Author's Posts
Biden proposes immigration overhaul with new legislation
February 18th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — After promising sweeping reforms to the country's immigration system, the Biden administration announced a proposed immigration bill on Thursday that would give an eight-year path to citizenship for millions of migrants in the U.S. and fast track citizenship for undocumented individuals who came to the U.S. as...
Israel indicates it may not engage with Biden on Iran nuclear deal
February 16th, 20210 TEL AVIV — The Biden administration and Israel seem to have embarked on an uncertain and rocky relationship, in contrast to what the country's right-wing government enjoyed with former President Trump. More friction arose this week, with Israel throwing cold water on U.S. hopes to engage with the country on the topic of Iran and its...
Cops under investigation for brutal attack on NJ Arab American teen
February 15th, 20212 NEW JERSEY — Arab American Osamah Alsaidi of Paterson, New Jersey is seeking justice after being brutalized by police officers in a seemingly unprovoked attack in December, when he was 19-years-old. At least two officers are now under investigation for the violent incident that left Alsaidi with head trauma and a concussion. The...
New vaccine eligibility: Mortuary services, food processing and agriculture workers
February 15th, 20210 LANSING — The state of Michigan has expanded its COVID-19 vaccine eligibility. Starting immediately, mortuary services workers can get a shot as part of the CDC recommended group 1A. On March 1, workers in food processing and agricultural settings, about 79,000 Michiganders, will be able to get vaccinations. Additionally, 41...
Audit shows accuracy of presidential election in Michigan
February 12th, 20211 LANSING — After months of accusations about widespread voter fraud in Michigan, results of an audit exercise to determine the accuracy of the results of the November presidential election give a clearer picture. A hand count of more than 18,000 ballots randomly selected throughout the state affirms the electoral victory of...
Toni Breidinger: First Arab American female driver to compete at NASCAR
February 12th, 20211 NORTH CAROLINA — Toni Breidinger, 21, a rising star in the car racing world, is set to become the first Arab American female driver to compete in a NASCAR national series. Breidinger, who is also a successful model, hails from the Bay Area in California. Her mother was born in Beirut and Breidinger currently has family in...
No phone call: Some speculate Netanyahu “ghosted” by Biden
February 12th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Though it took former President Trump a mere two days after his inauguration to call Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, President Biden is yet to do so. Biden has called many world leaders in the first three weeks of his presidency, including leaders of Russia, China, France, Japan and more. Israeli diplomats and...
“He can do this again”: Conviction remains uphill battle in Trump impeachment
February 12th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, Democratic impeachment managers urged Republican Senators to see the danger of a possible second election run by Donald Trump, in the historic second impeachment trial of the former president. Through three days of the ongoing trial, Democrats have run patched-together video evidence to make the case...
Census bureau admits problems arose in 2020 count, but confident in data quality
February 10th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Census Bureau Acting Director Dr. Ron Jarmin recently issued an update about last year’s census count. The update is on the quality of the data procured in the census count. “We cannot (analyze the quality of our data) in detail until we complete the Post-Enumeration Survey later this year,” he said...
Caught on hot mic, Shirkey walks back apology for calling Capitol riot a “hoax”
February 10th, 20210 LANSING — Michigan GOP leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) says he doesn't take back earlier disturbing comments, just a day after he made a statement apologizing for those comments, including disturbing threats of violence against Governor Whitmer, continued efforts to encourage militia groups in the midst of a global pandemic and...
Travelers could be fined $1,500 or more for violating mask order
February 9th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says travelers who violate President Biden’s latest mask order for domestic and international travel could be charged $1,500 or more. The TSA recently made an update to its original bulletin regarding Biden’s executive order on promoting COVID-19 safety in...
Dems point to “overwhelming” evidence of Trump’s misconduct ahead of impeachment trial
February 8th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a preview of what could be expected during the second impeachment trial of former President Trump, House impeachment mangers said there was “overwhelming” evidence of misconduct by Trump that led the deadly events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. "The evidence of President Trump's conduct is overwhelming,"...
