Jimmy Carter to speak at Islamic convention in Detroit
August 15th, 20140 DETROIT — Former President Jimmy Carter will be the keynote speaker at the 51st Islamic Society of North America Annual Convention in Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 30.The convention, which is usually held in Washington DC or Chicago, draws 15,000 to 20,000 people every year, according to ISNA Secretary General Hazem Bata. It is one of...
Judge in Rasmea Odeh’s case recuses himself
August 15th, 20140 DETROIT — The judge overseeing the trial of Palestinian American activist Rasmea Odeh recused himself from the case on Wednesday, Aug. 12, in a move that was hailed as a victory by her defense committee.Odeh was indicted for allegedly lying on her U.S. citizenship application about a conviction in an Israeli military court decades...
Dearborn outlaws new hookah establishments for six months in regulation attempt
August 15th, 20140 DEARBORN – Following an intense debate, the city council passed a six month moratorium this week banning any new smoking facilities from opening, in an attempt to put a cap on the influx of hookah lounges that have been operating illegally and dominating the business districts.The Arab American News first reported last month that the...
Starbucks publicly denies supporting Israel, but debate rages on
August 15th, 20141 The Starbucks in Dearborn, located on Michigan Ave., is often frequented by Arab Americans. DEARBORN – In a surprise move last week, Starbucks and its CEO Howard Schultz issued a public statement denying that the coffee chain "provides financial support to Israel", calling such claims "false rumors." The...
Tensions mount at city council meeting over ‘Boycott Israel’ proposal
August 15th, 20140 DEARBORN – This week’s city council meeting ended on a tense note after several activists asked the city to consider passing a "Boycott Israel" resolution, which ignited a near confrontation with an Israeli supporter who was holding what appeared to be a gun and displaying the Israeli flag. The Israeli supporter took the podium at...United Airlines to cut jobs at Detroit Metro Airport
DETROIT — United Airlines will lay off more than 100 workers this October at Detroit Metro Airport. The positions that will be mainly affected are service representatives and ramp service workers. Jobs will be transferred to an outside vendor, the name of which is still unknown. The new vendor will most likely offer a...
Miko Peled, the general’s son, to keynote a fundraising dinner for Gaza
August 15th, 20140 Travelling all the time, making appearances in Europe, Africa, Australia, Malaysia, returning to West Bank to participate in demonstrations against Israel, getting arrested, standing in Israel and saying: ”Zionism must go, Israel is an Apartheid regime”, Miko Peled, author of “The General’s Son”, is...10-year-old shoots father after dispute between parents
DETROIT — A physical argument between parents led to their 10-year-old son shooting his father on Monday, Aug. 11 at 3:30 a.m. The child saw his mother being assaulted by the father. To stop the altercation the 10-year-old pulled the gun on his 33-year-old father, shooting him in the back. Police question how the gun was easily...
DOJ reaches settlement with Crestwood School District to improve services for bilingual students
August 14th, 20140 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The civil rights division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, reached a comprehensive settlement agreement with the Crestwood School District in Dearborn Heights to improve educational services for students who are English...Judge in Rasmea Odeh’s case recuses himself
DETROIT - The judge overseeing the trial of Palestinian American activist Rasmea Odeh recused himself from the case today.Odeh was indicted for allegedly lying on her U.S. citizenship application about a conviction in an Israeli military court decades ago. Her defense lawyers had asked U.S. District Judge Paul Borman to step down...
Leaked federal government report alleges Dearborn has the second highest number of terrorists in nation
August 8th, 20140 DEARBORN — Dearborn has the second highest number of "known or suspected terrorists" in the country, according to government classified documents published by The Intercept, an online news outlet that covers national security.However, 40 percent of people nationwide on the Terrorist Screening Database, which is a watch list of...
IVF Michigan looks to restore hope for couples struggling with infertility
August 8th, 20140 DEARBORN – IVF Michigan has officially begun its next chapter of expansion with the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art facility in Bloomfield Hills. Currently operating five offices, IVF Michigan is the state's leading infertility clinic and has brought joy to thousands of couples who were struggling with...
Detroiters rally for Iraq, promote unity
August 8th, 20140 Muslim-Americans rally for unity in Iraq, and condemn ISIS alongside Iraqi Christians.DETROIT — “I always wanted to go back and visit my hometown where everyone came from, but I can’t even go back,” said Evan Kajy, a Chaldean American. “A piece of me is now lost. It will always be gone forever. When I think about the fact that...
