Lead still found in some Flint water
FLINT — Five months after Flint changed its water supply due to problems with lead contamination and discolored drinking water, nearly 9 percent of the city's sites tested for lead in the water continue to exceed federally acceptable limits, the governor's office said on Tuesday. Of 423 sites tested recently, lead concentration in...
Community concerned after triple murders in Indiana
March 4th, 20160 DEARBORN — Less than 13 months after the Chapel Hill, N.C. shooting, which claimed the lives of three Muslims, activists are alarmed by the murder of three young Sudanese Americans in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Mohamedtaha Omar, 23; Adam Mekki, 20 and Muhannad Tairab, 17, were shot "execution-style" on Feb. 24 in a home police described...
‘It’s Ramadan’ campaign aims to expand message on Comcast
March 3rd, 20160 DEARBORN — A Ramadan commercial that aired on Comcast last year was so well received that the non-profit organization behind the campaign is looking to expand the message to a wider audience this year. The Dearborn-based non-profit organization Motion Projects conceived the campaign "It's Ramadan", featuring the commercial that...
Majority of Michigan Republicans want Muslims banned
March 3rd, 20160 DETROIT – 61 percent of Republicans in Michigan support Trump’s statement to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., according to a poll conducted by WXYZ/Detroit Free Press. The poll was conducted by EPIC MRA with WXYZ media partners in Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing and Detroit.Only 32% of Republicans in...Susan Dabaja announces run for Dearborn Judge
Dabaja.DEARBORN – City Council President Susan A. Dabaja announced her candidacy for 19th District Court judge this week.Dabaja seeks to replace Judge William C. Hultgren, whose term finishes at the end of the year.Born and raised in Dearborn, Dabaja is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the University of...
Three Muslims shot dead ‘execution style’ in Indiana
February 27th, 20160 POLICE: Three Muslim males found in E. Lewis Street home shot dead execution styleFORT WAYNE, Ind.— The three victims whose bodies were found in a Fort Wayne home this week all died of gunshot wounds, the Allen County Coroner’s Office said early Friday. The bodies of Mohamedtaha Omar, 23, Adam K. Mekki, 20, and Muhannad...
Presidential candidates stance on Islamophobia
February 26th, 20160 Sanders brings a Muslim student to the stage at a rally in Virginia.With an alarming increase in anti-Islamic sentiments in the U.S. over the last year, Muslim residents are looking at the potential presidential candidates based on which have spoken up for the community. Many Muslim residents would agree it is a trying time for the...
City officials still hesitant on ‘Welcoming refugees’ resolution
February 26th, 20160 An SJL member addresses City Council members last December.DEARBORN — Despite persistent efforts led by students from the Social Justice League (SJL) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, city officials are still hesitant to pass a resolution that welcomes Syrian refugees. Members of the student organization originally spoke...Channel 7 hires new reporter
Chowdry.DETROIT — Channel 7 Action news announced the addition of a new reporter this week. Syma Chowdhry is joining as a reporter for "The Now," the daily news and information program airing weekdays at 4 p.m. on WXYZ-TV. "Syma's experience makes her an ideal fit for "The Now," said Dave Manney, news director for WXYZ and WMYD in...Crestwood Schools to increase parental, community involvement
Crestwood advisory team members.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Crestwood School District is increasing parental involvement with teachers about students' educational needs and activities, in conjunction with Tuesday's 40th anniversary of Title I. As discussed at the Crestwood Advisory Team (CAT) meeting, the federal Title I program provides...Duggan optimistic about future in state of the city address
DETROIT — Speaking both of progress and remaining challenges, Mayor Mike Duggan struck an optimistic tone Tuesday night in his third State of the City Address, sharing his own 'five-point' plan to grow the city's economic comeback. During the speech, which was interrupted three times by hecklers, Duggan touted the positive attention...
