The Arab American News Staff
Author's Posts
Dearborn wrestling coach charged with child sexually abusive activity
June 19th, 20220 DEARBORN – Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Dearborn Divine Child wrestling coach Brandon Phillip Fenzel, 24, of White Lake, in connection with soliciting photographs of a sexually explicit nature from a 15-year-old male student. Fenzel has been charged with four counts of "child sexually abusive activity" and four counts of "using...
Biden to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel amid a backdrop of the two nations’ terrible human rights record
June 17th, 20220 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House confirmed dates and some details on President Biden’s July trip to the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, amid concerns over the human rights records of both countries. Human rights advocates are critical of Biden’s July 13-16 trip, which will include a meeting with the...
Man who committed armed robbery in Dearborn hotel, murder in Detroit, targeted LGBTQ+ community
June 7th, 20220 DEARBORN — On Monday, Diabolique Paris Johnson, 35, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to charges of second degree murder, felony firearm and armed robbery for a string of crimes he committed in Dearborn and Detroit in 2020. Due to the nature of the crimes and the victims involved, state and Wayne County officials alleged the man had...
Muslim family intentionally given bacon by McDonald’s employee files discrimination complaint
June 2nd, 20222 CHICOPEE, MASS — A Muslim woman in Massachusetts has filed a legal complaint against a McDonald’s restaurant whose employees purposefully stuffed bacon into a fish sandwich she and her son bought. "McDonald's made my children and me feel unwanted and worthless by intentionally stuffing a fish sandwich full of bacon for no other...
Police rule out drugs, alcohol in hit-and-run crash that killed 12-year-old Dearborn girl on Belle Isle; sister is in critical condition
June 1st, 20220 DEARBORN — The 16-year-old sister of 12-year-old Ghadir Saleh, who was tragically killed on Belle Isle on Monday from a hit-and-run crash, was in critical condition and required surgery, as of Wednesday evening. A member of the girl’s family told The Arab American News that she had been responsive, but had been undergoing careful...
Police waited an hour outside Texas school, restraining parents, before tactical team took out gunman
May 27th, 20220 UVALDE, TEXAS — New details emerged this week about a horrific Texas school massacre that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Videos from Tuesday’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde show desperate parents outside pleading with officers to storm the building, and some fathers restrained by police brandishing...
Five Republican candidates, including James Craig, kicked off the ballot for invalid signatures
May 27th, 20221 LANSING — The state’s election bureau has said five Republican candidates for Michigan governor, including two top contenders, should not qualify for the August primary due to insufficient valid nomination signatures. The Michigan Bureau of Elections, which is a part of the Democrat-led Secretary of State office, said earlier...
Ohio man charged in foiled plot to kill former President George W. Bush
May 27th, 20220 An Iraqi asylum seeker living in Ohio was arrested and charged by federal authorities for aiding and abetting a failed plot to assassinate former President George W. Bush. According to authorities, Shihab Ahmed Shihab, 52, told an FBI informant in November that he wanted to target Bush because he was “responsible for killing many...
Nine cases of monkeypox confirmed in seven states
May 26th, 20220 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) said it has identified nine monkeypox cases in seven states across the country as of Wednesday. Symptoms include fever and a distinctive bumpy rash. Cases were confirmed in Massachusetts, Florida, Utah, Washington, California, Virginia and New York. As of...
Michigan friends and families of future students can enter them into $15,000 tuition giveaway
May 26th, 20220 LANSING — The state is giving away 100 tuition prizes to children in a random statewide drawing that family and friends can enter students into. The prepaid tuition prize is worth $15,000 and is in celebration of the Michigan Education Trust’s (MET) 35-year anniversary. Governor Whitmer announced the launch of the MET 35th...
Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington grabs big local endorsements at campaign events
May 20th, 20220 DETROIT/DEARBORN — Wayne County Sheriff Raphael “Ray” Washington received major endorsements at a rally on Tuesday, as he runs to retain his position in this August’s primary election. The endorsement rally took place at the Union Carpenters and Millwrights Skilled Training Center on the city’s west side, a 147,000 square...
Federal commission finds that employer discriminated against Michigan woman fired during Ramadan
May 19th, 20220 FARMINGTON HILLS — The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says a Michigan woman faced religious discrimination during Ramadan in 2019 when she was fired from her job for asking for reasonable accommodations. The woman had filed a federal complaint against her employer alleging she faced religious and gender...
