Local

12-year old boy fatally stabs 9-year-old boy at playground

August 8th, 20140 KENTWOOD — Around 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, a 12-year-old boy repeatedly stabbed a 9-year-old on a playground in Kentwood in western Michigan. A group of children were playing when the 12-year-old, for unknown reasons, pulled out a knife and continued to stab Michael Conner Verkerke. After the stabbing, the 12-year-old used a...

Dearborn Heights residents accuse city clerk of voter suppression at city council meeting

August 1st, 20140 Local residents protest at the City Council meeting.DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Dozens of local Arab American residents attended the city council meeting on Tuesday, July 29 to express their concerns after being denied the right to acquire absentee ballots. They also demanded City Clerk Walter Prusiewicz step down from his post at once.Tension...

Rashida Tlaib a relentless advocate for her constituents

August 1st, 20140 DETROIT — As she knocks on doors, wearing khaki shorts, a purple shirt, a grey sweater and running shoes, State Rep. Rashida Tlaib looks like an adult Girl Scout. But she is not selling baked goods; she is trying to earn the recognition of the voters in a district that is more than 95 percent new to her."I am State Rep. Rashida...

‘Support the victims of Palestine’ community event to take place at Lapeer Park on Aug. 9

August 1st, 20140 DEARBORN – Members of the community are coming together to organize a “Support the Victims of Palestine” event at Lapeer Park in the south-end of the city.The event, taking place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, seeks to raise money for the victims of the war in Gaza.  All the funds raised that day will go to the...

Dearborn steps up efforts to fight ordinance violations

August 1st, 20140 DEARBORN—In an effort to increase enforcement of ordinances preserving Dearborn neighborhood standards and affecting quality of life issues, the Residential Services Department and ordinance officers from the Dearborn Police Department are working together on a comprehensive neighborhood blight initiative.“This was a joint effort...

Muslim American activists meet to organize rally for Iraqi Christians

August 1st, 20140 DEARBORN — On Tuesday, July 29 local Muslim American activists met at the Lebanese American Heritage Club in Dearborn to plan a rally in support of Iraqi Christians. “We want to express solidarity with our Iraqi Chaldean, Assyrian and Syriac brothers and sisters,” said Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American...

Hundreds stand in solidarity with Gaza at Al-Quds annual rally

August 1st, 20140 DEARBORN — On Saturday, July 26 hundreds attended the annual International Day of Al-Quds rally at Dearborn City Hall. Similar Al Quds Day rallies took place the same day around the globe on that day,  the last Friday of Ramadan. The event is held to express solidarity with the Palestinian people; those who face oppression...

Dan Gilbert and Mike Ilitch shake up downtown Detroit with new business ventures

August 1st, 20140 DETROIT — New business ventures are reshaping downtown Detroit, most of which are headed by either Mike Ilitch or Dan Gilbert. The Ilitch family owns the popular pizza chain Little Caesars, The Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers. Gilbert is widely known as the chairman and founder of Rock Ventures and the mortgage lender...

Activists rally at court hearing for Rasmea Odeh

August 1st, 20140 Protesters gather in front of the federal court house in Detroit in support of Rasmea Odeh on Thursday July, 31th.DETROIT — The judge overseeing the trial of Palestinian American activist Rasmea Odeh refused to recuse himself from the case during a hearing on Thursday, July 31.Odeh was indicted for allegedly lying on her U.S....

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan handed control of the Detroit Water Department

August 1st, 20140 DETROIT — Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr handed over control of the Detroit Water Department to Detroit Mayor Duggan on Monday. The move takes place as the city’s water crisis continues to make international headlines and receive widespread condemnation. After Duggan was elected, he signed an agreement giving Orr control...

Dearborn man charged with killing sister

August 1st, 20140 Elmawri.g By Ali Harb     The Arab American NewsDEARBORN — On Monday, July 28, a 23-year-old Dearborn resident was charged with first degree murder and torture for allegedly stabbing and strangling his 30-year-old sister on Saturday afternoon. Asyh Elmawri was stabbed multiple times in a house on the 7500 block of...

