Feds open an investigation into the Ann Arbor Public Schools over alleged Islamophobic incident
January 27th, 20240 ANN ARBOR — The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a formal investigation into the Ann Arbor Public Schools district on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The investigation will look for signs of discrimination over shared ancestry, a category that includes racial and nationality-based discrimination. The investigation...
CAIR-MI sues Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly removing Dearborn woman’s hijab
January 27th, 20240 On Monday, the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) said it is suing the Oakland County Sheriff 's Office for allegedly removing by force the hijab of a Dearborn Muslim woman when she was detained last year in the Oakland County jail. On Jan. 16 CAIR-MI sent a Notice of Claim alerting Oakland...
Dearborn Heights police chief announces leave of absence due to “employment induced health concerns”
January 26th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights Police Chief Jerrod Hart announced a leave of absence due to “employment induced” health concerns and voiced frustrations over actions taken by the City Council during a recent Council meeting. During the Jan. 23 City Council meeting, the Council passed a “no confidence” resolution against...
Dearborn Heights City Council’s “no confidence” resolution against mayor deepens division in city
January 25th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The City Council passed a “no confidence” resolution against Mayor Bill Bazzi, Corporation Counsel Roger Farinha and Police Chief Jerrod Hart in a 5-2 vote and unanimously voted to cancel the salary and benefits of two directors within the Police Department. The resolution passed with “yes” votes from Mo...
Dearborn native Hussein Tarraf appointed to the IRS Advisory Council
January 19th, 20240 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dearborn resident Hussein Tarraf has been selected by the IRS as one of 12 new members of the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council. Tarraf is the president of Tarraf & Associates, PC, in Dearborn. He has been working in public accounting for more than 20 years, providing tax advisory and assurance...
Thousands of protesters gather in Washington D.C., calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
January 19th, 20240 WASHINGTON D.C. — 400,000 protesters gathered in Washington D.C. on Saturday, January 13, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Standing in solidarity with Palestinians, their efforts were taken to the nation's capital. The American Muslim Task Force for Palestine and various other groups organized the protest at Freedom Plaza. This...
A Florida hotel cancels a Muslim conference, citing security concerns after receiving protest calls
January 19th, 20240 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A South Florida Marriott Hotel canceled a Muslim group’s conference at the last minute after a protest group claimed the coalition was "promoting Hamas, terrorism and anti-Semitism." The South Florida Muslim Federation, a coalition of about 30 mosques and Muslim groups, said Friday that it was told by the...
Dearborn Heights officials remind residents and business owners to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice
January 18th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – The recent blast of snow and cold temperatures have left many Dearborn Heights sidewalks still covered in ice and snow. The city’s Ordinance and Animal Control Department staff reminds all residents and business owners that it is important to keep all residential and business sidewalks clear of these...Dearborn Heights hosting free legal clinic for residents
January 13th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The city of Dearborn Heights will be hosting a free legal clinic for its residents at the end of the month. The first legal clinic of 2024 will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 31 from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Dearborn Heights City Hall. Volunteer attorneys who specialize in landlord/tenant disputes, wills and...
Women and life’s lessons
January 12th, 20240 By Jumana Judeh, PhD As we begin a new year, many of us will reflect on what went right in 2023 and what didn’t. We will also make promises to ourselves of changes we want to make to improve our lives in this new year. But let’s be realistic and have a fresh perspective on the challenges we surely will face. First, what...
Dearborn School Board reorganizes, elects new officers
January 12th, 20240 DEARBORN – The Dearborn Board of Education began this year with an organizational meeting to select new officers. Trustees Hussein Berry was selected as president, Mary Petlichkoff as vice president, Irene Watts as secretary and Pat D’Ambrosio as treasurer. As part of School Board Appreciation Month, Superintendent Dr. Glenn...
Mayor Hammoud announces an initiative to expand rodent control operations in Dearborn
January 12th, 20240 DEARBORN – The city of Dearborn and Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud announced an initiative to control rodent population and the tracking of its extermination with the recent launch of a citywide subterranean rat prevention program, making the city the second municipality in Michigan to implement above and below-ground pest mitigation...
Mehdi Hasan leaves MSNBC after cancellation of his show
January 12th, 20240 Medhi Hasan said that he is leaving MSNBC after the network canceled his weekend show. “I’ve decided that it’s time for me to look for a new challenge,” he said at the end of his program on Sunday. The network shuffled its weekend lineup last year, dropping his weekend show while saying that he would remain as a commentator...
