage rallies across their country in a display of will that is proving the most robust out of all the Arab revolutions. The Yemenis face great challenges, however, including the political vacillation of their country's opposition, and the U.S.'s...Ben Ali gets 15 years in jail over drugs, weapons charges
TUNIS - A Tunis court on Monday sentenced ousted Tunisian president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in his absence to 15 years in jail for possession of arms, drugs and archaeological artifacts.In his second trial since fleeing to Saudi Arabia following a popular uprising in January, Ben Ali was also given a fine of 54,000 euros (78,500...Michigan home foreclosure protections extended by new bill
LANSING – Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley has signed a bill that will extend key home foreclosure protections in a unique move.Typically, the governor signs bills into law, but Snyder was out-of-state at a wedding last week and wanted to make sure that it would be signed before the protections expired on Tuesday.The new law creates...
Skepticism clouds national dialogue in Bahrain
July 8th, 20110 WASHINGTON — As Bahrain's government launches its much-touted "national dialogue" with members of civil society, experts here are expressing skepticism that it will defuse growing tensions in the strategically located Gulf kingdom, let alone promote genuine reform.Strongly supported by the administration of President Barack Obama,...Detroit budget agreement reached; Bing warns of more layoffs and cuts
DETROIT – After a 7-2 vote, the city council and Mayor Dave Bing reached a budget agreement on Thursday as time wound down on the current fiscal year. Services such as police, fire, the People Mover transportation system and others were kept but Bing has warned that more cuts and layoffs will happen. The city council earlier...Ice cream truck workers apologize for park scare in Dearborn
DEARBORN – Two recent college graduates visited the city's police station last Friday to apologize for any scare they may have caused by documenting their first summer job in an ice cream truck with a camera.The man and woman, both in their 20's, had approached several children at a city park while filming. No charges have been filed ...Iraqi children bear brunt of wars, international sanctions
BAGHDAD — Decades of war and international sanctions have turned Iraq into one of the worst places for children in the Middle East and North Africa, with around 3.5 million living in poverty, 1.5 million under the age of five undernourished and 100 infants dying every day, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warns.The government can and...
Syrian opposition bitterly divided on engagement with Assad regime
July 8th, 20110 WASHINGTON (IPS) — Despite countless attempts by the Bashar al-Assad regime to subdue the sporadic protests that have appeared across Syria since February, the demonstrations have consistently grown in both size and intensity.Last week, a march in the town of Hama may have attracted over 100,000 protesters, quite likely the largest...Michigan cancels Tuesday, Wednesday prison visits
JACKSON – Prisoner visitations for Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be cut in a move that is expected to save the Michigan Department of Corrections millions. The new schedule went into effect on June 13 according to officials and will eliminate the need for extra staffing. Some have questioned the move saying it further isolates...
Nasrallah: Justice in Hariri case key to sustained stability
July 8th, 20110 BEIRUT — Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Tuesday that serving justice into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was the way to stability in Lebanon, reiterating Hizbullah’s rejection of accusations that some of its members was involved in the killing. “We do not accept abandoning justice for...
Frustrated Egyptians return to Tahrir Square to claim their rights, protect revolution
July 8th, 20110 Egyptian youth to military rulers: we want real cleansing, real trials, real governmentCAIRO — Five months after the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians are being asked to return to the streets for new mass protests amid frustration over the military rulers' handling of a promised transition to democracy.Hailed...MLHS report: Michigan unemployment down but food stamps up
LANSING - A report entitled "Economic Security Bulletin" was released last week showing that the Michigan unemployment rate is dropping in 82 of 83 counties comparing the 2010 first quarter with the 2011 first quarter. The lone county that did not show a drop was Ontonagon in the Upper Peninsula. But the report also shows that every...Smoking ban begins on UM-Dearborn campus
DEARBORN – The campus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, along with the Flint and Ann Arbor campuses, implemented a smoking ban on Friday after years of careful study. Cars will now be the only place smoking is allowed on the premises as smoking will be banned in parking lots, courtyards, and other areas. Similar......
Family and youth workshop to be held at Islamic House of Wisdom
DEARBORN — On July 16th, the Islamic House of Wisdom in collaboration with local mosques and organizations, will hold a one day workshop to tackle family and youth issues that impact the local Muslim community.The workshop will run from 1:30 pm until 7:00 pm and will feature distinguished speakers and activists from the local...Deadline for voter registration is July 5
LANSING – The office of new Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is reminding potential voters that the deadline to register is Tuesday, July 5 in order to vote in the upcoming Aug. 2 primary election.Polls on Election Day will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; applicants must be 18 years old by Election Day and be U.S. citizens. They......
Boxer Al-Mashadi continues Kronk’s championship tradition
DETROIT – The world-famous Kronk boxing gym is known for its many champions including heavyweights like Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and more. The 9-year-old boxing prodigy has already won two national tournament championships. But the gym's latest champion comes in a much smaller size. Husam Al Mashadi, age 9, who trains at Kronk,...MPAC honors voices of courage and conscience at 20th Media Awards Gala
LOS ANGELES — Before a full house last weekend, the Muslim Public Affairs Council honored acclaimed actress Hiam Abbass for her portrayal of Hind al-Husseini in the film "Miral," the thought-provoking legal drama "The Good Wife," and the poignant documentary "Fordson." In a night filled with celebration and emotional moments, the...Immigrant rights advocates applaud decision to delay vote on E-Verify bills
LANSING — Recently Michigan State Rep. Wayne Schmidt, Chairman of the House Commerce Committee, reversed his plan to put both House Bills 4024 and 4026 to a vote and placed them on hold until the fall. Both bills require state contractors and temporary staffing companies to use the federal E-Verify system when hiring workers...Metro Detroit Youth Day set for July 13 on Belle Isle
DETROIT — One of the highlights of summer for more than 37,000 youngsters from the Metro Detroit area is the annual Metro Detroit Youth Day (MDYD). This year (2011) the colorful event for children will celebrate its 29th anniversary on July 13. It is the largest youth event in Michigan. Ed Deeb: "Metro Detroit Youth Day is......
New peace flotilla to Gaza: A voyage of audacious hope
ATHENS, Greece — Later this week, I will be on board a ship named The Audacity of Hope, bound for Gaza along with 50 other Americans. Part of an international flotilla of about 10 vessels from a variety of countries, my fellow passengers and I will be unarmed. Our only cargo is thousands of letters to the people of Gaza from...Targeting minorities: The “black” drug that isn’t
SAN FRANCISCO — Ethnic Americans — whether black, Hispanic, Asian or members of other groups — face different and usually more serious health risks than our majority-group compatriots. We face higher rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, as well as greater difficulty in accessing the U.S. healthcare system to get needed......
National dialogue set to begin in Bahrain
MANAMA — Bahrain on Monday announced a high-ranging "national dialogue" opening on July 2, although the largest Shi'a opposition bloc said it has not yet decided whether to take part."The National Dialogue chairmanship has received views and recommendations" on parliament, the cabinet, electoral districts, citizenship, corruption and...Iran fires medium-range missile in war game
TEHRAN - Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards fired 14 missiles in an exercise Tuesday, one of them a medium-range weapon capable of striking Israel or U.S. targets in the Gulf, state media said.The Guards' aerospace commander, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, insisted Iran's missile program posed no threat to European nations but was......
