When laughter becomes a crime: Amer Zahr speaks about his detention by the Israeli police after comedy show in Nazareth
January 9th, 20260 DETROIT / NAZARETH — Amer Zahr did not expect to be questioned about laughter. It never crossed his mind that a joke — one he had delivered on the same stages for years — would be treated that night as if it were a document requiring interpretation, or a position warranting investigation. He arrived in Nazareth carrying what he...
Body discovered during search for missing man
January 8th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A body matching the description of a local missing Autistic man during a multi-jurisdictional search has been discovered by a police drone in the Rouge River near Hines Park. While the individual has not formally been identified, officials stated that the body matched the description of 30-year-old Yousif Hassan...
Arab American women entrepreneurs shine at AAWBC NEI pitch competition
December 22nd, 20250 By Claudia Chaalan Dearborn — The Arab American Women’s Business Council (AAWBC) recently hosted its annual New Economic Initiative (NEI) Pitch Competition at the Arab American National Museum, bringing together community leaders, entrepreneurs and supporters for an evening dedicated to celebrating women in business and...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Dearborn launches Michigan’s first smart school bus safety program
December 19th, 20250 DEARBORN — In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Michigan, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud announced the launch of a smart technology program aimed at enhancing school bus safety and protecting students from drivers who violate traffic laws. The initiative was unveiled during a joint press conference attended by city and education...
Dr. Khalil Choucair joins Karmanos Cancer Institute’s thoracic oncology and clinical trials teams
December 19th, 20250 DETROIT — The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute has appointed Khalil Choucair, M.D., MSc, a medical oncologist, to its Thoracic Oncology and Phase I Clinical Trials Multidisciplinary Teams, strengthening the institute’s expertise in advanced lung and thoracic cancer care. Dr. Choucair began seeing patients in July at Karmanos...
Two men sentenced to life for killing jeweler Hussein Murray in his Rochester Hills home
December 12th, 20250 PONTIAC — On Tuesday, an Oakland County Circuit Court judge sentenced two men to life in prison for killing Arab American jeweler Hussein Murray and robbing his Rochester Hills home after posing as DTE gas workers in the fall of 2024. During the sentencing hearing, Carlos Hernandez, 38, and Joshua Zuazo, 40, remained silent as Judge...
Dearborn community celebrates Divine Child’s state championship win
December 12th, 20250 Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud joined the victory parade on Monday celebrating Divine Child High School’s state championship win in the 2025 Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 4 football season. The Falcons of the private, Catholic Divine Child High School achieved their first state title since 1985 after...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Commissioner Sam Baydoun presents $25,000 to boost Dearborn Goodfellows mission: “No Child Without a Christmas”
December 12th, 20250 DEARBORN — In a gesture that reflects the strength of community unity and the spirit of compassion toward low-income families during the holiday season, Wayne County Commissioner Sam Baydoun succeeded last week in securing $25,000 to support the Dearborn Goodfellows, helping ensure that no child in the city goes without the joy and...
The AJWA celebrates second anniversary with cultural night honoring Jordanian American women
December 12th, 20250 LIVONIA — With a remarkable turnout of women from the Jordanian American community in Michigan, the American Jordanian Women's Association (AJWA) hosted a vibrant social and cultural evening on Friday, December 5, at St. Mary’s Banquet Hall in Livonia to celebrate the organization’s second anniversary. The event showcased...
How Sam Hussein helped Dearborn Heights save its Christmas tree lighting after a shipment delay
December 12th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Thanks to a generous donation from Arab American businessman Sam Hussein and the cooperation of a local Oakland County tree farm, the city of Dearborn Heights was able to light its Christmas tree on schedule on Friday, December 12 — just hours after the event was close to being canceled due to a delayed shipment...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Community land trusts: “We’re rising from the ashes, and this is our vehicle.”
December 5th, 20250 By Genevieve Fox A community land trust (CLT) is a type of community ownership model where the community stewards land in perpetuity for the common good of those who live there, said GenesisHOPE Executive Director Jeanine Hatcher. GenesisHOPE is a nonprofit that strives to improve equity through community health and development,...
DOJ suing Westland landlord for sexual harassment and retaliation against female tenants
December 5th, 20250 WESTLAND — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing a landlord for sexual harassment and retaliation against female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Former mayoral candidate William Asper allegedly began sexually harassing female tenants in 2018, offering housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, making...
Lebanese Consulate in Detroit invites community to celebrate Independence Day
November 22nd, 20250 DEARBORN – In cooperation with Lebanese community organizations across Michigan, the Consulate General of Lebanon in Detroit will host an official celebration marking the 82nd anniversary of Lebanon’s Independence Day on Tuesday, November 25, at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in Dearborn. Community event returns after years of...
