The Arab American News Staff
Author's Posts
ACCESS names Lina Hourani-Harajli as its next president and CEO as Maha Freij announces her retirement
July 17th, 20260 DEARBORN — ACCESS President and CEO Maha Freij will retire this fall after more than 35 years of service to the nation's largest Arab American nonprofit organization, marking the end of an era that helped transform ACCESS into a nationally recognized institution. The ACCESS Board of Directors announced that it has unanimously...
Poll: Majority of Michiganders support lowering legal blood alcohol content limit for drivers
July 10th, 20260 A survey conducted by EPIC-MRA says Michiganders support lowering the legal blood alcohol content limit for adult drivers from 0.08 to 0.05. The survey, sponsored by 0.5 Saves Lives, an advocacy group that seeks to reform blood alcohol content standards for drivers, found that 52 percent of people strongly supported the change and 16...
AAPAC announces endorsements in competitive State Senate races
July 3rd, 20260 The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) has announced an extensive slate of endorsements for the Aug. 4 Democratic primary election, backing candidates for the state legislature, local judicial offices and ballot proposals that the organization says reflect its commitment to effective leadership, public service and policies...
189 members of Congress follow Tlaib’s lead to block unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Lebanon
July 3rd, 20260 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) that sought to limit President Trump's authority to involve American forces in military hostilities in Lebanon without explicit congressional approval. The revised War Powers Resolution failed by a...
LARA announces seizure of more than 17,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and explosives
June 27th, 20260 LANSING – The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), through its Bureau of Fire Services (BFS) and the state fire marshal, partnered with local public safety agencies to seize more than 17,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and explosive materials during a coordinated multi-phase investigation. The investigation...
Dearborn Heights bans e-bikes on city property following safety review
June 12th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The City Council has unanimously approved a resolution banning the operation of electric bicycles (e-bikes) on all city-owned property, citing growing safety concerns and findings from a recent traffic safety study conducted by Police Chief Michael R. Guzowski. The ban took effect immediately and applies to city...
Mayor Baydoun appoints Phil Hall as Dearborn Heights fire chief
June 12th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mayor Mo Baydoun has appointed longtime firefighter and public safety leader Phil Hall as the new chief of the Dearborn Heights Fire Department, effective June 2, following the retirement of Chief David Brogan on June 1. Hall, a nearly 20-year veteran of the department, becomes the city's top fire official after...
What Dearborn and Dearborn Heights voters need to know before the Aug. 4 primary
June 12th, 20260 Voters across Michigan, including those in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, will head to the polls on Aug. 4 for the state's primary election, choosing party nominees for a number of high-profile executive and legislative offices while also deciding several local tax proposals and countywide ballot measures. The primary will determine...
Major I-94 interchange closure begins as Restore 94 project enters new phase
June 12th, 20260 The massive Restore 94 reconstruction project entered a new phase this week as crews closed all entrance and exit ramps connecting Interstate 94 and the Southfield Freeway, a major traffic interchange serving western Wayne County. The closures, which began Monday, are expected to remain in place for nearly a year, affecting motorists...
Judge rejects lawsuit seeking to remove Wayne County transit millage from August ballot
June 5th, 20260 DETROIT — A lawsuit seeking to block a proposed property tax millage for public transportation in Wayne County suffered a major setback last week after a Wayne County Circuit Court judge refused to remove the measure from the ballot for the Aug. 4 election. The ruling by Judge Kathleen McCarthy dealt a blow to the efforts of a citizen...
Wayne County treasurer urges property owners to file claims for surplus foreclosure auction proceeds
May 29th, 20260 DETROIT — Wayne County officials are urging residents whose properties were foreclosed for unpaid taxes in 2026 to take immediate action if they wish to claim any surplus funds generated from future auction sales of those properties. According to information released by the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office, individuals who owned or...
Whitmer rules out 2028 presidential run, plans to take time after leaving office
May 29th, 20260 MACKINAC ISLAND — Gov. Whitmer has ruled out a run for president in 2028, seeking to put to rest years of speculation that she could become a leading contender for the Democratic nomination once her second term as governor concludes. Speaking during an interview with Fox 2 Detroit on the sidelines of the annual Mackinac Policy...
