The Arab American News Staff
Author's Posts
Dearborn residents must apply to FEMA for relief, despite reporting damage to city
July 26th, 20210 DEARBORN — Residents in Dearborn who would like to request relief for losses from the June 25-26 floods must apply through FEMA, even if they have filled out a form with the city declaring flood damage and estimated losses, the city said on Monday. The form that residents filled out for the city serves as a "statutory notice" and...
Whitmer requests disaster declaration to secure federal aid for flood victims
July 13th, 20210 LANSING — The state completed a crucial step in getting federal aid to Wayne County communities affected by recent flooding on Tuesday. Governor Whitmer requested that President Biden declare a major disaster for the state as a result of the heavy rainfall and flooding in late June. The request comes at the conclusion of an...
Drive-in movie event highlights need for foster parents in Wayne County
July 7th, 20210 DETROIT — A drive-in movie night in Detroit organized by state health and county officials will highlight the need for foster parents in Wayne County. Wayne County residents can enjoy a night at the movies while finding out how they can become foster parents during an event on Friday night, July 9. The Michigan Department of...
Biden administration extends Temporary Protected Status for Yemen
July 6th, 20210 The Biden Administration has extended and re-designated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen into 2023. TPS allows individuals from nations experiencing war, natural disasters or extraordinary circumstances to live and work in the U.S. on a temporary basis. Yemen’s TPS status was set to expire on September 3. The extension...
Yale student council approves statement on ethnic cleansing in Palestine
July 2nd, 20210 CONNECTICUT — The Yale College Council (YCC) voted to endorse a statement condemning “the injustice, genocide and ethnic cleansing occurring in Palestine” on Sunday, June 27. The statement was introduced in May by Yalies 4 Palestine, a student-led campaign to raise Palestinian voices and end the culture of silence around...
J&J, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines show promise against the Delta variant
July 2nd, 20210 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Moderna recently announced promising results in studies to determine vaccine effectiveness against the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. First identified in India, Delta is becoming the globally dominant variant of the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization. Johnson...
Dearborn deploys workers, enlists aid, in flood cleanup effort
July 1st, 20210 Dearborn's government deployed crews and recruited outside aid to carry out the clean-up of widespread debris from last Friday's storm and associated flooding By Wednesday, the Dearborn city government had deployed all resources and brought in employees from Taylor, Melvindale and Canton, as well as private contractors, and continued...
Yvonna Abraham appointed first Palestinian American judge in Wayne County Third Circuit Court
July 1st, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On Thursday, Governor Whitmer announced the appointment of Yvonna C. Abraham to the Wayne County Third Circuit Court. Abraham is the first Palestinian American judge in the state of Michigan. Abraham currently serves as the magistrate and director of probation for the 20th District Court in Dearborn Heights. She...
The Palestine Chronology: A new online database
June 30th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Institute for Palestine Studies has launched a new online database documenting political and military events surrounding the Israeli occupation of Palestine since 1982. The Palestine Chronology will allow researchers, readers, journalists, students, scholars and activists to easily access day-by-day summaries...
State emergency relief available for low-income residents towards home damage from flooding
June 29th, 20210 LANSING — Low-income residents affected by recent flooding in Michigan may be eligible for emergency relief assistance through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the agency announced Tuesday. The State Emergency Relief program provides immediate help to families and individuals facing conditions of extreme...
Wayne County hit with intense flooding, state of emergency declared
June 26th, 20210 WAYNE COUNTY —Flooding after extended rainfall has prompted Governor Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in Wayne County. The declaration allows the state to address threats to public health and safety related to the heavy rainfall, which resulted in widespread flooding, power outages, flooded roadways, stranded motorists,...
Unemployment offices open to appointments June 30; scheduling now open
June 25th, 20210 LANSING — The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is now offering in-person unemployment insurance services by appointment only at 12 local unemployment offices, beginning June 30. Michiganders can now go online to start scheduling appointments. Each appointment slot is 15 minutes and may be scheduled up to a week in advance....
