Prankster puts sale signs on Detroit statues
DETROIT - Sale signs were seen hanging from the necks of the statues of former Detroit politicians Hazen S. Pingree and William C. Maybury at Grand Circus Park. The signs, which were spotted on Wednesday, Aug. 13, were large and neon green. On each was a phrase, reading, “Motor City Going Out of Business Sale!"Social media accounts...Crime rate could drive gas station owner out of Detroit
DETROIT — For gas station owners in the City, running a business only seems to be getting more difficult and dangerous every day, as the rise of crime and poor police response times get worse. Last Sunday, during the early afternoon, $3,000 in merchandise was robbed from a station, after thieves came in and stole merchandise. The...Local teen arrested for weapons violation, after FBI suspects him of al-Qaeda ties
DEARBORN — Last week, a local man was arrested at his residency for a weapons violation after an FBI agent had questioned him about possible ties to al-Qaeda, according to the Dearborn Police Department.On the morning of Friday, August 9, the 19-year-old was awakened when his probation office, and the FBI agent had knocked on his door...Judge issues $9 million bond in Medicare fraud case
ROCHESTER HILLS — A judge ordered a $9 million bond this week in the case involving a local physician who stands accused of Medicare fraud, and misdiagnosing patients with cancer to enrich himself. In a hearing Tuesday, before U.S. District Judge Sean Cox, Dr. Fata’s defense attorney argued that an order by a judge to have...Annual Eid Festival collaborative effort between community organizations
DEARBORN — The annual “Eid Festival” was held on Sunday, Aug. 11. Abathar Alkudari, a festival organizer, said that close to 7,000 people attended the event, which was, once again, a success in its fourth year. The festival took place on the soccer field that is adjacent to the Henry Ford Centennial Library. Its focus...City Council to vote on Dearborn Planning Commission recommendation for garage ordinance
DEARBORN — The City’s Planning Commission sent a copy this week of a revised garage use ordinance for recommendation to city council for approval. The move comes nearly six months after deliberations, which were accompanied by a reaction and feedback from residents. On Monday, the Commission voted 8-0, with one member...Dearborn Finance Department awarded for excellence in financial reporting
DEARBORN — For the 14th year in a row, the City of Dearborn’s Finance Department has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of government,...Local Pro-Morsi protesters condemn Cairo violence
DEARBORN — Hundreds of local residents gathered outside of the Henry Ford Centennial Library on Wednesday, August 14, to condemn the massacre that occurred in Cairo earlier that day, when the country's military regime, aided with snipers and bulldozers, left close to 500 protestors dead and over 1,000 injured as of Thursday....
Family and friends honor Helen Thomas legacy at memorial service
August 16th, 20130 TROY — Family and friends of Helen Thomas gathered at the St. George Orthodox Church here Thursday, where the legendary White House Correspondent was remembered at a memorial service in her honor.The public knew Thomas as a tough and courageous journalist, but family members of the icon shared stories about who she was outside of the...
Primary election a victory for local communities, despite low turn-out
August 9th, 20130 DEARBORN — Despite lower turnouts across the board, the Primary elections ended on a positive note for the Arab and Muslim American communities in Dearborn and Hamtramck.Attracting the majority of the attention in Dearborn was the city council race, which saw three first-time Arab American city council candidates advance to the...1.8 million to face cuts in food assistance this fall in Michigan
MICHIGAN — In Michigan, 1.8 million people will see a cut in their food assistance benefits this fall, when a temporary boost to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps — is set to expire, according to a new report from the Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy...National group hosts Dearborn iftar with Syrian Ambassador to UN, religious and community leaders
DEARBORN — More than 400 Arab Americans gathered here Friday, Aug. 2 at Greenfield Manor, where Dr. Bashar Al-Jaafari, Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and Archbishop Louka Al-Khour, deputy patriarch of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, spoke at an Iftar dinner. Those who attended the event are supporters of...Syria’s ambassador to UN discusses opposition, Geneva II and future of Syria
Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, said that the Syrian crisis will be solved at the right moment, when the internal, regional and international dimensions of the war positively overlap.He added that such a solution is not simple and involves aspects that the Syrian government cannot control on its own. "We...