Far-right agitators target Dearborn, residents and leaders push back against Islamophobia
November 22nd, 20252 On Tuesday, Dearborn witnessed limited scuffles between anti-Muslim demonstrators and some local residents during a march called for by Republican gubernatorial candidate Anthony Hudson, even after he walked back his earlier negative remarks about the city, which he had accused of enforcing Islamic Sharia law, citing stereotypical images...
Michigan Medical delegation brings relief to dozens of Lebanese patients with joint replacement surgeries
November 14th, 20250 BAALBEK, NABATIEH – A two-week humanitarian medical mission led by Lebanese American physicians from Michigan delivered life-changing care to dozens of patients in Baalbek and Nabatieh, performing 50 free orthopedic surgeries and providing consultations to scores of others. The mission logistics, sponsored by the Arab American......
Texas man charged in Shelby Township with double murder of two Chaldean men
November 13th, 20250 SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A horrifying double homicide claimed the lives of two Chaldean men in Shelby Township after a disgruntled customer from Texas returned to a local auto dealership and opened fire, killing the dealership owner and his friend on Friday, November 7. Authorities arrested the suspected gunman the following day at a hotel in...
Illinois man arrested for threatening to bomb a Dearborn Heights mosque
November 13th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – The Dearborn Heights Police Department has announced the arrest of an Illinois resident accused of threatening a local mosque in late September. Police increased security around the Islamic Institute of America on the evening of September 29, after receiving a report about a bomb threat targeting the mosque, located......
Mayor Mo Baydoun unveils transformation plan to modernize Dearborn Heights government
November 13th, 20250 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Less than a week after his sweeping election victory, Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun announced the launch of a “new era” in the city’s history by improving the efficiency of local government through the filling of dozens of vacant jobs and positions, and by forming a transition team and an advisory group...
Resilient Neighborhoods: Deeply Rooted Gardens reduces barriers for farmers of color
November 7th, 20250 By Julie Riddle To Detroit entrepreneur Dazmonique Carr, almost any patch of dirt can be a farm, and almost anyone can be a farmer. Eight years ago, Carr established Deeply Rooted Produce, a farmer-to-consumer food distribution service, after learning about Detroiters’ lack of access to healthy food in a nutrition education class...
Sterling Heights couple charged in conspiracy to kill Arab American businessman Eddie Jawad
November 7th, 20250 SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI – As investigations continue into the attempted murder of Arab American businessman Eddie Jawad, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office filed new criminal charges on Monday related to embezzlement and conspiracy to commit murder against a married couple from Sterling Heights who worked for Jawad Investment Group,...
FBI raids in Dearborn spark outrage and doubt in the Arab American community
November 7th, 20250 Three young Arab Americans charged with terrorism-related offenses after alleged ISIS-inspired Halloween plot; community leaders decry “reckless hysteria” and “Islamophobic targeting” DEARBORN — Three young Arab Americans, aged between 19 and 20, are facing terrorism-related charges after being arrested by the Federal......
Michigan Lebanese community pushes for six parliamentary seats for expatriates
November 1st, 20250 Osama Siblani: “Those who claim to represent the Lebanese diaspora in America speak only for a small minority, not for the majority in Michigan.” By Roaa Qassem – Al-Akhbar (Lebanon) Since 2017, Lebanon has witnessed ongoing debate over its parliamentary election law and the place of expatriates within it. As was the case before...
AHRC honors global and local human rights advocates at 2025 “Spirit of Humanity” Awards Gala
November 1st, 20250 Francesca Albanese recognized for her courage in defending Palestinian rights; event spotlights Arab American advocates for justice and peace DEARBORN — The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) held its annual “Spirit of Humanity” Awards Gala on Friday, October 24, at the Fairlane Banquet Center in Dearborn, honoring......
“No child should fear the park”: $50 million lawsuit filed over attack on Arab American girl
October 24th, 20250 On behalf of an Arab American family whose then-7-year-old daughter was the victim of a throat-slashing attempt by a 74-year-old White man in a park in Detroit on October 8, 2024, attorney Nabih Ayad filed a civil lawsuit last week seeking $50 million in damages for the victim’s family. The lawsuit states that the defendant, Gary...
BREAKING NEWS: SUSPECT ARRESTED IN ATTEMPTED MURDER of BUSINESSMAN EDDIE JAWAD
October 19th, 20250 Macomb Township, MI – Today, October 19, 2025, at approximately 5:00PM, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) SWAT, assisted by the Warren Police Department, the FBI Violent Crimes and Gang Task Force, and MCSO SET, executed a search warrant on a residence on Rivard Avenue in Warren. A 32-year-old male was taken into......
