State Senate bill to double fuel tax for road funding
LANSING — Earlier this month a bill passed in the state senate that would roughly double Michigan's fuel tax to raise around $1 billion to repair roads. According to retailers, the bill could make Michigan the state with the highest gas prices in the country. Many argue a different approach is needed to raise money to fix...U.S. Attorney charges two with identity theft of more than 1,400 people
DETROIT — Two individuals were charged with running an identity theft and false income tax return scheme on Tuesday. Barbara McQuade, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, was joined in the announcement by Jeffrey Frost, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Detroit Field Office; Jarod Koopman,...Detroit Public Schools expands bilingual offerings to students
DETROIT — To meet the needs of its diverse body of students and families, The Detroit Public Schools System is expanding its bilingual and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) offerings to students and parents and has announced a new opportunity for teachers to seek tuition reimbursement if they obtain a Bilingual Endorsement....
‘Project Dignity’ and HYPE join hands to feed Detroit’s homeless
November 21st, 20140 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On Wednesday, Nov. 26, Project Dignity and HYPE Athletics Community will host its annual Thanksgiving Day Feed Detroit Campaign, presented by Fast Splash Car Wash, which plans to feed 1,000 Metro Detroit families. The event will be hosted from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the NSO (Neighborhood Services Organization)...
Attorney Nabih Ayad appointed to Wayne County Airport Authority Board
November 21st, 20140 Nabih AyadDETROIT — Nabih Ayad, an attorney and chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League, has been appointed to serve on the Wayne County Airport Authority Board of Directors.Ayad was appointed to a six-year term by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. The Wayne County Airport Authority consists of seven independent...
Islamic House of Wisdom honors four community leaders at fundraiser
November 21st, 20140 Dignitaries pose for a group photo at IHW in Dearborn Heights.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Hundreds of guests gathered at the Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) in Dearborn Heights on Sunday, November 16 for a fundraising dinner that honored four community dignitaries. Those in attendance included Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko, Wayne...Immigrant advocates applaud Macomb Community College Tuition Equality vote
MACOMB COUNTY — Immigrants’ rights activists praised the vote to approve Tuition Equality by the Macomb Community College board of trustees. The new policy moves away from asking about immigration status and citizenship to a policy that uses address verification to designate a student as in-district or out-of-district. Students must...
$100 million fund to assist minority businesses in Detroit
November 21st, 20140 DETROIT — A $100 million fund that will help provide capital for minority owned businesses in Detroit and throughout southeast Michigan was recently announced. The Minority Business Access Fund will provide loans from $100,000 to $20 million. The fund is supported by four private equity and investment firms. Detroit Mayor Mike...$1,000 prize for best success story of Immigrant entrepreneurs
Immigrant entrepreneurs and immigrant-owned small businesses in the Metro Detroit region are invited to enter a contest offering a $1,000 prize for the best success story describing their experience. Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. on November 26.Called “A Day in the Life of an Immigrant Entrepreneur”, the contest is sponsored by...Islamic organization to hold blood drive in commemoration of Ashura
DEARBORN — The Imam Mahdi Association of Marjaeya (I.M.A.M) is holding a blood drive on Sunday, Dec. 14 from 3 to 5 p.m. The blood drive is being held in commemoration of the passing of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Islam’s prophet Muhammed. Last month, Shi’a Muslims worldwide, including the large community here in...
Biggby Coffee opens second halal location with community partners
November 14th, 20140 Biggy, located at 3389 Greenfield Road in Dearborn. DEARBORN – Although it’s only been open for a month, the Biggby Coffee shop on Greenfield Road, near Rotunda Drive, already has patrons feeling a sense of community when they walk through the door. That atmosphere is led by owner Killoud Dabaja, 35, a lifelong Dearborn...
Annapolis High School suspends bullied Arab student, mother questions administration’s actions
November 14th, 20140 Annapolis High School is located in the south-end of Dearborn Heights.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The mother of an Arab student at Annapolis High School is speaking out against the school district following months of alleged bullying and racial slurs from other students that escalated into an altercation at a powderpuff football game on...
Wayne Mayor Al Haidous reflects on public service and the American Dream
November 14th, 20140 Haidous.WAYNE — An immigrant arrives in the United States, opens a small business, becomes involved in the community and gets elected as a councilman in his small town. Then, he successfully runs for mayor and 13 years later moves on to become a county commissioner. Mayor Abdul "Al" Haidous maintains that his story is a testament...
