Arab American selected to represent USA Rugby Sevens National team in Wellington, New Zealand
January 30th, 20150 DEARBORN — National Team Recruitment Camp standout Ahmad Harajly, 21, could earn his first cap with the Men’s Eagles Sevens after Head Coach Mike Friday selected the Detroit Tradesmen player for Wellington Sevens, the fourth leg of the 2014-15 World Rugby HSBC Sevens World Series. Harajly and Mataiyasi Leuta were the two athletes...
Army veteran visits Dearborn, discovers it’a not under sharia law
January 30th, 20150 DEARBORN — Army Veteran Adam Joliff made national news recently after visiting Dearborn and "discovering" it wasn’t under sharia law. Brian Stone, a reporter for the Huffington Post, visited Dearborn with his friend Joliff and decided to help debunk the longtime myth. In a blog entitled “Hilarious: Army Veteran Debunks...
Kuwait arrests activists over anti-Saudi tweets
January 30th, 20150 KUWAIT CITY — Kuwaiti authorities have detained several online activists for allegedly comments deemed offensive to Saudi Arabia's late King Abdullah, a rights group and activists said Thursday. Secret police late Wednesday arrested prominent rights and online activist Mohammad al-Ajmi outside his home for "unknown reasons," the...
GM honors Sammy Cheaito as a top sales consultant for GMC for 2014
January 30th, 20150 (L-R) Jeff Kern - GM Zone Manager, Golden Tate - Lions wide receiver, Sammy Cheaito and Scott Williams - GM District Manager.DEARBORN — Sammy Cheaito is a veteran car salesman and long-time employee at Superior Buick GMC and earned the 2014 Top Sales Award for GMC brands. He was presented with an award by Duncan Aldred,...
Reactions to local woman’s lawsuit highlights extreme Islamophobia
January 30th, 20150 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A local woman was thrown into the national spotlight last week after she filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Dearborn Heights Police Department for forcing her to remove her hijab when she was arrested last July. Strong reactions rooted with racism and hate seemed to be a commonality amongst the...
Islamic academic institute Great Revelations gears up for opening
January 30th, 20150 Great Revelations, located at 6400 Miller Rd. will be enrolling pre-K-12th grade students from Feb. 1 through March 15.DEARBORN — A new non-profit Islamic academic institution that has been in the works for the last three years is gearing up for its grand opening later this year. Great Revelations Academy, located at 6400...Public records to become cheaper because of changes to Michigan FOIA
MICHIGAN — Because of the new changes to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act, public records are expected to become cheaper and easier to access. Government agencies will no longer charge more than 10 cents per page for copies of public records. Under the new changes to Michigan FOIA law, government agencies can also face...
Sayed Qazwini resignation divides community
January 23rd, 20150 Sayed Hassan QazwiniDEARBORN — Sayed Hassan Qazwini, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of America (ICA), resigned on Friday, Jan. 23. Speaking to a crowd of young Muslims later that day, the sayed said he would go back on his resignation if the ICA board of trustees is dissolved and the bylaws are suspended. However, the...
Mandaloun Bistro brings north Lebanon to the northern suburbs
January 23rd, 20150 BINGHAM FARMS — With black leather chairs, white curtains, an elegant piano and modern art hung on the walls, Mandaloun Bistro looks like a contemporary restaurant on the east coast. But the Bingham Farms eatery specializes in the most traditional, homemade, northern Lebanese cuisine. Owner Melissa Bitar said northern Lebanese...
Dearborn to pass new hookah lounge laws
January 23rd, 20150 DEARBORN – The Dearborn City Council is in the process of adapting a new ordinance that will only permit hookah lounges with a state exemption to conduct business, following a six month moratorium that banned new smoking establishments from opening within city limits. The move is a response to the influx of hookah lounges that...
Local educators back Obama’s proposal for free community college
January 23rd, 20150 DEARBORN — Millions of Americans may have the opportunity to attend community college tuition-free under a proposed plan by President Obama to expand the access of higher education for the lower and middle classes. The Universal Community College Plan would provide two years of free community college for students if they maintain a...
PART FOUR: MEDC was involved in state environmental group’s permitting process
January 23rd, 20150 Malek Ali, a resident of Dearborn's southend, forwarded this photo of what she described as a "devastating" air pollution violation that occurred at AK Steel's facility on Dec. 20. Residents complained about the "unbearable" odor from the facility that day. DEARBORN — A series of emails between the Michigan Economic Development...
