Egyptian American doctor returns to Detroit as health department director
October 2nd, 20150 Abdul El-Sayed.DETROIT — As a child whose family emigrated from the Middle East in the 1970s, Abdul El-Sayed said defining his identity was complicated. “There’s always a question about where you’re actually from,” El-Sayed said. “Are you from America? Are you from Egypt? For me, I could always answer that question by...
Arab Americans impact the homeless in Detroit
October 2nd, 20150 Project Dignity Outreach volunteers serve food on Third Avenue, in mid-town Detroit. DETROIT — "This is godsend," said Francois, a homeless Detroit native who was waiting in line for a warm plate of food on a Sunday afternoon. "Without these people coming out here, we would probably starve. I really appreciate what these guys are...
Arab and Chaldean leaders announce newly formed coalition
October 2nd, 20150 Arab and Chaldean leaders meet at The Arab American News office.DEARBORN — Local leaders and activists are forming a new coalition aimed at building bridges and promoting understanding between the Arab American and Chaldean American communities, following escalating tensions last month involving a proposed and rejected Sterling...
Horrific car accident kills Hamtramck teen
October 1st, 20150 Mohamed HusseinHAMTRAMCK— A single-car accident on Davison Avenue claimed the life of Hamtramck teenager Mohamed Hussein at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30.Khalil Al-Refai, a Hamtramck police officer and Muslim chaplain who knew Hussein since he immigrated from Yemen as a child with his family, said the late teen had a great moral...
NDAA report urges government to evacuate U.S. citizens in Yemen
October 1st, 20150 “The situation in Yemen is dire and many of my constituents or their family members have been trapped in the country for months" -Rep. DingellWASHINGTON– The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) congressional conference report urged President Obama to work with international partners to protect non-combatants and assist in the...
Gordie Howe International Bridge to double truck traffic in already polluted area
September 29th, 20150 When the second bridge opens truck traffic will grow at the rate of 2.5 percent per year, which will result in a 109 percent increase in 30 years from today's traffic.DETROIT—Patricia Gonzalez can’t imagine living in Southwest Detroit’s Delray Neighborhood after the Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB) opens and truck traffic...
Dearborn removes Hubbard’s statue from former city hall
September 29th, 20150 Workers taking down the statue of Orville Hubbard, Sept, 29DEARBORN – Workers Tuesday morning removed the 10-foot bronze statue of Dearborn's segregationist mayor, Orville Hubbard, from its perch next to the former city hall.A supervisor on the scene said they were taking the statue to the Dearborn Historical Museum, where it will be...
Livonia father charged with infant’s murder
September 28th, 20150 LIVONIA – A Livonia man has been charged with felony murder and child abuse in the death of his 10-week-old child.Livonia police responded to the report of an unresponsive infant child Monday, Sept. 21 on the 3800 block of Summers Street. Officers were told the 33-year-old father fell down a flight of stairs in the home while holding...
Dearborn Heights businesses collect donations for refugees
September 25th, 20150 Zahra Colette Saad stands in front of donations dropped by her storeDEARBORN HEIGHTS— The refugee crisis in the Middle East is the worst since World War II. The photo of one child captured the agonizing scope of the tragedy and made citizens of the world feel a responsibility to help their fellow humans. Moved by the photo of...
UM-D professor and African American activist Ahmad Rahman dies at 64
September 25th, 20150 Professor Rahman. DEARBORN — Dr. Ahmad Rahman was known as a boon to youth, the African American community and students on the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus. Rahman, an associate professor of African and African American history at the university, died Monday night at his home in Belleville. He was 64. The cause of death...
Sterling Heights mosque, Texas student, take center stage at ADC Judges Night
September 25th, 20151 ADC-MI Director Fatina Abdrabboh. DEARBORN — During his keynote address at the 13th annual Guardians of Justice Judges Night Awards Banquet, Sept. 17, Carlton Waterhouse, a professor of law and dean's fellow at the University of Indiana Law School, challenged the audience to think about what their legacy will be and encouraged them to...
Dearborn Heights resident returns home after six months of captivity in Yemen
September 25th, 20150 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Former U.S. Marine Sam Farran arrived home on Tuesday after being held hostage by Houthi rebels for six months in Yemen. Farran, 54, a Lebanese American Dearborn Heights resident, was held hostage in Sanaa, along with Scott Darden, a 45-year-old employee of the New Orleans-based company Transoceanic Development....
U of M Facebook features Arab American professor, gets strong response
September 24th, 20150 Matthew Stiffler Photo: U of MANN ARBOR – Matthew Stiffler was good at math and science, so he went to college to study chemistry. But topics presented in history lectures and readings for literature courses turned those subjects into his passion. On Facebook on Wednesday, the...