Lebanese filmmaker and Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim shot dead
February 5th, 20210 BEIRUT — Activist, publisher and filmaker Lokman Slim was found dead in a car in Southern Lebanon on Thursday. Slim died from four bullets in the head and one in the back. Slim’s sister Rasha al-Ameer suggested he had been murdered because of his ardent criticism of Shi’a Hezbollah. He was last seen after visiting a poet...
Tom Tafelski and Jim Parrelly join Dearborn mayoral race
February 5th, 20210 DEARBORN — Former City Council President Tom Tafelski and financial advisor Jim Parrelly have entered the race for Dearborn mayor, both announcing their intent to run in recent days. The Dearborn City Clerk’s Office told The Arab American News on Thursday that only Dearborn School Board member Hussein Berry, former Wayne County...
Biden seeks to raise refugee cap to 125,000
February 4th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, President Biden said he seeks to raise the annual refugee cap to 125,000, an increase that will take place in the beginning of October. Biden made the announcement during a speech at the U.S. State Department. Biden also said he would approve an executive order that would restore the U.S. refugee......
Lebanese American becomes exec. vice president at Universal Music Group
February 4th, 20210 SANTA MONICA — Lebanese American Will Tanous has gained a prominent promotion in the world’s largest music company, Universal Music Group (UMG). The company announced this week that Tanous will be serving as its executive vice president and chief administrative officer. Through its labels and subsidiaries, UMG manages the...
In retaliation for conspiracy-theorist Greene, some Republicans want Omar removed from committees
February 3rd, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — As House Democrats sought to strip Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) of her committee assignments over a series of racist remarks and promotion of wild conspiracy theories, some Republicans decided to retaliate. House Republican lawmakers attempted to strip U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her committee......
DHS: Undocumented immigrants will not be targeted at vaccination sites
February 3rd, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said this week that federal COVID-19 vaccine sites will be off limits to enforcement actions, such as arrests for deportation. The department and its federal partners have vowed to keep the vaccine sites run by the federal government accessible to undocumented...
Tuition-free community college degrees offered to more Michigan adults
February 2nd, 20210 LANSING — The Michigan legislature and Governor Whitmer have launch a $30 million program to cover tuition costs for adults seeking associate's degrees or a skills certificates at their community college. The program makes 4.1 million Michiganders who are 25-year-old and older and do not have a college degree eligible to earn a...
Over 1 million vaccines administered in Michigan
February 1st, 20210 MICHIGAN — The state of Michigan has now administered just over 1 million COVID-19 vaccines, though many eligible people are still waiting on their first shots, officials announced on Monday. The number makes the state seventh in the nation for vaccine distribution. Governor Whitmer announced Monday that she is again calling on...
Former County Commissioner Gary Woronchak announces candidacy for Dearborn mayor
February 1st, 20210 DEARBORN — Former State Rep. and Wayne County Commission chairman Gary Woronchak has officially put his name in the running for Dearborn mayor. Woronchak announced he had filed documents for his candidacy on Monday, Feb. 1, joining State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn), Dearborn Council President Susan Dabaja and Dearborn School......
U of M doctor brings cystic fibrosis awareness to Egypt
January 31st, 20210 ANN ARBOR — Doctors in Egypt weren’t aware of the prevalence of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) in their country until the efforts of a University of Michigan professor brought the disease to light. CF is genetic disease that causes chronic and fatal lung infections and interferes with digestion. Doctors have been testing newborns for CF...
Wayne County has received fewer doses than less-populated counties
January 31st, 20210 WAYNE COUNTY — Wayne County Executive Warren Evans met with state officials and Governor Whitmer’s staff to discuss a problem with equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Wayne County, one of the epicenters of the virus in the state, has been receiving fewer doses of the vaccines than less populous counties. County officials......
Local educator and herbalist promotes healthier choices in the community
January 30th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A Dearborn Heights health and nutrition educator and herbalist is promoting healthy living through education, and offering a popular herbal health product line. Glenda Saad is a science educator who has conducted intensive research in the natural properties of herbs and other natural ingredients towards disease...
Community agency continues ramped-up food distribution efforts
January 29th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A community agency’s ramped-up efforts to bring much needed food and resources to those in need shows just how economically damaging the COVID-19 pandemic has been to Metro Detroit families. The Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency has partnered with Wayne County to fill in the gaps for county residents......