Detroit-Windsor Tunnel reopened after bomb scare
January 23rd, 20150 DETROIT — Chairman Gary Woronchak has announced committee appointments for the 2015-16 Wayne County Commission, which for the first time in 12 years will work alongside a new county administration and new county executive. Commissioners Joseph Palamara (D-Grosse Ile Twp.), Raymond E. Basham (D-Taylor), Burton Leland...
Community organizations pay tribute to Dr. King
January 23rd, 20150 DEARBORN — Arab and Muslim American community organizations paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the national holiday dedicated to him, Monday, Jan. 19. The Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights held an interfaith dinner on Sunday, Jan. 18 to honor King's legacy. The event was attended by Muslim, Christian...
Woman files lawsuit against Dearborn Heights Police for forcing her to remove hijab
January 23rd, 20150 Malak Kazan (left), with Attorney Amir Makled, is filing a lawsuit against the city of Dearborn Heights for forcing her to remove her hijab. Photo credit: Samer Hijazi DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A 27-year-old Muslim woman is filing a lawsuit against the Dearborn Heights Police department for forcing her to remove her hijab when she......
Dearborn Fire Department looking to attract Arab Americans
January 23rd, 20150 DEARBORN — The Dearborn fire chief and city officials are trying to encourage Arab youths to pursue a career as firefighters to increase the diversity of the department and help it better connect with the Arab community. "In any public service department you want people representative of the community," Chief Joseph Murray...
Secretary of state promotes community service to waive driving fines
January 23rd, 20150 DETROIT — About 168,000 people could perform community service instead of paying hundreds of dollars for some driver responsibility fees, which are driving fines issued by law enforcement. The move benefits both drivers and the agencies that serve Michigan communities around the state, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said at the......
State of the State: Gov. Snyder describes a ‘river of opportunity.’
January 23rd, 20150 LANSING — Michigan will create an environment in which all residents can succeed, regardless of their stage in life, through a strategic realignment of government services and unparalleled public-private collaboration, Gov. Snyder said during his fifth State of the State address Jan. 20. The governor outlined his vision for focusing...
Customers, business owners weigh in on low gas prices
January 16th, 20150 DETROIT — A barrel of crude oil was $115 in June of 2014. Seven months later, it is selling for less than $50. The sharp dip in price meant relief to oil-consuming nations like China and the United States and agony to economies reliant on gas sales, including Russia and Iran. But regardless of politics, customers are loving...
Dearborn Police collaborate with neighboring agencies as part of “Operation Blue Light” initiative
January 16th, 20150 U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade stresses the importance of law enforcement agency collaboration.DEARBORN — On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Dearborn Police Department held a press conference with multiple law enforcement agencies at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center to share details of their "Operation Blue Light II"...
Gov. Snyder signs road funding legislation
January 16th, 20150 Gov. Snyder holds up a piece of concrete that fell from a bridge in Michigan after signing the road funding bill.LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation that will restore Michigan’s crumbling roads and bridges, in part by ensuring taxes paid by consumers at the gas pump are dedicated to that purpose. The initiative, which......
Census Bureau tests new MENA category
January 16th, 20150 DEARBORN — U.S. Census Bureau has decided to initiate plans to test a new classification for persons from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for possible inclusion in the 2020 Census. The bureau is receiving feedback on the category. Inclusion on the Census has been a major Arab American issue for the past two...
West Bloomfield officials accused of racism against Chaldeans
January 16th, 20150 WEST BLOOMFIELD — Members of the West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees are accused of making racist remarks about Chaldean Americans. Board members were confronted about the allegations at a meeting held at the West Bloomfield Township Hall, 4550 Walnut Lake Road, on Monday. “There have been allegations that a......
Three new Dearborn Public Schools trustees begin their terms
January 16th, 20150 DEARBORN — On Monday night, Dearborn Public Schools welcomed three new trustees and three new administrators during its first Board of Education meeting of 2015. The new trustees, Mary Petlichkoff, Michael Meade and Mariam Bazzi, were sworn in before the meeting by Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny. Community...
Duggan reaches out to the Arab community at the Islamic House of Wisdom
January 16th, 20150 (L-R) School administrator Nawal Hamade; State Sen. David Knezek; AACC executive director Fay Baydoun; Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; Imam Mohamad Ali Elahi, and Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly Jr. among others, pose for a group photo at the Islamic House of Wisdom, Jan. 9.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — In a town hall meeting at the Islamic House of......
