Trash delayed one day for New Year’s; holiday closings outlined
Curbside trash and recycling pickup will be on a normal scheduled on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve. Curbside trash and recycling collection will be delayed one day starting on New Year’s Day, which is Thursday, Jan. 1. Thursday’s trash district will be picked up on Friday. Friday’s trash district will be picked up on Saturday....
Sayed Hassan Qazwini responds to accusations in attack letters
December 25th, 20140 Sayed Qazwini.DEARBORN — Sayed Hassan Qazwini, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of America (ICA), responded for the first time to a series of anonymous letters attacking him and the center in an interview with The Arab American News. The letters, sent via mail to homes across Dearborn, accuse Qazwini of corruption,...
Annapolis student’s home vandalized following cries of alleged bullying
December 25th, 20140 Almawri (center) sits next to her mother (left) and ACRL Chairman Nabih Ayad (right).DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Bullying and discrimination targeting an Arab American student at Annapolis High School has only intensified since she and her mother spoke with The Arab American News last month. Last week, the Arab-American Civil Rights League...
Dearborn billboard speaks out against female genital mutilation
December 25th, 20140 DEARBORN — Female genital mutilation (FGM) is often associated with Muslim majority countries, but women’s rights activists say there is a prevalence of the abusive practice in the United States. A Dearborn billboard that is part of a national campaign to shine a light on the practice quotes President Obama saying "Female Genital...
Beyond bankruptcy
December 25th, 20140 (L to R): Yolanda, Erin, Joshua, Gwendolyn and Levon Peoples, Sr.Democracy has been restored to the people in the city of Detroit, according to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes. This month, Rhodes approved Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr’s plan that will keep the city under oversight for the next 13 years. Detroit’s bankruptcy— the...
Dearborn Police, Fire charities host charitable event for local youth
December 25th, 20140 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Police Charity and Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive hosted their annual Shop With A Hero event at the Dearborn Wal-Mart store on Monday, Dec. 22. The two charities worked together to provide funding for gifts for 30 local elementary and middle school-aged children. The kids were able to “shop” for toys,...
Man in Santa suit injures two Arab Americans at Detroit gas station
December 25th, 20140 DETROIT — Two Arab American men are recovering from injuries at Detroit Receiving Hospital after being shot at by a man wearing a Santa Claus suit. The incident occurred at a downtown Detroit gas station around 2 a.m. on Monday. The shooter is in police custody and serving time behind bars. Saleh Rifai and Amar Aldani, the men...
Michigan Teacher of the Year inspiring Iraqi children
December 25th, 20140 WEST BLOOMFIELD — Melody Arabo, a Chaldean American who was named Michigan Teacher of the Year in May, is giving back to her community overseas through the charitable group she started, Teachers Educating And Creating Hope (TEACH). The group is making a difference in the lives of Iraqi Christian children who were forced to flee their...
Washington student group visits the Arab American News
December 25th, 20140 Arab American News reporter Ali Harb with Bellevue College students, Dec. 17.DEARBORN — Students from the Bellevue College Arabic Culture Student Association toured the offices of The Arab American News on Wednesday, Dec. 17 as a part of the group's visit to the local community from Washington state. Bellevue College is...
LAHC serves warm meals to the needy on Christmas Eve
December 25th, 20140 Volunteers distributing food to the needy.DETROIT — On Wednesday, Dec. 24, the Lebanese American Heritage Club (LAHC) and a group of dedicated volunteers served more than 200 warm meals to needy families in metro Detroit at the Neighborhood Service Organization. The LAHC also provided the needy with clothing, blankets and other...
New Zaman International center to offer multiple services to needy families
December 19th, 20140 Najah Bazzy, Zaman International president, inside the organization's new centerINKSTER — When Najah Bazzy, a transcultural nurse specialist, visited a refugee family with a terminally ill child in 1996, there was no furniture whatsoever in the house. The baby was lying in a laundry basket atop folded white towels. The...
Residents furious over FEMA rejections
December 19th, 20140 Many households in east Dearborn are claiming they were denied by FEMA, despite severe flooding in their basements.DEARBORN — Residents are left scrambling following the announcement last week that the city would not be held financially liable for the August 11 flood that impacted more than 10,000 homes. Despite the city's...
