BREAKING: Gov. Rick Snyder declares financial emergency in Wayne County
July 22nd, 20150 Wayne County Executive Warren Evans DETROIT—Gov. Rick Snyder confirmed Thursday that a financial emergency exists in Wayne County. The announcement comes after Snyder appointed a review team to closely examine Wayne County’s finances. This week, the team determined a financial emergency exists. Snyder had 10...
Dearborn City Council refers parks smoking ban to Recreation Commission
July 21st, 20150 DEARBORN— The city council will not vote at tonight’s meeting on an ordinance that would ban smoking at city-owned parks. It has referred the proposal to the recreation commission, which will make recommendations to amend the ordinance.However, according to the council and commission's calendars, it is unlikely that the ordinance...
Updated: Two arrested suspects linked to larceny and home invasions
July 20th, 20150 ChoucairDEARBORN — An Arab American woman and her male accomplice were arrested on July 14 after Dearborn Police responded to a breaking and entering 911 call.Alicia Choucair, 21, and Derrick Fletcher are believed to be linked to a string of home and car invasions in both Dearborn and Dearborn...
Councilman Abraham: My commitment to the community is unwavering
July 17th, 20150 DEARBORN — After supporting a string of ordinances that some Arab Americans perceived as targeting them, Councilman Robert Abraham's connection with his Arab American identity has been questioned. But in an interview with The Arab American News, the councilman said he is loyal to his heritage, which has helped shape him as a...
Arab American presence in Michigan Democratic Party solidified
July 17th, 20150 New MDP chair Brandon Dillon (C) with the head of the Dearborn Democratic Club Sami Khaldi and his wife Sahar Khaldi, who is also a political activist.PORT HURON — The Michigan Democratic Party elected a new chairperson at its annual convention in Port Huron on July 11. The gathering also solidified the role of Arab Americans within...
Dearborn Police lead collaborative initiative that captured thousands of criminals
July 17th, 20150 Chief Haddad at a press conference. DEARBORN — On Thursday, July 16, the Dearborn Police Department held a press conference with multiple law enforcement agencies in the Henry Ford Centennial Library auditorium to share details of their "Operation Blue Light III" initiative. Introduced in 2014, with the participation of agencies from...
Dearborn Board of Education searches for candidate following trustee vacancy
July 17th, 20150 DEARBORN — Following the departure of former School Board President Aimee Schoelles, who has taken a job in Ohio, the Dearborn Board of Education has begun the process of filling her seat. 20 residents submitted the necessary paperwork expressing their interest in becoming a Dearborn Public Schools/Henry Ford College Board Trustee....
Dearborn Schools bid farewell to Board President Aimee Schoelles
July 17th, 20150 Darany presented Shoelles a certificate from the the state. DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools officials bid farewell to Board of Education President Aimee Schoelles during a gathering on Monday, July 13 at the Administrative building. Schoelles resigned from her position this month after accepting a new job in Ohio, requiring her to...Dearborn Heights woman contestant in Miss Arab USA pageant
DETROIT— For Heba Aloussi one of the most exciting things about competing in the Miss Arab USA pageant is forming new friendships with other contestants. “I am looking forward to meeting all the different contestants. There is such a diverse group of women with different nationalities who represent different nations in the...
Dearborn Heights mayor holds annual iftar dinner
July 15th, 20150 DEARBORN HEIGHTS—On Thursday, July 9 Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko held an iftar dinner at Al Shallal Banquet Room. The city has a sizable Muslim population. Paletko holds an iftar dinner every Ramadan for the Muslim community. About 150 people attended the iftar including local community leaders and businessmen. Paletko...
Local lawmakers weigh in on the Iran deal
July 15th, 20150 DETROIT — Several members of Congress from Michigan said they are studying the nuclear agreement with Iran before making a definitive decision on it. While Democratic lawmakers appeared to be more welcoming of the deal, local U.S. representatives from both parties agreed that Iran should not be given a path to an atomic...
Dealership donates car to single mother
July 15th, 20150 Elashkar and his son at Ford Road Motor Sales' office in DearbornDEARBORN—After Mike Elashkar, general manager of Ford Road Motor Sales, learned a needy single mother’s car was stolen, he decided to help by donating a 2006 Malibu. Stefanie Irvine’s old Dodge Neon was stolen from Cass Avenue in Detroit while she was taking...
