Assyrian American comedian’s humor unites different Middle Eastern cultures
December 10th, 20220 — This article was contributed by Sarah Moosazadeh, special to The Arab American News A pair of reading glasses, headscarf and a dose of Middle Eastern humor are all traits Assyrian American comedian and influencer Ramina Odicho uses to post comedic TikTok clips that depict her Assyrian roots and build ties with other...
Dearborn man charged with recent synagogue threats, assault on a Detroit police officer in 2020, moons and gives middle finger to judges
December 9th, 20220 A Dearborn man charged with threatening families, kids and staff at a Bloomfield Hills synagogue and school went on a rant during his arraignment, where he insulted the judge by calling her a "Jewish bitch" and flipped off the court. Hassan Yehia Chokr, 35, was charged with making anti-Semitic and racist threats to parents,...
Yemeni American man returns to Detroit after more than a month of imprisonment in Saudi Arabia
December 9th, 20220 MELVINDALE – A Yemeni American who resides with his family in Melvindale returned home after spending more than a month imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Mohamed Salem, 63, walked off a plane at Detroit Metro Airport just after noon Thursday, five weeks after he was detained while on a religious pilgrimage. Salem arrived in...
AG Dana Nessel announces second term executive team changes, appoints Fadwa Hammoud as chief deputy
December 9th, 20220 LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced the appointment in her second term of Fadwa A. Hammoud as chief deputy and Ann M. Sherman as solicitor general. Current Chief Deputy Attorney General Christina Grossi will be leaving the department after more than a decade in public service. “During her...
Oakman Child Care Learning Ladder opens third location in Dearborn
December 9th, 20220 DEARBORN — Oakman Child Care Learning Ladder celebrated the grand opening of its third location in Dearborn at Hubbard and Mercury Drive on Monday, December 5. Samera Ajami is the sole owner of all three locations. She opened her first location is East Dearborn in 2012 and the second in Detroit in 2019. All three...
Arab American voters are often ignored by political candidates, but not by Pennsylvania Governor-elect Josh Shapiro
December 7th, 20220 The day former President Trump issued his travel ban in 2017, all Nagi Latefa could see were his daughters’ faces. Sunken. Disappointed. Scared. The executive order banned travelers from six majority Muslim countries from visiting the United States. Latefa and his family, who are Palestinian Muslims, felt vulnerable. The Muslim...
Resilient Neighborhoods: East Detroit nonprofit has a creative approach to helping local businesses grow
December 6th, 20220 By Caroline Bissonette Wherever you find her, blending up fresh ingredients in her home kitchen or selling smoothies from her weekly stall at the East Warren farmers market, Teleah Mitchum is the picture of health. The lively Detroit-based nutrition consultant and owner of Simone’s Original Smoothies brims with vitality as she talks...
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans appoints Dr. Adul El-Sayed to lead health department
December 6th, 20220 On Thursday, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans announced that he will be presenting Dr. Abdul El-Sayed to the County Commission for its approval as a project consultant working with the County's Health, Human and Veterans Services Department (HHVS). El-Sayed will take over as director, pending Wayne County Commission...
Midterms 2022: A new wave of Muslim and Arab American politicians have been elected
December 6th, 20220 Democrat Nabeela Syed is on cloud nine: In the midterm elections, the 23-year-old flipped a Republican-held district in Chicago’s northwestern suburbs, becoming not only one of the youngest members of the Illinois General Assembly, but also its first Muslim. “It was wild for me to ever consider running for office at such a young...
Biden appoints Arab American as advisor to the deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Army
December 6th, 20220 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alia Awadallah, an Arab American who has worked in international security, counterterrorism and U.S. policy in the Middle East, has been appointed by President Biden's administration to work as an advisor to the deputy undersecretary of the army. The incoming political appointee made the announcement on Twitter Monday,...
Abed Hammoud named the new co-chair of BRIDGES
December 2nd, 20220 DEARBORN — Abed Hammoud, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, has been named the new co-chair of BRIDGES (Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity). Hammoud has extensive experience in law, practicing at both the state and federal levels, including his eight years serving as assistant U.S. Attorney and 15 years as...
Recent local business have had grand openings in Dearborn
November 26th, 20220 DEARBORN — Two local businesses have recently had grand openings in Dearborn. The restaurant District 12 opened its second location in West Dearborn on Michigan Avenue and Mason with a grand opening in October. The original location is on Telegraph in Dearborn Heights. Both locations offer the same menu options with all halal...
