U.S. Census undercounting Arab Americans raises concerns
According to a recent report from the U.S. Census, 1.5 million Americans are of Arab decent, however that figure is in sharp contrast with another report from the Arab American Institute, an advocacy group based in Washington D.C., which states approximately 3.6 million Arab Americans live in the country. The figure from the U.S....Chase bank criticized by civil rights group for closing business bank account
JPMorgan Chase has come under fire by civil rights groups for abruptly closing a business account for an Arabic language business, without explanation.The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan (CAIR-MI) is asking the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which is a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, to investigate...Detroit emergency manager orders investigation on two employee benefit programs
Orr.DETROIT — Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr has signed and issued an order to open an investigation into the City’s two employee benefit programs. The investigation is being launched by the Inspector General and Auditor General into possible waste, abuse, fraud, and corruption possibly connected with the benefit...LAHC-YLC continue efforts to feed Detroit’s needy
DETROIT — On Tuesday, the Lebanese American Heritage Club (LAHC) and its Young Leaders Committee (YLC) visited the Prayertime Tabernacle C.O.G.C. Church in Detroit and provided food and nutritional supplies to hundreds of people in dire need. This effort was carried out in partnership with Walmart. Over the years, this program,...Three defendants plead guilty to brutal murder of local Arab American man
DEARBORN — Three of the four suspects involved in the case of a local Arab American man, who was brutally murdered at his home last summer, have pleaded guilty to the crime. On June 13, Kristan Kainnadenise Holmes pled guilty to one charge of second degree murder in the death of Hassen Jaber, 45. The counts of felony murder,...Domestic assault suspect arrested; charged with multiple crimes
DEARBORN — On June 6, Dearborn Resident Ferdinand Lansang was apprehended and arrested by Dearborn Police Special Operations officers, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Apprehension Team. Lansang was arraigned by 19th District Court Judge Sam Salamey for ‘assault with intent to murder,’ ‘assault by...Tennessee hopes to be home of Fiat-Chrysler headquarters
While currently based in Auburn Hills, Chrysler, which is in the process of merging with Italian automaker Fiat, is being tempted by Tennessee officials to move its headquarters to their state.Fiat head Sergio Marchionne met with Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Sunday, June 16, at a ceremony to mark the expansion of a Fiat factory in...Michigan Republican Party opens 10 regional offices
LANSING — The Michigan Republican Party announced Tuesday that plans to open 10 regional offices on July 1, 2013. The 10 counties with offices will include Grand Traverse, Ottawa, Kent, Saginaw, Livingston, Kalamazoo, Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne and Macomb. “The Michigan Republican Party’s new political strategy is...Whole Foods Market issues apology for ‘English-only’ policy
Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, released a statement this week, apologizing for the national food chain’s ‘English-only’ policy. The apology comes only days after an online petition, calling on the company to end its ‘English-only’ policy, garnered more than 15,000 signatures within a week. The signatures came...Wayne State University’s incoming president to make over $500,000 a year
DETROIT — Wayne State University's incoming President Dr. M. Roy Wilson is expected to earn over half a million dollars annually in pay, benefits and bonuses, according to his job contract, which was made public on Monday, June 17.He will receive close to $500,000, as a base salary, and at the end of his fifth year, is expected to...HFCC prepares amnesty for students who owe money, lays off 12 employees
DEARBORN — Henry Ford Community College has taken its first steps in finding a solution to some of the financial struggles that it has faced in recent years, which involve students who were abusing financial aid services and now owe the institution money.Earlier this year, the college announced that it would be hiking tuition rates for...Tips to boost your smartphone’s battery life
Smartphones have become such integral parts of our lives that when we see those low battery warnings our hearts sink right along with the power of our mobile devices.And as most smartphone owners use their mobile devices for way more than just calls or texting, this can take a serious toll on battery life.“One of the biggest pain...How to prepare your home’s outdoor space for summer fun
In the warmer months your home’s outdoor space is just as important as the rooms inside, especially if your family spends a lot of time outside.Be it your yard, garden, deck, or patio, there are steps you can take to prep these spaces for a fun and safe season.Pest Prevention Mosquitos aren’t just a pesky deterrent from outdoor...BCBSM grant applications being accepted until July 8th
DETROIT— For the ninth consecutive year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) will award up to one million dollars in grant funding, as part of its Strengthening the Safety Net program, an ongoing effort that the company has championed to help Michigan’s most vulnerable populations get access to better health...TPS open for Syrians living in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that Syrians living in the United States may apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or extended TPS from the last application time, if the individuals entered the country by June 17, 2013.TPS will be granted for 18 months, from October 1, 2012 through March 31, 2015 by showing......