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against Dearborn for fatal shooting of Ali Naji in Dearborn Police lobby
January 5th, 20240 DEARBORN – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the city of Dearborn and a city of Dearborn police officer in the shooting death of a man in the police station lobby on Dec. 18, 2022. On that date, 33-year-old Ali Naji entered the Dearborn police station holding a firearm and attempted to shoot at an officer in the lobby....
Second administration official resigns in protest of Biden’s support for Israeli war on Gaza
January 5th, 20240 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, a Department of Education policy adviser appointed by the Biden administration quit to protest the administration’s continuous military support of Israel’s war on Gaza and its handling of the conflict’s repercussions at home and abroad. Tariq Habash, a Biden administration appointee who had......
Local nonprofit donates over $10,000 worth of toys to local families in need
January 5th, 20240 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – The local nonprofit organization Youdemonia is making a mark in Southeast Michigan with a bit of holiday cheer. The group, founded in 2020, aims to combat social disparities by creating community events and increasing opportunity awareness for youth. This past month, Youdemonia held Michigan’s first-ever...
Imam Hassan Sharif fatally shot outside his Newark, N.J. mosque, motives unknown
January 4th, 20240 NEWARK, N.J. — Members of a New Jersey mosque are devastated after their imam was shot and killed Wednesday morning. The search is on for the killer. Imam Hassan Sharif was fatally shot outside his mosque on South Orange Avenue and Camden Street in Newark at around 6:15 a.m. Officials said they do not believe it was motivated by......
ACRL calls on President Biden to rescue U.S service member’s mother trapped in Gaza
December 22nd, 20230 DEARBORN – The Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) has urgently called on the Biden administration to exert an effort to save the lives of Zahra Sckak, the mother of an active U.S. military service member, and his American uncle, Farid Sukaik, both trapped in Northern Gaza. Fadi Sckak has spent the last month making phone calls...
700,000 Michigan families will receive an average of $550 in tax credits soon
December 22nd, 20230 LANSING — More than 700,000 Michigan households can expect to receive checks next year that will include an average of $550 for families. On Thursday, Governor Whitmer announced that the checks from the Working Families Tax Credit are expected to be sent to Michigan families in February. The checks are the result of a new law...
Gov. Whitmer appoints renowned dermatologist Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi to the Michigan Board of Medicine
December 22nd, 20230 LANSING – On Thursday, Governor Whitmer announced the appointment of Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi to the Michigan Board of Medicine. This comes among other appointments to several other commissions and boards, including the Crime Victim Services Commission, Human Trafficking Commission and the Michigan Board of Nursing. “Today’s...
Melvindale man pleads guilty after police recover 18 weapons, fake fed IDs from home
December 15th, 20230 MELVINDALE – On Tuesday, a Melvindale man pleaded guilty to several charges related to illegal firearm possession – after being found with 18 guns and 2 counterfeit law enforcement badges earlier this year. Saliah Algahmi, 37, has been charged with "unlawful possession of a firearm by a person who has been committed to a mental......
Arab American attorney’s job offer rescinded; “I was targeted for my background”
December 15th, 20231 An Arab American attorney is speaking out after she said she was fired the day before she was set to start a new job at the Chicago law firm Foley and Lardner. Jinan Chehade said the reason was her support of Palestinian rights. "Members of the firm who advocate for Israeli violence and who have expressed support for Israel were not...
Three Beaumont hospitals restrict pediatric visitors as viruses spread in Metro Detroit
December 15th, 20230 ROYAL OAK — Three Beaumont hospitals in Metro Detroit are restricting visitors for pediatric units as of Wednesday due to a rise in respiratory illnesses in the hospital and throughout the community, officials announced in a press release. Starting Wednesday, Dec. 13, the following Corewell Health hospitals will be restricting the......
FBI and DHS release threats of violence public service announcement
December 15th, 20230 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have issued a public service announcement regarding potential threats across the nation from various actors during the upcoming winter season. This announcement comes following the continued violence between Israel and Hamas. The FBI warns of the...
Hamtramck to rename street “Palestine Avenue”
December 15th, 20230 Hamtramck will rename one of its streets “Palestine Avenue” in symbolic support of the people of Gaza. Hamtramck City Council members voted on the measure Tuesday night, in their final meeting of the year. “I know it's not going to change anything, but it's just showing what Hamtramck stands for and what the community here......
