Michigan voters divided on emergency managers
DETROIT — A new WXYZ-TV/Free Press poll shows that 58% of people oppose raising fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees to fund road and bridge improvements.Those in favor voted at a 36% rate according to the poll. Among those opposed, 41% said they were strongly against it. The overall pool of respondents was 600 people from Jan....DHS and State Housing Authority team up to provide additional rent or mortgage assistance
Beginning Feb. 1, families affected by cash benefit lifetime limits could qualify for a total of six months housing assistance through a Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) program. Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura D. Corrigan and a MSHDA Executive...Wayne County honoring Black History Month
DETROIT — February is Black History Month, and Wayne County is celebrating by installing a set of displays highlighting various inspirational African American achievements, milestones, leaders, and more in the city's Guardian Building, including local heroes. The exhibit will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday...New bill would require community service for cash assistance
LANSING — Joe Hune, a Republican senator from the 22nd district in Livingston County, Shiawassee County, and a portion of southern Ingham County, introduced a new bill that says people who get assistance from the state in the form of cash should be required to do community service. Examples he listed include highway...Terry Jones plans April 7 Dearborn protest at ICA
Controversial Florida Pastor Terry Jones is planning to protest in front of the Islamic Center of America on April 7. Speaking to The Arab American News by phone he invited Islamic religious leaders and Muslims to “make their case against him” there. A significant number of Jones’ supporters are expected to attend the...
Campaign spot begs question: Is Obama running for president, or Prime Minister of Israel?
February 2nd, 20120 Is Barack Obama running for reelection as President of the United States or Prime Minister of Israel? A new Obama campaign video makes it increasingly hard to tell, and even more ominously ratchets further the Israelization of US politics.False hopes of change U..S President Barack Obama was elected in 2008 amid expectations that he...Rights groups announce motion to dismiss football assault charges against local teens
SOUTHFIELD — A motion to dismiss assault charges against four Star International Academy football players was announced at a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 24, as a coalition of civil rights leaders spoke out against what they called a "sloppy" and biased investigation by Dearborn Heights police. Standing:Star International Academy...Children witnessing domestic violence become victims too
DEARBORN - One local woman is walking around with plates and screws in her body after being physically abused by her husband. She has a dislocated hip, injured knee, broken femur and finger. WYXZ Action News, Channel 7 anchor Carolyn Clifford, ACCESS Victim of Crime Program Supervisor, Mona Makki, ACCESS Domestic...Former area student missing in Syria
FARMINGTON HILLS — Syrian American Obada Mzaik, age 21 and a former Oakland Community College student, has gone missing in Syria according to his uncle Dr. Firas Nashef. Mzaik is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Syria who was born in Columbus, Ohio and was detained in Damascus after spending about six months in the U.S.His uncle...
Suspected Highland Park gas station killers taken to jail
January 26th, 20120 Mayor Windom meets with city owners to discuss safety measures Hussein, 59HIGHLAND PARK – City police have jailed two men believed to be connected with last week's fatal shooting of clerk Hassan Ali Hussein on parole violations Monday according to Mayor Deandre Windom. The men remain in jail while investigators build a case...New bills to be introduced that increase cost of vehicle registration fees and tax changes
The Michigan Legislature is expected to introduce new bills that would boost the cost of vehicle registration fees and tax changes to collect money to fix roads. The bills have already received support from Gov. Rick Snyder who pointed out that addressing road problems now makes more financial sense. The cost of repairing roads in the...Michigan AG says 1,000 new police officers should be hired using surplus
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said 1,000 new police officers should be hired using funds from the recently announced state budget surplus. He noted that several communities are short on law enforcement officials. Since 2001 more than 3,000 police officers have lost their jobs according to a report. Gov. Rick Snyder is expected...Macomb County receives over $2 million for housing projects, revitalizing neighborhoods
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs has awarded Macomb County with $2.7 million to build new housing and revitalize neighborhoods. The money will be used by communities within the county that aren’t eligible for such grants independently. Sterling Heights...Michigan Civil Rights Commission welcomes new members, elects officers
LANSING — The Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) elected officers for the new year at its first business meeting of 2012 this week while welcoming new members.The newly-elected leaders include: J. Michael Zelley of Grand Blanc as Chair; Lisa Peeples-Hurst of Benton Harbor as Vice Chair; Jared Rodriguez of Portland as...Secretary of State gathers six tons of food for needy
LANSING — Food contributions for the 2011 Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign significantly topped last year's with more than six tons of food raised for local hungry families.The SOS' employees and customers donated more than $4,400 and nearly 12,000 pounds of food this time around. The program raised about 9,000 pounds of food......