Local activists slam Dr. Carson for anti-Muslim comments
September 24th, 20150 Dr. Carson at the Heritage Action for America presidential candidate forum in Greenville, S.C., Sept. 18 Photo: ReutersDEARBORN— Local activists slammed Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson for saying he would be opposed to a Muslim becoming president of the United States. The retired neurosurgeon responded to a...
Sen. Peters: The U.S. should do its part to help refugees
September 23rd, 20150 "I believe the 10,000 number is inadequate; we need to have a larger number ." -Sen. PetersDEARBORN — After witnessing the hopelessness at Jordan's Zaatari refugee camp, the temporary home of 80,000 Syrians, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich), believes the United States should come to the aid of the struggling people of Syria."It was quite an......
MLive newspapers publish joint editorial against expelled Rep. Gamrat’s re-election bid
September 21st, 20150 After former state Rep. Cindy Gamrat, R-Plainwell, was expelled from the Michigan House last week, she filed to run in the special election to fill her old seat. The Grand Rapids Press and Kalamazoo Gazette editorial boards, whose newspaper coverage areas include the 80th district Gamrat represented, published a joint editorial...
Rand Paul favored by Michigan GOP activists in straw poll
September 21st, 20150 Kentucky Sen. Rand PaulMACKINAC ISLAND – Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul won the presidential straw poll at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference this weekend, receiving 22 percent of the vote among the field of 16 candidates.Carly Fiorina, former Hewlett-Packard CEO, captured 15 percent of the vote to take second. Ohio Gov. John......
Pizza delivery man abducted and robbed inside an abandoned Detroit home
September 18th, 20150 Youssef Harajly, a pizza delivery man for Pizza Place, was robbed and abducted inside an abandoned Detroit home. DEARBORN - Youssef Harajly never thought his life would be in danger on his way to delivering three large pizzas to a Detroit home on the evening of Saturday, September 12. But the outcome...
Chicago’s Arab Americans celebrate food and culture
September 18th, 20150 CHICAGO — Celebrating food and culture, a thriving Arab American community united at the Lebanese Food Festival on September 4 in a suburb of one the country's most abundant Arab populated cities – Chicago.Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church's eighth annual three-day cultural festival was attended by an estimated 5,000...
New Yogurtopia location in East Dearborn to celebrate grand opening
September 18th, 20150 DEARBORN — With self-serve stations and fair-trade, gluten-free and vegan products, the Yogurtopia location in East Dearborn is bringing new options and a new atmosphere to the heart of the city. “Customers come in curious to see what it is and how it works,” said Abir Mehanna, who operates the business with her husband,...
Ph.D candidate examines history and progress of performance in Arab American community
September 18th, 20150 DEARBORN — Meiver De La Cruz’s connection with Arabic dance began with a bump in an elevator. Coin belts fell out of the bag of the woman she ran into, which led to a conversation about belly dancing and De La Cruz’s first lesson on the folk dance. “The aesthetics of movement capture my imagination,” De La Cruz said.......
Meeting addresses representation of Arabs and Muslims, how to improve it
September 18th, 20150 DEARBORN — On the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, journalists from the community and across the country gathered to discuss the shift in perception and representation of Arab and Muslim Americans after the attacks. The town hall meeting, held at the Arab American National Museum in partnership with UNITY:...
Police officer’s generosity becomes social media sensation
September 18th, 20150 DEARBORN — A police officer's generosity to a young man down on his luck became a social media sensation this last week. After talking with the man outside Capri Italian Bakery, Dearborn Police officer Raed Essa purchased a meal for him last Friday, September 11. A customer was so impressed, he included a photo in......
Woman begins dream career as Lincoln Park’s first Arab American firefighter
September 18th, 20150 Mona Markabani unpacks her gear at the Lincoln Park Fire DepartmentLINCOLN PARK — Her bulky apparel is custom-fit to her petite frame. A sturdy black helmet; thick pants and boots that resemble a snowsuit five sizes too big; a heavy jacket with a six-pound pocket radio. It’s a big load, but Mona Markabani can handle the weight —...
Mayor Duggan meets with gas station owners, promises cooperation
September 18th, 20150 Duggan.DETROIT — Detroit gas station owners met with Mayor Mike Duggan last week. The mayor listened to the businessmen's concerns and promised to increase cooperation between gas stations and city officials, business advocate Nasser Beydoun said. Gas station owners have been complaining of excessive ticketing, disrespect by the......
