Buying or selling a ‘smart’ home? Read this.
January 5th, 20180 By Sheryl Roth Whether you are buying or selling a home, think about the technology you may be buying or selling along with it. Many homes are now "smart" — featuring Internet of things (IoT) devices such as connected thermostats, light bulbs, security systems and energy saving appliances. Here are tips for making sure you are...Year-in review: The top local, national and international stories of 2017
January 5th, 20180 Here's our 2017 year-in-review of the most important news and developments as reported by The Arab American News locally, nationally and internationally. Community and local 1. Former Dearborn City Clerk Kathy Buda was convicted on embezzlement charges, after clerk office employees reported suspicions she was stealing cash from fees...Elections: What to look for in 2018
January 5th, 20180 DEARBORN — This year, Michigan residents will have an opportunity to take part in setting new goals by shaking up the state's leadership, as numerous critical offices in both Washington, D.C. and Lansing become open. The primary election will be held on August 7 and the general election will be held on November 6. United States...Detroit federal judge orders release of detained Iraqis awaiting deportation
January 3rd, 20180 DETROIT — It wasn't in time for the holidays, as the families of about 100 Iraqi detainees had hoped, but U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith has ordered their release. On Tuesday, Goldsmith ordered federal authorities to release Iraqis who have been held for six months or longer, or grant them bond hearings before an...With the frigid temps comes higher bills, help is available to ease energy burden
January 3rd, 20180 DETROIT, MI – Additional funding to help local households during the 2018 winter heating season has come to Wayne County. Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (Wayne Metro) received funding through the 2018 Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) to provide Home Energy Supports and Assistance for individuals and families in...Detroit pharmacy and pharmacist summarily suspended over alleged dispensing controlled substances
December 28th, 20170 LANSING - The Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) served orders summarily suspending the controlled substance license of Joe’s Discount Pharmacy in Detroit and the pharmacist license of Yousef Kosho, who is responsible for the pharmacy’s compliance with the Public Health Code. The Michigan Public Health Code...Apple apologizes after outcry over slowed iPhones, promises to fix battery issues
December 28th, 20170 NEW YORK - Facing lawsuits and consumer outrage after it said it slowed older iPhones with flagging batteries, Apple Inc is slashing prices for battery replacements and will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good. In a posting on its website Thursday, Apple apologized over its handling of the battery...Edward Deeb to be inducted into Michigan Recreation and Park Association Hall of Fame
December 24th, 20170 GROSSE POINTE – Edward Deeb will be inducted into the Michigan Recreation and Park Association Hall of Fame. The former Grosse Pointe resident worked to create, in collaboration with other leaders, the first Metro Detroit Youth Day. Deeb came to the aid of former Mayor Coleman Young, who wanted to bridge a relationship between the...Dearborn Public Schools and community organizations partner against drugs
December 22nd, 20170 DEARBORN — Beginning next semester, SAFE Substance Abuse Coalition will begin instructing elementary and middle school children in the Dearborn Public School System about substance abuse and drug prevention. The partnership is part of a larger initiative started by Superintendent Glen Maleyko and the Dearborn Public...Families await judge’s decision to release Iraqi detainees for Christmas
December 22nd, 20172 DETROIT — Six months ago, about 30 heavily-armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers stormed into the home of Briana Moore and her husband, Ahmed Mohammed, a 52-year-old Iraqi American truck driver who'd served time in prison for allegedly stealing a rental car about a decade ago. "Are you going to kill my dad?" Moore...Abdul El-Sayed hosts town hall with Linda Sarsour and Winnie Wong
December 22nd, 20171 ANN ARBOR — Optimism echoed through the University of Michigan's Union Rogel Ballroom on December 16, as speeches from Abdul El-Sayed, Linda Sarsour and Winnie Wong inspired attendees at a town hall event. More than 100 students and citizens filled the second floor ballroom during finals week to hear the speeches from El-Sayed, a...Barbara Aswad: Mother, social justice advocate, professor
December 22nd, 20170 Barbara Aswad, professor emeritus of anthropology at Wayne State University and advocate for immigrants and low-income Americans, died on November 30, after a brief illness. She was 80 years old. She was born in Kalamazoo, on January 5, 1937, daughter of Robert and Helen Black. She earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the...Obituary: Women’s hall of famer and activist Marcia Federbush (1934-2017)
December 22nd, 20170 Marcia Federbush, an American Palestine human rights activist for the last 14 years of her life, died on Friday, Dec. 15. Before that, she led the country's first Title IX lawsuit against a university, the University of Michigan, charging that in the 1971-72 academic year, the athletic budget for men was $2,611,196, while it was $0...Little Caesars Pizza lawsuit dropped after lawyer receives threats
December 22nd, 20172 DEARBORN — An Arab American attorney, Majed Moughni, has dropped his lawsuit against Little Caesars after receiving racists threats directed towards him and his family on social media. Moughni had filed the suits earlier this year, at the beginning of Ramadan, when he alleged that Little Caesar's had been falsely advertising the...Initiative to end partisan gerrymandering turns in more than 425,000 signatures
December 22nd, 20170 LANSING — Dozens of volunteers with Voters Not Politicians, a volunteer-driven organization focused on ending partisan gerrymandering in Michigan, turned in approximately 180 boxes of petitions with more than 425,000 signatures from each county to the Michigan Bureau of Elections, on Monday surpassing the required 315,654 signatures......