Dearborn Police hires three Arab American officers
November 14th, 20140 Mayor O'Reilly and Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad pose with new police officer hirees.DEARBORN — The Dearborn Police Department announced this week that it has added four new officers to its police force, three of whom are Arab American residents from the city.The three Arab American officers are; Michael Hammoud, a graduate of the...
Islamic Center of America chairman refutes anonymous letter attacking leaders
November 14th, 20140 DEARBORN — The Islamic Center of America (ICA) is a symbol of the Muslim community in Dearborn. As the biggest mosque in North America, pictures of its illuminated dome and minarets have become synonymous with Islam in the United States. The mosque has been targeted by anti-Muslim protesters, threats and even a bomb plot.......
Junior commissioners welcomed by City Beautiful Commission
November 14th, 20140 The City Beautiful Commission and Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. welcomed new junior commissioners during the annual All-Schools Breakfast on Oct. 29.DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Beautiful Commission and Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. welcomed students serving as junior commissioners during the annual breakfast kick-off of the...
Warren Evans chooses transition team
November 14th, 20140 Evans.DETROIT — Warren Evans, the newly-elected Wayne County executive, announced last week that he had chosen a transition team. Evans, who earned 70 percent of the votes, has named Joseph Nardone, development director for the Wayne County Airport Authority, to lead the transition team. Lisa Canada, legislative director for the......
National Arab American arts forum to be held in Dearborn
November 14th, 20140 DEARBORN — The sixth biennial convening of DIWAN: A Forum for the Arts will be held at the Arab American National Museum (AANM), May 7-9, 2015. The conference will coincide with the launch of the Museum’s 10th anniversary programming year, as well as the Museum’s new visual arts exhibition, Ten. The Conference Committee welcomes...
Dana Alicia Thompson elected to Wayne State University Board of Governors
November 14th, 20140 Dana Alicia Thompson.DETROIT — Michigan voters have elected Dana Alicia Thompson, a University of Michigan law professor and director of the Entrepreneurship Clinic at Michigan-Law, to the Wayne State University Board of Governors. Thompson won along with fellow Democratic candidate and former Michigan Supreme Court Justice...
Dearborn increases snow emergency tickets to $80, prepares designated parking areas
November 14th, 20140 DEARBORN — The city is gearing up for winter by preparing a pilot program in the south-end and northeast neighborhoods that would allow residents to temporarily park their vehicles on designated streets during a snow emergency.The city is also enforcing a new policy that would increase snow emergency tickets to a one time flat rate...
University of Michigan-Dearborn hosts Veterans Day Scholarship Dinner
November 14th, 20140 State Senate-elecect David Knezek. DEARBORN — The University of Michigan- Dearborn and the Student Veterans Association (SVA) hosted a scholarship dinner on the eve of Veterans Day, Nov. 10, in honor of the veterans who continue to serve the community. Scholarships will be awarded to student veterans and proceeds from the dinner......
FBI: Detroit most dangerous big U.S. city in 2013
DETROIT — Detroit is the most dangerous major city in the United States, according to 2013 FBI data released this week.The motor city has the highest crime rate among big cities, according to the FBI.With 2,072 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2013, Detroit had the highest violent crime rate in the U.S. among large cities,...Blue Cross to offer 41 health insurance plans in 2015
DETROIT — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and its HMO subsidiary, Blue Care Network, will offer an extended number of affordable health insurance choices to individuals – a total of 41 product options, an increase from 18 in 2014 – during the 2015 open enrollment period.Blue Cross received approval from state and federal......
ACC launches winter donation drive to help the needy
TROY — The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) has launched its winter donation drive to help clients in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties get through the season.Through Wed., Dec. 24, the ACC will be accepting items at its headquarters in Troy (363 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 300) and Youth Center in Detroit (62 W. Seven Mile...
Arab woman files suit against Advance America, says she was denied services because of religious headscarf
November 13th, 20140 INKSTER—A local Arab American woman is suing Advance America for discrimination. Raghdaa Ali was denied services at the Advance America location in Inkster because she was wearing the hijab, a traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women. On Wednesday the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of......