Vacant stores in west Dearborn: A challenge for City, business owners
August 9th, 20130 Dearborn is the birthplace of Henry Ford, an American symbol of innovation and prosperity. The City is also home to the Greenfield Village, Ford Motor Company’s world headquarters and dozens of other cultural, dining and commercial attractions. However, the City’s west side downtown area does not seem to be in the best possible...Lansing woman buys explosive device from garage sale
LANSING — A woman unknowingly purchased an explosive device at a Lansing area garage sale on Sunday, Aug. 4. According to a WXLI- TV report, the Michigan State Police bomb squad successfully defused the bomb, after responding to a call from the woman's house. No injuries were reported.The woman says that she had visited......
Head of Detroit FBI steps down, makes tough career choice for family
Detroit--Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Foley announced this week that he is leaving the City, after less than a year on the job, for personal reasons.Foley has decided to step down to dedicate more time to his family. His decision was made after a family member developed a health problem, during his tenure in Detroit....“Transformer 4” filming in Detroit
DETROIT — The Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit was transformed into a movie set this week, as filming commenced in the City on Sunday, Aug. 4 for the "Transformers 4" movie. The bus station and surrounding streets were shut down on Sunday at 5 a.m. and reopened on Monday at 4 a.m. The Detroit Department of......
Orr hires auction firm to value DIA art
DETROIT — Emergency Manager Kevin Orr has hired Christie’s Appraisals, a New York-based international auction house, to appraise the City-owned collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Orr said, in a statement on Monday, August 5, that the City's plan has never been to sell art, but the City must know the current value of...Cancer doctor accused of misdiagnosing patients to enrich himself
ROCHESTER HILLS —A physician is accused of misdiagnosing patients with cancer and making them undergo chemotherapy deliberately to enrich himself. Dr. Farid Fata was arrested Tuesday morning at his Rochester Hills practice by federal agents. He appeared in court Thursday, and faced Judge David Grant who set the conditions of...Law Corner: Injured employees usually cannot sue their employer
Michigan, like many states, utilizes a workers’ compensation system to provide for medical care and lost wages for employees who are injured on the job. Under the workers’ compensation system, most employers are required to obtain workers’ compensation insurance. In the event that an employee is injured, or becomes ill...Ficano initiative aims to generate revenues for financially distressed municipalities
WAYNE COUNTY — An initiative launched by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano is continuing to bring municipal leaders from across the County together to engage in important conversations about generating different streams of revenue for communities that have been struggling financially as a result of the 2008 housing......
Community rallies in support of International Al-Quds Day
DEARBORN — Rallies in support of International Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day are held locally and throughout the Middle East and the world each year on the last Friday of Ramadan. This year community members gathered on Aug. 2 outside of Dearborn City Hall. Demonstrators held up signs, banners and flags, in support of...
Dearborn Primary election results: Three first time Arab American candidates advance
August 7th, 20130 DEARBORN-The Primary election results are in, and despite a low turn-out, three first time Arab American city council candidates landed in the Top 14, and will be advancing to the November elections.Mike Sareini, with 5,302 votes, came in second place on the ballot. He received endorsements from both the Arab American Political Action......
We must rid our justice system of racial and class bias
In conjunction with the observance of the 85th birthday of the late Martin Luther King, Jr. in January, the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights is organizing a community-wide conversation with the goal of ridding our justice system of racial and class bias.Representatives of police agencies and courts, together with clergy, interested...What you need to know for Election Day
• If you experience any difficulty on Election Day and need assistance, whether it’s regarding getting translation in Arabic, or if you have questions about your ballot, or voting in general, AAPAC volunteers will be at The Arab American News’ office until the polls close, to assist voters. AAPAC members can be reached on Election......