Palestinian American from Ohio imprisoned by Israeli court for activism
June 18th, 20210 YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A 75-year-old Palestinian American from Ohio has been imprisoned by Israeli authorities for activism. Jamal Nisser, a retired Palestinian American businessman from Youngstown, Ohio, has been sentenced to four months in prison by an Israeli court on charges of political activism, The Palestine Chronicle...
Back to normal: Michigan to lift capacity limits, mask requirements on June 22
June 17th, 20210 LANSING — on Thursday, Governor Whitmer announced an early end to all COVID-19 epidemic orders on gatherings and masking. Beginning June 22, capacity in both indoor and outdoor settings will increase to 100 percent and the state will no longer require residents to wear a face mask. Whitmer had originally announced a plan to lift...
Supreme Court shoots down Republican challenge to Obamacare
June 17th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Republican challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, failed in the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. This was the third such a challenge to the law shot down by the highest court in the country since the law's enactment in 2010. The latest decision by the Supreme Court will keep intact the law,......
ADC: Workplace discrimination against pro-Palestinian voices on the rise
June 16th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is looking for a federal hearing and investigation into rising incidents of workplace discrimination against employees who have expressed solidarity with Palestine and against Israeli apartheid and occupation. The ADC says it is responding to a surge of...
Gleaners brings summer food distribution for children to Dearborn
June 15th, 20210 DEARBORN — Gleaners Community Food Bank announced on Tuesday its Summer Food Service Program, with more than 80 food distribution sites operating throughout Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties. One of the food distribution sites this summer is the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Distribution will take place......
11-year-old author Zaynab Shebley launches first book, inspired by Lebanon visit
June 14th, 20210 ILLINOIS — Zaynab Shebley, an 11-year-old Lebanese American author, is launching her first published book, The Princess Hero. The children's book is inspired by Shebley's love for the environment and for influencing children to make a positive difference in the world one step at a time. Shebley's book was inspired by her first...
Omar clarifies remarks on Israel, U.S. war crimes, after Dem, GOP pushback
June 11th, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) clarified earlier remarks regarding open investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into war crimes committed by Israel, the U.S., Hamas and the Taliban, after backlash from both Democrats and Republicans. On Monday, Omar questioned U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken...
Senate confirms first Muslim federal judge in U.S. history
June 10th, 20210 On Thursday, the U.S. Senate approved President Biden’s nomination of Zahid Quraishi, a magistrate judge in New Jersey, to the federal bench, making him the first Muslim federal judge in U.S. history. Quraishi will serve as U.S. district judge for the District of New Jersey. The Democrat-controlled Senate voted 81-16 to confirm...
Pharmacist jailed for three years for tampering with COVID-19 vaccines
June 9th, 20211 Steven R. Brandenburg, 46, a Wisconsin pharmacist who pleaded guilty to trying to spoil hundreds of doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine because he was skeptical about them, has been jailed for three years, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday. Brandenburg was also ordered to pay about $83,800 in compensation to the hospital......
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee announces new project to track xenophobia
June 3rd, 20210 The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) announced a new project that will research, track and document anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the media, public discourse and from public officials. The ADC-Research Institute's (ADC-RI) Media Research Project, led by veteran journalist Ali Younes, hopes to expose xenophobia...
Redistricting Commission to hold meeting and public hearing in Dearborn on June 3
June 2nd, 20210 The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will conduct a meeting at 5 p.m. and a public hearing at 6 p.m. on June 3 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. Masks are required at all times while indoors. Individuals are encouraged (but not required) to RSVP in advance to......
Immigrants’ contributions recognized in Michigan, nationwide
June 2nd, 20210 LANSING — Contributions made by the state’s immigrant community were given a nod with a proclamation by Governor Whitmer, declaring June 2021 Immigrant Heritage Month. The state has joined a nationwide effort to collectively celebrate the history, culture and powerful influence immigrants have in shaping their communities and...
Hamtramck, River Rouge, other cities, receive grants to upgrade water systems
June 2nd, 20210 LANSING — Governor Whitmer announced this week grants awarded to different Michigan communities to help upgrade drinking water infrastructure towards safe, affordable tap water across the state. The grants come under the umbrella of the MI Clean Water plan. Under that plan Hamtramck receives $188,315 under the Drinking Water......