U.S. House gives final approval to tax bill, delivers victory to Trump
December 20th, 20170 WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives gave final approval on Wednesday to the biggest overhaul of the U.S. tax code in 30 years, sending a sweeping $1.5 trillion tax bill to President Trump for his signature. In sealing Trump’s first major legislative victory, Republicans steamrolled opposition from...19th District Court doesn’t employ a full-time Arabic translator
December 15th, 20170 DEARBORN — For 940,500 citizens in Michigan, English is not their first language, according to a 2015 report from Data USA. This can lead to problems at Dearborn's 19th District Court, and many others, as they do not employ full-time translators. The absence of a translator causes problems for residents who don't speak......
$10,000 raised for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
December 15th, 20170 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On Dec. 15, St. Jude's Children's Hospital received a $10,000 check, the funds for which were raised by Star International Academy's girls volleyball team. The team raised the money during the fourth annual month-long "Crush Cancer" donation drive, which focuses on raising awareness about cancer and the impact the...Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center opens third free legal clinic
DETROIT — The Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center (SWIRC) will open its third free legal clinic next month, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Oakland County Bar Foundation, and an additional $25,000 from the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program. SWIRC's first clinic opened up in June 2015 and has since became the...Hearing to be held about the release of Iraqi nationals
December 15th, 20170 DETROIT — On December 20, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith will entertain a motion asking for the immediate release of more than 100 Iraqi nationals. Code Legal Aid and ACLU asked for their immediate release. "These people have businesses, homes and families; they are great contributors to our community," said Nadine Yousif...Dearborn Heights man pleads guilty to bribing officials for pot dispensary
December 15th, 20170 DETROIT — A Dearborn Heights man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to bribing public officials while trying to open a medical marijuana dispensary. Ali Baydoun, 52, could spend up to 16 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a bribery conspiracy charge. His sentencing is scheduled for April. Baydoun reached the plea deal four......
Hate crimes on the rise in Michigan
December 15th, 20170 DETROIT — Hates crimes reported to police in Michigan went up 29 percent last year, according to data released on November 13 by the FBI. The increase saw a spike from 309 reported crimes to 399. "Hate crimes are happening more often than actually reported," said Rashida Tlaib, a former state representative now working with the...Muslimish: The rise of secular voices in Islamic communities
December 15th, 20178 FARMINGTON HILLS — Even in the multicultural Queens, New York City, Noura Embabi greatly felt the ripple effects of anti-Muslim bigotry immediately after Sept. 11, as a 16-year-old high school student. She grew up in an Egyptian Muslim American family, but incidents like a car attempting to run over her family while walking the......
Local teen to face trial for allegedly murdering his mother
December 15th, 20172 FARMINGTON HILLS — During the Dec. 8 preliminary exam for Muhammad Altantawi, who is accused of having killed his mother on Aug. 21, 47th District Court Judge Marla E. Parker determined there was sufficient probable cause that a crime was committed and that Altantawi should face trial. The preliminary exam provides the court with...Two Detroit police officers indicted on charges of robbery, extortion and others
December 13th, 20170 DETROIT -- The United States Attorney's Office were indicted Tuesday a Detroit Police lieutenant and an officer on charges of robbing drug dealers and stealing drugs and money obtained in searches, while four retired officers pleaded guilty in a bribery scandal involving chop shops and towing companies. Lieutenant David Hansberry,......