Edward Snowden’s brave choice
Edward Snowden is not a traitor. Nor is he a hero, at least not yet. But he probably will be martyred by an establishment that cannot abide critics.Both House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein, D-California, have called him a traitor, which only shows how ignorant they are. Under the...Sectarianism and the irrational new discourse: Why Arabs must worry
My friend Hanna is Syrian and also happens to be Christian. The latter fact was rarely of consequence, except whenever he wished to boast about the contributions of Arab Christians to Middle Eastern cultures. Of course, he is right. The modern Arab identity has been formulated through a fascinating mix of religions, sects and races.......
Lebanese women caught at Detroit – Canada border trying to smuggle $59K in their bras
DETROIT — A mother and daughter who are both Lebanese were caught trying to smuggle close to $73,000 into the United States from Canada. An estimated $59,000 was found in the women’s bras. A criminal complaint was filed Tuesday in Detroit federal court. The mother, Moura El-Asmar, 51, and the daughter, Jacinta El-Asmar, 16,...
AAPAC begins endorsement process for upcoming elections
June 14th, 20130 DEARBORN — As election season draws closer, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) will soon begin their process of interviewing candidates, in order to determine who will receive the organization's endorsement, before the August 6 primary.Formed in 1998, AAPAC’s membership consists of a diverse group of Arab American...70 years later, remembering the Detroit Riot of ’43
This month marks the 70th anniversary of the Detroit Race Riot of 1943, during which white and black residents of the city clashed and rioted for three straight days after a fight that had taken place between two groups on Belle Isle on June 20, 1943. The riots claimed the lives of 34 Detroiters, wounded 433 and caused $2 million in...Dearborn Planning Commission approves turning City Hall into apartments for artist
The Dearborn Planning Commission recently approved a plan to turn the current Dearborn City Hall on Michigan Avenue into work studios and apartments for low-income artists.The City had previously verbally agreed to sell the building for $1.65 million to Artspace Projects, Inc., a national non- profit organization that helps artists find......
Dearborn’s city council approves fire merger, draws mixed reactions from Melvindale
DEARBORN — This Tuesday, the Dearborn City Council voted 5-0, to approve official plans of a fire department merger with the neighboring City of Melvindale. Officials from both cities are hoping to have operations up and running by September 1, after the Melvindale City Council approves the merger as well.While the decision to move...Arab American scholar and historian dies at 93
Alixa Naff.Arab American historian and scholar Alixa Naff passed away on June 8 at 93 years of age. Naff was widely known for documenting the lives of the first wave of Arab American immigrants. Through her research, Naff greatly contributed to the understanding of the early Arab immigrant experience in the United States, from 1880......
Dix: Home to culture and economic growth, pollution and neglect
June 14th, 20130 DEARBORN — Many Dearborn residents refer to "Dix," an area located just south of Michigan Avenue, between Miller Road and Wyoming Street, as if referencing an area that is detached from the City. If you ask some of the estimated 7,500 people, who reside in this area, they too will admit that they feel like they've been on their...
Gasoline stolen from underground tanks at stations caught on camera
June 14th, 20130 DETROIT — Abdul Beydoun, who owns a gas station here, expressed relief Wednesday, when two men were arrested by police, after getting caught pumping gasoline out of underground tanks and into a tank that was hidden in a van (pictured above) at his BP station. Beydoun says thieves have been stealing gasoline from stations......