Trump softens tone toward Iran as negotiations gain momentum
May 22nd, 20260 Since returning from China, President Trump has gradually adopted a noticeably softer tone toward Iran, tempering his rhetoric day after day while still keeping military threats as an option on the table. Only days earlier, Trump claimed he had been “one hour away” from authorizing renewed military strikes against the Islamic...
The ACRL appoints Houda Berri-Harajli as executive director amid growing civil rights challenges
May 22nd, 20260 DETROIT — The Arab American Civil Rights League has officially appointed Houda Berri-Harajli as its new executive director, marking a major leadership transition for one of the nation’s most prominent Arab American civil rights organizations. The appointment comes at a critical moment for Arab American and Muslim communities across...
Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ends independent bid for governor
May 22nd, 20260 DETROIT — In a surprise move that significantly reshapes Michigan’s 2026 gubernatorial race, former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced Thursday that he is ending his independent campaign for governor. The decision, which came amid mounting questions about the viability of his candidacy, was welcomed by many Democrats who feared......
State Department targets parents with delinquent child support, revoking their passports
May 15th, 20260 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of State announced during the month of May that it will begin revoking the passports of American citizens whose unpaid child support obligations exceed $2,500, in a move aimed at strengthening child support enforcement and ensuring parents meet their financial responsibilities toward their...
Fay Beydoun pleads not guilty to 16 felony charges in $20 million state grant case
May 8th, 20260 FARMINGTON HILLS — Arab American businesswoman Fay Beydoun appeared Wednesday before the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills, where she was formally charged with 16 felony counts by the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, including conducting a criminal enterprise, embezzlement and submitting fraudulent financial......
Michigan diesel prices top $6 a gallon amid Hormuz crisis
May 8th, 20260 DEARBORN — Amid ongoing production disruptions and rising energy costs tied to the Iran crisis and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the average price of diesel fuel in Michigan surpassed $6 per gallon last Sunday, reaching the highest level ever recorded in data tracked by the AAA. Although diesel prices later dipped...
End of an era: Spirit Airlines ceases all flights, files for liquidation
May 8th, 20260 FORT LAUDERDALE — Spirit Airlines announced Sunday that it has ceased operations entirely after failing to secure a proposed $500 million federal rescue package, bringing an end to one of the most recognizable low-cost airlines in the United States. Its parent company, Spirit Aviation Holdings, confirmed that it has begun implementing...
Trump extends Iran truce as Lebanon remains in “no war, no peace” state
April 24th, 20260 As a fragile ceasefire continues to hold across multiple Middle East fronts, developments over the past week revealed a clear reluctance by President Trump to return to full-scale war with Iran. Speaking from the White House on Thursday, Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire in Lebanon, just two days after unilaterally...
Senate vote reveals growing divide in U.S. support for Israel
April 17th, 20260 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A closely watched vote in the U.S. Senate this week to block military aid to Israel has failed — but the outcome is being widely viewed as a turning point that exposes deepening divisions in American political support for Israel. The resolutions, introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, sought to halt the transfer of......
Wayne County voters to decide on SMART transit tax in August election
April 17th, 20261 DETROIT — Voters across Wayne County will head to the polls in the August 4 primary election to decide on a new tax proposal aimed at funding countywide public transportation. If approved, the ballot measure would impose a uniform property tax on all residential and commercial properties across the county’s 43 cities and townships...
“Results, not promises”: Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun highlights 100-day achievements of his administration
April 17th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On Monday, during a town hall meeting with residents under the theme “Results, Not Promises”, Mayor Mo Baydoun presented a comprehensive overview of his administration’s first 100 days, highlighting significant progress across public safety, infrastructure, economic development, technology modernization and......
Faith vs. Force: Trump–Pope Leo feud escalates over Iran conflict
April 17th, 20260 A rare and escalating confrontation between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV has exposed deep global divisions over the ongoing war on Iran, placing political power and moral authority on a direct collision course. At the center of the dispute is a fundamental disagreement over war, diplomacy and the role of religion in global...
10-day ceasefire, wider conflict: From Beirut to Hormuz, war deepens
April 17th, 20260 A fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect Thursday evening, offering a temporary halt to more than a month of devastating war between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, even as the broader U.S.–Israel confrontation with Iran continues to expand militarily, diplomatically and economically across multiple fronts. The......