Northville Arab American couple honored in online memorial service, donations for children exceeded $615,000
November 25th, 20223 A Northville couple who died in a late-night rollover crash Nov. 12 were remembered and honored in an online memorial service last Monday night. Manal Kadry and her husband, Dr. Omar Salamen, died after their car left the road as the driver attempted to navigate a turn near their neighborhood, Northville police said. Police said the...
Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi named Veteran of Honor by the Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition
November 19th, 20220 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Mayor Bill Bazzi, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was recognized by the Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition as its 2022 Veteran of Honor last week, during the its 17th annual Veterans Day Parade in Detroit’s Corktown. Bazzi, a retired U.S. Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, served the Corps in several capacities,...
Resilient Neighborhoods: East Side nonprofit’s big plans include community hub and housing project
November 19th, 20220 By David Sands. All photos: Steve Koss Bishop Daryl Harris has fond memories of his formative years in the area now known as Detroit's Osborn neighborhood. A longtime resident whose Total Life Christian Ministries church is headquartered there, he remembers when it was full of commerce and activity. "Back in the '70s and '80s,......
Northville Arab American couple killed in rollover crash, leaves four children behind
November 18th, 20220 NORTHVILLE TOWNSHIP — A Northville couple was killed early Sunday when their vehicle veered off the road, rolled over and crashed into a tree, police said. In a Sunday news release, police identified the victims as 46-year-old Northville resident Dr. Omar Salamen and his 40-year-old wife, Manal Kadry. The fatal crash happened just...
Dearborn Schools to keep some books, remove others in response to parent’s book challenge
November 14th, 20220 DEARBORN – Dearborn Public Schools has announced the results of some book challenges filed by a parent over the summer. “We are pleased with the results of the book challenge as we want to ensure that our libraries have content that is appropriate for our students and that they do not provide material with gratuitous or......
November 2022 school board election results in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck
November 11th, 20221 The cities of Dearborn Heights, Dearborn and Hamtramck saw crucial school board races in the November 8 election. There has been an increased interest in school boards and school administration with the recent book ban issue that arose in Dearborn. There are two school districts in Dearborn Heights, one in Dearborn and one in...
Abraham Aiyash selected as House majority floor leader as Democrats take control of the legislature
November 11th, 20220 Hamtramck native Abraham Aiyash will become the first Arab American to be a majority leader in a state legislature next term after he was selected by his colleagues to be Michigan’s new majority floor leader of the State House. Aiyash will be the highest-ranking Muslim American in Michigan legislative history. "Incredibly honored...
Federal agency releases report on how TSA can curb discriminatory practices at ports of entry
November 10th, 20220 DETROIT — A federal agency has released a report, after a 2020 request from U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan), on how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can eliminate the potential for discrimination in travel screenings. The report comes out of years of requests by Arab Americans and Muslim Americans to their...
Representing Dearborn in MMA, Abe Alsaghir thanks coaches, family for 5-0 streak
November 4th, 20220 DEARBORN — Dearborn has a rising star in mixed martial arts (MMA) and he's fresh off a 5-0 record, hungry for more and looking ahead at a bright future in one of the country’s most popular sports. 21-year-old Abe Alsaghir’s story is yet another example of the community's immigrant, working class roots and its penchant for......
Dems, GOP make final push to gain votes among local Arab Americans
November 4th, 20221 The last days into a tight race between Democrats and Republicans for control in Michigan have seen a push by both parties to gain favor among local Arab Americans. Though most polls put incumbent Democratic Governor Whitmer ahead of her GOP opponent, Tudor Dixon, the Nov. 8 race is tighter than what the Democrats would have hoped...
Arab American sues U.S. Steel over discrimination, termination at Ecorse plant
November 3rd, 20220 ECORSE — An Arab American man is suing U.S. Steel for wrongful discrimination termination following employment discrimination by his supervisor. The lawsuit, filed by the Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) in federal court on behalf of Yemeni American Jalal Muflihi, says Muflihi complained for......
AAPAC celebrates 25 years of political achievements, brings state leaders to the community
October 28th, 20220 DEARBORN — Hundreds of community members joined state and local officials at a packed Byblos Banquet Center in Dearborn for the 25th annual banquet for Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) on Thursday. Those in attendance and on the speakers' list were Democratic leaders and November election hopefuls Governor Whitmer,...
Farewell event honors U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and her time serving Dearborn
October 27th, 20220 DEARBORN — An event honoring U.S. Rep Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) and her service to the city of Dearborn was held on Monday, Oct. 24 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Dingell will no longer represent Dearborn as a result an independent citizen-led redistricting commission leaving the city out of the......
