Gov. Snyder signs road funding legislation
January 16th, 20150 Gov. Snyder holds up a piece of concrete that fell from a bridge in Michigan after signing the road funding bill.LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation that will restore Michigan’s crumbling roads and bridges, in part by ensuring taxes paid by consumers at the gas pump are dedicated to that purpose. The initiative, which...
Census Bureau tests new MENA category
January 16th, 20150 DEARBORN — U.S. Census Bureau has decided to initiate plans to test a new classification for persons from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for possible inclusion in the 2020 Census. The bureau is receiving feedback on the category. Inclusion on the Census has been a major Arab American issue for the past two...
West Bloomfield officials accused of racism against Chaldeans
January 16th, 20150 WEST BLOOMFIELD — Members of the West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees are accused of making racist remarks about Chaldean Americans. Board members were confronted about the allegations at a meeting held at the West Bloomfield Township Hall, 4550 Walnut Lake Road, on Monday. “There have been allegations that a...
Three new Dearborn Public Schools trustees begin their terms
January 16th, 20150 DEARBORN — On Monday night, Dearborn Public Schools welcomed three new trustees and three new administrators during its first Board of Education meeting of 2015. The new trustees, Mary Petlichkoff, Michael Meade and Mariam Bazzi, were sworn in before the meeting by Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny. Community...
Duggan reaches out to the Arab community at the Islamic House of Wisdom
January 16th, 20150 (L-R) School administrator Nawal Hamade; State Sen. David Knezek; AACC executive director Fay Baydoun; Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; Imam Mohamad Ali Elahi, and Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly Jr. among others, pose for a group photo at the Islamic House of Wisdom, Jan. 9.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — In a town hall meeting at the Islamic House of...
NAIAS opens this week
January 16th, 20150 DETROIT — The 2015 North American International Auto Show will open up to the public at Cobo Center on Saturday, Jan. 17 and close Sunday, Jan. 25. There will be more than 500 vehicles on display, representing the most innovative designs in the world. The NAIAS is North America’s largest and most prestigious automotive showcase....
Homeland Security Deputy Jaafar continues to serve county under new administration
January 16th, 20150 Homeland Security Deputy Samer Jaafar accepts an award presented to him by Wayne County Commissioner Diane Webb.DEARBORN — Samer Jaafar, the deputy director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) at Wayne County, said he is honored and humbled for the opportunity to work with new Wayne County Executive Warren...
Bob Bashara sentenced to life in prison
January 16th, 20150 DETROIT — Bob Bashara. was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for the murder of his wife, Jane. Bashara was sentenced by Judge Vonda Evans after making statements in court denying his guilt and vowing to appeal his conviction. Bashara was found guilty of five different charges on Dec. 18. They include: homicide-murder...
ICA distributes gifts to the needy in celebration of prophet Mohammed’s birthday
January 16th, 20150 DEARBORN — On Saturday, Jan. 10 hundreds gathered at the Islamic Center of America (ICA) in Dearborn in celebration of the prophet Mohammed’s birthday. To commemorate that event, attendees wrapped gifts for needy children. Charitable giving is one of the pillars of Islam and this event was one of several held around metro...
Third Detroit man to stand trial for killing French street artist
January 16th, 20150 DETROIT — A judge ruled on Tuesday that a third Detroit man accused in the killing of a 23-year-old French street artist will stand trial for his 2013 shooting death, prosecutors said. Following a hearing, Drequone Rich, 20, was bound over for trial in Wayne County Circuit Court. Last week, Judge Michael Wagner ruled that his...Teen dies one day after meeting Eminem
ROCHESTER HILLS — Gage Garmo, a 17-year-old Chaldean Rochester High School senior who battled cancer, died on Monday, just one day after meeting hip hop superstar Eminem. The Rochester Hills based charity The Rainbow Connection arranged the meeting between the terminally ill teen and the rapper. According to the charity, Eminem,...Judge: Michigan must recognize marriages of 300 same-sex couples
DETROIT — Michigan must recognize the legal marriages of about 300 same-sex couples who were wed in the state in a one-day period last year after a federal court struck down a ban on gay marriage and before the decision was put on hold by a U.S. appeals court, a judge ruled Thursday, Jan. 14. The same-sex couples who married in...Charges against ‘Santa Claus’ shooter will not be dropped
DETROIT — On Thursday, a judge said the criminal charges filed against Marcus Weldon, the 26-year-old “Santa Claus” shooter who injured two Arab American men at a Detroit gas station Dec. 21, will not be dropped and the case will go to trial. “We are happy with the judge’s decision and so relieved,” Yemeni American...Community activist collects donations for Penrickton Center for Blind Children
TAYLOR—Community activist Khodr Farhat recently collected donations for the Taylor based Penrickton Center for Blind Children. The center offers free services to children who are blind. Farhat, who is in his twenties was born blind and moved to the United States from Lebanon in 2009. He has received several awards and...Local high school student accepted at Harvard
DEARBORN—Fordson High School student Mohammad Ziad Abdulghani was recently accepted at Harvard University. The Ivy League school is known as one of the most prestigious universities in the world and had a 5.9 acceptance rate as of 2014.Last year, The Arab American News reported that eight Arab Americans from Dearborn were accepted at......