ADC demands immediate removal of offensive Anti-Arab applications
August 8th, 20140 DEARBORN — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page on Monday strongly condemning and demanding the immediate removal of Google Play's offensive anti-Arab applications "Bomb Gaza", "Gaza Assault: Code Red" and "Whack the Hamas", among others.The applications turns the massacre...
Fordson High School students raise about $2,000 for children in Gaza
August 8th, 20140 DEARBORN — Fordson High School Key Club members raised about $2000 for victims of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The money will be donated to the Palestinian Children Relief Fund (PCRF). “I’m so proud of our students,” said Fordson Key Club Advisor Zinab Zriek. The students raised the money at local businesses including......
Theodore Wafer found guilty of second degree murder
August 8th, 20140 DETROIT — On Thursday, Theodore Wafer was found guilty of second degree murder by a jury. The jury’s verdict comes after Wafer testified Tuesday at his murder trial. The Dearborn Heights resident fatally shot 19-year-old Renisha McBride on his front porch early November. While testifying in court this week, Wafer...
Out of 61,266 registered voters in Dearborn, only 10,266 voted
August 8th, 20140 DEARBORN — Voter turnout during primary elections is typically low across the state. In Dearborn on Tuesday, the voter turnout was 17 percent. There were 61,266 registered voters in the city, which has a population of roughly 100,000, but only 10,749 ballots were cast. Of that number, 2,924 republican ballots; 7,183 democratic......
Low number of voters, campaigners at the polls in Dearborn
August 8th, 20140 DEARBORN – For most of the races on Tuesday's ballot, winning the primary meant winning the election. However, most polling places in Dearborn looked like classrooms during lunch break. It was a gloomy day; it rained throughout the morning and afternoon, as all Arab American candidates lost their bids for their respective...
Arab American candidates Berry, Tlaib and Baydoun lose primary election races; Evans elected Wayne County Executive
August 8th, 20140 DEARBORN — All three Arab American candidates who were endorsed by The Arab American News (TAAN) and Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) for Tuesday’s Aug. 5 primary elections were unsuccessful in their bids. Meanwhile, a few non-Arab candidates who received endorsements from TAAN and AAPAC won their respective...
Judge dismisses claims of voter fraud in Dearborn Heights; ADC-MI claims votes were suppressed
August 8th, 20140 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – A Wayne County Circuit Court Judge dismissed claims of voter fraud involving absentee ballots in Dearborn Heights on Wednesday, August 6, less than 24 hours after the polls were closed and the absentees were halted from being counted.Judge Robert J. Colombo, Jr. heard testimony from Dearborn Heights City Clerk...Water declared safe after emergency in Toledo and southeast Michigan
MICHIGAN — On Saturday, August 2, residents in Toledo and parts of southeast Michigan were warned not to drink from or bathe in tap water because of it was deemed hazardous. But the water has since been given the “all clear” by Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins, who deemed it safe for the residents in the two states. Chemical......
Diversity and perception among local communities discussed at luncheon
August 8th, 20140 Left to right: McQuade, Jensen, Reeves and Jaafar.DEARBORN HEIGHTS – More than 65 attendees turned out at the Al-Ameer restaurant last week for the "Images and Perception Diversity Conference Sponsorship Appreciation Luncheon." The event was hosted by 3D Consulting & Communication, which earlier this year held its 12th annual...
12-year old boy fatally stabs 9-year-old boy at playground
August 8th, 20140 KENTWOOD — Around 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, a 12-year-old boy repeatedly stabbed a 9-year-old on a playground in Kentwood in western Michigan. A group of children were playing when the 12-year-old, for unknown reasons, pulled out a knife and continued to stab Michael Conner Verkerke. After the stabbing, the 12-year-old used a......
Dearborn Heights residents accuse city clerk of voter suppression at city council meeting
August 1st, 20140 Local residents protest at the City Council meeting.DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Dozens of local Arab American residents attended the city council meeting on Tuesday, July 29 to express their concerns after being denied the right to acquire absentee ballots. They also demanded City Clerk Walter Prusiewicz step down from his post at once.Tension...
Rashida Tlaib a relentless advocate for her constituents
August 1st, 20140 DETROIT — As she knocks on doors, wearing khaki shorts, a purple shirt, a grey sweater and running shoes, State Rep. Rashida Tlaib looks like an adult Girl Scout. But she is not selling baked goods; she is trying to earn the recognition of the voters in a district that is more than 95 percent new to her."I am State Rep. Rashida......