Snyder highlights unfinished work to do in State of the State
LANSING — Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was optimistic during his 2012 State of the State address about Michigan's future, noting the unemployment rate has dropped from 11.1 percent to 9.3 percent, which drew applause. SnyderThe number does not take into account people who have quit looking and part-time workers who'd rather work...
Occupy Detroit, Arab Americans pledge solidarity with Egyptians
January 26th, 20120 DETROIT — The one-year anniversary of the revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak sent hundreds of thousands of Egyptians into the streets on Jan. 25, and also stopped traffic down Woodward here as demonstrators marched in solidarity. Members of Occupy Detroit and the Arab American community joined together in a group of about......
GPS spying: Supreme Court says police need a warrant
January 26th, 20120 The Supreme Court came to a landmark decision Monday morning, voting unanimously that police agencies must obtain search warrants before they can install GPS tracking devices on the vehicles of suspects. Although all justices voted that police must obtain a warrant, the reasoning differed among those involved. In a 5-4 split over the...Robert Ficano: There are no sweetheart deals
When asked whether he would resign in the wake of new reports surfacing on additional county employees receiving sweetheart deals, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano said, "there are no sweetheart deals. People participated in buyout programs that were offered to over 200 employees." He says other companies are offering similar...Will Obama resist push for Iran war?
Neocons in Israel and the United States are escalating their rhetoric to prepare us for war with Iran. Even the infamous John Yoo, architect of President George W. Bush’s illegal torture and spying programs, is calling on the Republican presidential candidates to “begin preparing the case for a military strike to destroy Iran’s...Mentally disabled man may be sent to Iraq after conviction
CLINTON TWP. — Muwafak Zaya, a 40-year-old Clinton Township man, may be sent to Iraq because of a 2005 criminal conviction according to local reports. Muwafak Zaya, right, with his brother and guardian, Mazin Abro.The man has the mental capacity of a young child but is facing deportation because of his 2005 guilty plea to......
Dearborn School board member Berry wins national award for service to youth
Hussein BerryNEW YORK — The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) announced that Hussein Berry, the co-founder and president of the Dearborn Youth Football Association and also a member of the Dearborn School Board, will be honored for his decade-long work as a mentor and advocate in his community on behalf of area youth.Berry is one...Ambassador Bridge owner Moroun released from jail
DETROIT – Billionaire and Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel (Matty) Moroun was released from Wayne County Jail on Friday night of last week after a motion was granted to release him through the Michigan Court of Appeals. Dan Stamper, his top aide, was also freed. The appeals court Thursday denied their motion to overturn the main......
Snyder praises immigrants in State of the State address
January 20th, 20120 Rick SnyderLANSING — Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's State of the State speech this week included nods to immigrants, keeping up the drumbeat for immigrants as job creators and innovators. Governor Snyder has repeatedly called for preserving high-level science, tech, engineering and math talent in Michigan by enacting...Fakih to stand trial for DUI in March
HIGHLAND PARK — A judge has ordered former Miss USA Rima Fakih of Dearborn to stand trial on a misdemeanor drunken driving charge after a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday.The hearing was held in the city's 30th District court, and a bench trial was set for March 14 by Judge Brigette Officer. Fakih was arrested on Dec. 3 after she......