Dearborn Transit Center dedicated to John Dingell during grand opening ceremony
December 19th, 20140 An old-fashioned locomotive is one of the items on display in the John H. Dingell Transit Center. Photo: Patrick KeatingDEARBORN — On Monday, Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. welcomed dozens of federal, state and local elected officials for the grand opening ceremony at Dearborn’s intermodal passenger rail station,...
State Rep. John Olumba makes racist and ignorant remarks about Chaldeans and Asians
December 19th, 20140 LANSING — While delivering his farewell speech on the house floor Thursday, Dec. 11, State Rep. John Olumba made racist and ignorant remarks about Chaldeans. “Asians and Chaldeans should have a Black misery appreciation day, selling fake hair and looseys to people just looking for fresh air and making a fortune doing...
Environmental groups urge defeat of bill defining burning tires as renewable energy
December 19th, 20140 LANSING — On Monday, environmental groups called on the Michigan Senate to defeat House Bill 5205, which redefines renewable energy to include burning hazardous waste, tires and railroad ties. The bill passed the House on Dec. 4 and was referred to the Senate Energy and Technology Committee on Dec. 9. “Michigan’s actual......
Probe into Wayne County corruption expected to end early 2015
December 19th, 20140 Ficano. DETROIT — The probe into corruption in Wayne County government is expected to come to an end early next year. Federal prosecutors are close to announcing whether Wayne County CEO Robert Ficano will be criminally charged. The corruption probe was launched in 2011 and has resulted in the convictions of four former Ficano aides...
More than $75 million in federal funding will be divided among 12 cities
December 19th, 20140 DETROIT — Twelve cities— including Detroit— will share more than $75 million in federal funding to combat blight and continue driving Michigan’s economic revitalization. The program, proposed by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), is funded under the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund......
Legendary newsman Bill Bonds remembered
December 19th, 20140 Bill Bonds.DETROIT — Iconic news anchorman Bill Bonds died Saturday, Dec. 13 after suffering a heart attack at his Bloomfield Hills home. He was 82. Bonds and co-anchor Diana Lewis dominated Detroit’s television market for years. “He helped mold my career,” Lewis said. “He influenced my person as a woman. He was...
City Council to revise “illegal” building permit resolutions
December 19th, 20140 Councilman Mike Sareini (second from left) sits across from Councilman Robert Abraham (third from right) after a heated debate in a briefing meeting, Dec. 16.DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council will revise two ordinances that raise building permit renewal fees from $25 to $1,000 and limit the time of construction to one...Dearborn Police Department hiring part time officer
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Police Department is looking for a qualified candidate for an open part time police officer position. The job pays $25 an hour. Part time officers are required to work 28-hours a week. Minimum requirements for the job include at least five years experience as a certified police officer and associate degree...
Arab family sues Dearborn Heights Police for discrimination
December 18th, 20140 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — An Arab American family is suing the city of Dearborn Heights for alleged racial discrimination by the police. The lawsuit, which was announced at the office of the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) on Tuesday, says Dearborn Heights police officers failed to investigate an assault against two of the......
The ACLU-MI defends anti-Muslim protesters’ free speech
December 12th, 20140 DETROIT — The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU-MI) filed an amicus brief last week urging a federal court of appeals to reverse the decision to dismiss a lawsuit brought against Wayne County by a group of anti-Muslim protesters. During the Arab International Festival in 2012, county deputies escorted...
Dearborn firefighters surprise needy family for the second time
December 12th, 20140 Salli places the star at the top of the Christmas tree as a Dearborn firefighter lifts her up.DEARBORN — "I really feel like I have a family right now," Mona El-Darnouh said while decorating the new Christmas tree Dearborn firefighters surprised her family with on Sunday. While handing El-Darnouh an ornament to put on the tree,......
Mayor O’Reilly: City is not financially liable for sewage backup in August flood
December 12th, 20140 DEARBORN — The city announced this week that it would not be held liable for flooding damages caused by the heavy rainstorm on August 11 that impacted more than 10,000 homes. In a letter sent to residents last week, the city stated that it had "completed a thorough investigation" that determined there was "no basis for...
Civil rights groups: Religious freedom act can lead to discrimination
December 12th, 20140 LANSING — Civil rights organizations expressed strong opposition to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) that passed the Michigan House of representatives last week. The bill protects sincerely held religious beliefs from interference by the state. The bill H.B. 5958, was approved in a party line vote in the......