U.S. House passes Tlaib’s bill to rename Grand River post office after Rosa Parks
May 19th, 20220 DETROIT — The U.S. House has passed U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s (D-Detroit) bill to rename the post office on Grand River Avenue in Detroit after Rosa Parks. The civil rights icon lived in Detroit for nearly 50 years and is adored in the 13th Congressional District Tlaib currently represents, and beyond. Tlaib introduced the...
Dearborn Police ask community to celebrate weddings safely after burnout incident on residential street
May 13th, 20220 DEARBORN — As the weather warms up, the Dearborn Police Department is urging residents to celebrate weddings safely and to avoid incidents like the one that occurred on Saturday, May 7. Video captured by a neighbor's doorbell camera showed cars performing burnouts, a practice of keeping a vehicle in place while spinning its...
Dingell announces more than $2M in federal funding for U of M to research drug abuse and addiction
May 13th, 20221 ANN ARBOR — U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) announced that the University of Michigan will receive a $2,291,835 research grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to continue research on substance abuse, to help combat the nation's opioid crisis. “This critical funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse will......
Seeking change, Lebanese living abroad cast 142,000 ballots for May 15 parliamentary elections
May 10th, 20220 Lebanese living abroad cast 142,041 ballots for parliamentary elections on Friday and Sunday, many backing political newcomers after the worst crisis since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war led to widespread poverty and a wave of emigration. Only 225,277 Lebanese living overseas were eligible to participate in the elections in more than 50...
Dearborn resident sentenced to 33 months in $500,000 investment fraud scheme
May 6th, 20220 DETROIT – Dearborn resident Ali Rameh Bazzi was sentenced to 33 months in prison on Wednesday on charges of wire fraud and money laundering arising out of an approximately $500,000 investment fraud scheme. In addition to the 33 months of imprisonment, Bazzi was ordered to pay $441,231 in restitution to his victims. Bazzi was......
State election officials say voters should hand-deliver absentee ballots in final week before May 3
April 26th, 20220 Michigan's elections officials are encouraging voters to hand-deliver their absentee ballots to their local clerk’s office or ballot drop box, in the week leading up to the May 3 elections Several Michigan communities, including Dearborn, are holding elections next Tuesday. Absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election...
Dearborn Police arrest man in Grand Rapids area for soliciting Dearborn minor to send explicit material
April 22nd, 20220 DEARBORN — On April 10, the Dearborn Police Department received a complaint that an adult male suspect from the Grand Rapids area solicited a 14-year-old Dearborn minor to send sexually explicit material via social media. In the online interaction, the minor self-identified as autistic. Following a thorough investigation,...
Detroit Refugee Network seeks funding for local resettlement efforts
April 21st, 20220 DETROIT — The newly formed Detroit Refugee Network (DRN) is looking to increase resources for refugee clients of three major resettlement agencies that provide support services to refugees from Afghanistan and other nations as they resettle in Detroit. Samaritas, the Detroit-based statewide health and human services organization...
State health department expects rise in COVID cases in May
April 21st, 20220 MICHIGAN — State health authorities are urging residents to minimize their risks of catching COVID-19 and prevent its spread at spring gatherings, including proms, graduations and other holidays, as cases are expected to rise with warmer weather. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is asking people to make......
Fadwa Hammoud wins historic argument before U.S. Supreme Court
April 21st, 20221 DEARBORN — Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud has successfully argued before the highest court in the land after first making history as the first Arab American Muslim woman to do so in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Supreme Court Justices rendered a 6-3 opinion in Hammoud's favor and in favor of the state’s stance in the...
Local seniors to be awarded over 40k in scholarships at LAHC annual gala
April 20th, 20220 DEARBORN — The Human services agency Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities (LAHC) announced more than $40,000 in scholarships for 16 local high school seniors to be awarded at its upcoming 34th Annual Awards Gala. The high-profile event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 5 at 6 p.m. at the Shenandoah Country Club in......
Criminal defense attorney Stephanie Fakih running for State House seat covering Bloomfield, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion
April 17th, 20220 BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Criminal defense attorney and Bloomfield Township Trustee Stephanie Fakih has announced her candidacy for the newly drawn 54th State House District. That district covers Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Auburn Hills, Orion Township, Lake Orion and part of Oakland Township. Fakih is a criminal defense...
Wayne County Commission declares April as Arab American Heritage Month
April 14th, 20220 WAYNE COUNTY — On Tuesday, April 12, Wayne County Commissioners declared April as Arab American Heritage Month in the county, unanimously approving a resolution sponsored by Commissioners Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn) and Al Haidous (D-Wayne). “It is more important than ever that we recognize the many contributions Arab Americans......