Hijabi Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad seeks to inspire
February 26th, 20160 Ibtihaj Muhammad "I told her to bring home the gold," President Obama told the crowd during his first visit to a mosque in Baltimore last month. He was talking about hijabi fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who will represent the United States in Rio De Janeiro this summer, becoming the first American Muslim to compete in the...Greektown Casino will soon be called “Jack”
DETROIT — Greektown Casino will be changing its name to "Jack" by late 2016. Following Dan Gilbert's acquirement of the casino, the $40 million rebranding project aims to unite the business mogul's three other casinos under one theme. The official name, Jack Detroit Casino Hotel Greektown, suggested by one of Gilbert's...Bloomberg Businessweek highlights contributions of refugees in Detroit
Renan Sadak, who was featured in the article. Photo: Ali Lapetina for Bloomberg BusinessweekDETROIT — A Bloomberg.com article highlighted the economic contributions of Arab refugees to the local economy.The story published on Feb. 18 was titled, "Detroit’s Comeback Has an Arabic Accent." It conveyed the personal stories of Iraqi...CBS names Najah Bazzy among inspirational women impacting Detroit
Najah BazzyDETROIT — CBS named Arab American humanitarian Najah Bazzy as one of five "inspirational women" impacting Metro Detroit in a special dubbed "Eye On The Future: The Power Of Women." GM Chairwoman and CEO Mary Barra heads up the line up of the CBS show, which will air on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. on CBS......
N.Y. Magazine taps Rashida Tlaib, 9 others, to be “next Obama”
Rashida TlaibDETROIT — New York Magazine named former State Rep. Rashida Tlaib as one of 10 Democrats who could be a "next Obama" in the Democratic Party.In an article published Thursday, the magazine argued that the Democratic leadership is getting old and named up-and-coming activists who represent the future of the party.Marin...Local candidate for State Rep. receives hate mail
DEARBORN – Abdullah Hammoud, a Democratic candidate in the 15th District State Representative race, said he received an unlabeled envelope over Valentine’s Day weekend containing his campaign mailer, ripped and defaced with the words “No More Arabs” and “Go Back To Lebanon.”His campaign mailer was sent to thousands of......
Court of appeals’ ruling could overturn Odeh’s conviction
February 25th, 20160 Odeh (R) standing with her supporters outside the federal courthouse, March, 2015CINCINNATI — A federal court of appeals ruled in favor of Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh, who had been found guilty of immigration fraud for failing to disclose that she was jailed in Israel on her U.S. naturalization application.The Sixth Circuit Court...Michigan woman has confirmed case of Zika Virus
LANSING. – Michigan health officials have identified the first confirmed case of Zika virus in a Michigan resident. The patient, a female resident of Ingham County, contracted the virus when traveling in a country where Zika virus is being transmitted. The patient, who was not pregnant, experienced...Michigan Uber driver admits role in deadly shooting spree
Jason Dalton, 45KALAMAZOO — A man working as an Uber driver admitted to the fatal weekend shootings of six people in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a police detective testified in a case raising questions about how the car service vets its drivers. Jason Dalton, 45, was denied bail as he made his first court...
Michigan Senate approves $30 million to help pay Flint water bills
February 23rd, 20160 FLINT - Residents of Flint one of the poorest cities in the United States, will get $30 million to help pay their water bills after a lead contamination crisis, under a bill unanimously approved by the Michigan Senate on Tuesday.Gov. Rick Snyder plans to sign the bill, which had been passed unanimously by the state's......
Uber driver arrested for shooting rampage that killed 6 in Kalamazoo
February 21st, 20160 Jason Dalton.KALAMAZOO - A gunman killed six people and wounded two in apparently random shootings in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, before being arrested early on Sunday, a prosecutor said. A television station reported the suspect was an Uber driver who took fares between shootings. The 45-year-old suspect, Jason Dalton, was believed to...Tainted Flint water pipes being located and replaced
FLINT ― Work has begun to survey and replace the city’s network of underground lead-contaminated water pipes following a budget resolution of $25 million last month to replace the water infrastructure.In collaboration with Rowe Professional Services, a Flint-based engineering firm, the state legislature passed an agreement to update......
Warren man awarded as hero for saving stabbing victim’s life
Didarul Sarder.WARREN ― The Hamtramck resident and General Motors Tech Center valet supervisor who saved a women’s life after being stabbed outside the building last Wednesday was honored.On Thursday, Didarul Sarder was given a proclamation by Warren Mayor Jim Fouts and a $1,000 gift certificate to a Shelby Township jewelry...State Rep. candidate Brian Stone advocates for Arab and Muslim Americans
Brian Stone. DEARBORN — Dearbornites can be particularly picky about their state representative – and for good reason. This past year, the city’s Arab and Muslim Americans have endured racist and Islamophobia attacks by presidential candidates, far right-wing groups and by both the federal and state government. For many, Brian......