Henry Ford College fall 2015 registration is open
July 15th, 20150 DEARBORN—Students can now register for fall 2015 courses at Henry Ford College. The fall semester begins Thursday, Aug. 27. HFC offers courses and programs that respond to the changing needs of students, community and corporate partners. In addition, HFC continues to develop relationships...
Police investigating Bint Jebail Cultural Center vandalism
July 14th, 20150 DEARBORN — The police are seeking the public's assistance in finding out who is responsible for defacing the Bint Jebail Cultural Center last week. The center was vandalized with graffiti-sprayed statements, relating to Sayed Hassan Qazwini, who had been hosting Ramadan evenings at the banquet hall."The Qazwini and Iraq Club,"...
Barbecue to benefit Dearborn Animal Shelter
July 14th, 20150 DEARBORN—Dearborn Councilman Robert Abraham is opening his home to the public for a fundraising event that helps support the Dearborn Animal Shelter’s Hope’s Heroes program for special needs animals. All are welcome to attend the fifth annual Abraham’s Open House and Barbecue, which will be held on......
International Al-Quds Day rally held in Dearborn
July 13th, 20150 DEARBORN — Rallies in support of International Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day are held locally and throughout the Middle East each year on the last Friday of Ramadan. Demonstrators speak out against Israel’s control of Jerusalem and its occupation of Palestine. The rallies are held in solidarity with...
Spousal support can pressure men to grant religious divorce
July 10th, 20150 DETROIT — Many Muslim women feel their rights are being violated because they can’t get an Islamic divorce, often from men who were extremely physically abusive. Not all Muslim women experience trouble getting an Islamic divorce and religious divorce is also an issue outside the Muslim community. To many women, an Islamic......
House of Wisdom hosts interfaith iftar
July 10th, 20150 Spiritual leaders and government officials in a group photo at the dinner, July 1DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Islamic House of Wisdom held its annual iftar dinner, on Wednesday, July 1. Government officials, community activists and Muslim, Christian and Jewish clergy attended the event.Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, the spiritual leader of the...
HFC president discusses new name, finances and diversity
July 9th, 20150 DEARBORN — When Dr. Stan Jensen started his tenure as the president of Henry Ford College two years ago, the school had enough cash to cover operational costs for a few months only. But the new president helped lead the school through the bleak economic times and raise its educational and administrative standards. Jensen's...
Bint Jebail Cultural Center vandalized after hosting Qazwini
July 9th, 20150 DEARBORN— The Bint Jebail Cultural Center was vandalized with graffiti-sprayed statements, relating to Sayed Hassan Qazwini, who has been hosting Ramadan evenings at the banquet hall."The Qazwini and Iraq Club," the graffiti read in Arabic on the exterior of the center. Similar statements, which also attack the center's founder, were...
Humanitarian crisis in Yemen worries local Yemenis
July 9th, 20150 DEARBORN – The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is worsening. The International Red Cross warned of a "real risk" of famine in the war-torn country, as the conflict enters its fourth month. Outbreaks of disease and lack medical supply are also threatening the population. An alliance of Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia is conducting a......
Judge sentences Dr. Farid Fata to 45-years in prison
July 9th, 20150 Dr. Farid Fata has been described as a "cancer to the medical community and accused of "medical genocide." DETROIT—Judge Paul Borman sentenced Dr. Farid Fata to 45 years in prison on Friday after the oncologist tearfully begged for mercy. Fata showed no emotion when victim impact statements were read...
Dearborn Heights police implement new policy for Muslim women
July 8th, 20150 Kazan filed a lawsuit earlier this year after she was forced to remove her hijab during her arrest. DEARBORN HEIGHTS— The Police Department has announced that it will be implementing a new policy for women who wear a religious headscarf, following a lawsuit filed earlier this year by a resident who was arrested and forced to remove......
Restaurateurs find that fasting during Ramadan can be difficult
July 8th, 20150 Elhassan talked to WWJ's Zahra Huber TAYLOR–Fasting during Ramadan can be especially difficult for restaurateurs who prepare and serve food all day. While fasting, Mahmoud Elhassan, the co-owner of Peepo’s Subs and Shawarma, works over a hot stove for hours, making subs and other dishes. Sometimes...
Iraqi chef Samira Cholagh earns popularity on YouTube
July 8th, 20151 Cholagh DETROIT—Popular Iraqi American Chef Samira Cholagh’s YouTube videos have received about two million views. Cholagh, a native of Baghdad has her own cooking show on Almas Television called Cooking with Samira. She initially became known around metro Detroit as the former host of a......