Altercations, intoxication and overcrowding common at Dearborn parties
January 9th, 20150 City officials have addressed concerns of overcrowding at local evening parties in Dearborn.DEARBORN — Most establishments in the city have aimed to implement a family-friendly cultural atmosphere, but every once in a while that image appears to be distorted when alcohol and egos cross paths. For example, local authorities swarmed...
State Sen. Knezek appoints local activist Zaineb Hussein to his staff
January 9th, 20150 Zeineb Hussein. DEARBORN HEIGHTS — This week, State Senator David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) announced the hiring of Dearborn Heights resident Zaineb Hussein to serve in a full time position as the director of Constituent Services in his Lansing office. Hussein, 31, has emerged as an advocate and leader in the Dearborn and Dearborn......
Sayed Qazwini calls for reforms at the Islamic Center of America
January 9th, 20150 DEARBORN — Sayed Hassan Qazwini, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center for America (ICA), called for reforms at the center and criticized limiting its potential, adding that its doors should be open to everybody. "Are there imperfections? Yes. Are there mistakes? Yes. Are there reforms that need to happen? Yes," Qazwini said of...
Yemeni activist outraged over ‘Santa Claus’ shooter being called a hero
January 9th, 20150 Marcus Weldon, 26, was dressed in a Santa Claus suit when he shot Saleh Rifai in the hand and Amar Aldani in the chest at a downtown Detroit gas station over a confrontation between the 29-year-old men that reportedly started over an argument about “Santa’s girlfriend, Mrs. Claus.” When one of the men ran to his car,...
PART THREE: Are industrial sources near schools jeopardizing students’ health?
January 9th, 20150 A fence separates Salina Elementary School in Dearborn's southend from industrial sources, including the former Severstal plant that is pictured here right across from the school DEARBORN — Southend resident Ranaa Saaidi often worried about her 10-year-old son breathing in toxins at school this summer. Saaidi's son, who...Residents cautioned about Wayne County jury duty scam
WAYNE COUNTY — The Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County has learned of a telephone scam regarding missed jury duty. The scam artist will call and advise the person that jury duty was missed and a fine of $500 has to be paid immediately or the person will be subject to arrest or an arrest warrant will be......
Muslim organizations donate $100,000 to help prevent water shut-offs for Detroiters
January 9th, 20150 DETROIT — The Muslim community of Michigan is stepping forward with a contribution to support Detroit residents who are facing hardship from water shut-offs. The Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC), in partnership with Islamic Relief USA (IR USA) –the largest Muslim charity organizations in the United States – is giving...
2014 year in review
January 9th, 20150 Here’s our 2014 year-in-review of the most important news and developments as reported by The Arab American News locally, nationally and internationally.Top local storiesDetroit water crisis makes international headlines The Detroit water crisis has received international attention since it first began in March when the city’s......
Dearborn dollar store robbery suspects arrested
DEARBORN — On Dec. 29 at approximately 7:50 p.m. three men robbed the Dollar General store located on the 7600 block of Wyoming. The suspects selected several pieces of store merchandise and approached the checkout counter to pay for the items. One suspect paid for the merchandise. When the register was opened the second suspect...$100,000 donation by MMCC and Islamic Relief USA to prevent water shutoffs for Detroiters
DEARBORN—The Muslim community of Michigan is stepping forward with a contribution to support Detroit residents who are facing hardship from water shut offs. The Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) in partnership with Islamic Relief USA (IR USA) –the largest Muslim charity organizations in the United......