Dearborn Heights city clerk facing allegations of misconduct toward Arab American voters backpeddles resignation

July 25th, 20140 Prusiewicz.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights City Clerk Walter J. Prusiewicz submitted his letter of resignation on Tuesday, July 22, amid allegations he’d intimidated Arab American voters who were trying to cast absentee ballots for the upcoming mid-term primary. However on Thursday, he rescinded his resignation letter,...

Muslim woman hospitalized following possible hate crime

July 25th, 20140 LANSING —A Muslim woman was injured during a possible hate crime that occurred near East Lansing Saturday, July 19. The incident, which led to the woman being hospitalized, occurred in a shopping mall parking lot in Okemos at approximately 1 p.m. A witness reported that two men and a woman surrounded the 26-year-old woman in the...

Jury selected for murder trial of Dearborn Heights man

July 25th, 20140 McBride.DETROIT — A jury has been selected for the trial of a Dearborn Heights man who fatally shot Renisha McBride. Theodore Wafer, 55, has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and felony firearm in the November 2 death of McBride, 19. He told police he shot McBride with a shotgun when she banged on the front...

Dearborn Neighborhood pools remain an asset for community

July 25th, 20140 Dunworth Pool. DEARBORN — "It's a common bond that all the neighborhoods and residents share across the city. It's something that generations now go through," said Assistant Aquatics Supervisor Joe Robar about Dearborn's neighborhood outdoor pools.The neighborhood pools have been a city treasure for decades. Longtime residents will...

Hot dogs stand brings tasty treats to Muslims during Ramadan

July 25th, 20140 DEARBORN— Hot dogs have always been around at barbeques, parties and sporting events in the area, but not like this.The Dog House Halal, a new hot dog stand which opened a week before Ramadan, has the city buzzing. Owner Salah Sarhan has watched his idea grow into reality. "I started a hot dog stand because I feel that it...

Boycotting Israeli affiliated companies: Why Starbucks, McDonalds shouldn’t be on the list

July 25th, 20141 DEARBORN — Whenever tensions in the region escalate, the movement to boycott Israeli affiliated products and companies seems to always re-ignite.The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement has gained major traction in recent years across colleges and universities, as student-led initiatives have called for their schools...

AAPAC endorses seven candidates for Aug. 5 primary elections

July 25th, 20140 DEARBORN — On Tuesday, July 22, the independent, non-partisan Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) announced its endorsements for Michigan’s Aug. 5 primary elections. Members of AAPAC use a democratic process to vote on which candidates to endorse. Only candidates who obtain two-thirds of the vote are...

Arab Americans divided over Wayne County executive race

July 25th, 20140 DETROIT—As the race for Wayne County executive heats up, Arab Americans are split over which of the five Democratic candidates to support. For many community members the decision has been tough to make because of the close relationship incumbent Robert Ficano has maintained with Arab Americans since he was first elected to lead...

Dearborn Police: Increase in assault and battery

July 25th, 20140 DEARBORN - The Dearborn Police Department is reporting that Assault and Battery incidents across the city are up six percent year-to-date compared to 2013.According to Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad, the department will be using all its available resources to reach out to the community to discuss assault and battery incidents. Police...

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak pledges greater involvement in the Arab community

July 25th, 20140 Schostak.DEARBORN — According to Bobby Schostak, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party (MIGOP), outreach and involvement in the Arab American community is a priority for the party."We will be present in the Arab community in a greater way than ever before, so folks would know us better." Schostak said in an interview with The Arab...

Detroit water restored for 15 days for residents unable to pay bills

July 25th, 20140 DETROIT — On Monday, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department temporarily stopped its water shutoff for 15 days. According to spokesman Bill Johnson, the department took this step to give residents with legitimate affordability problems an opportunity to contact the department and work out a payment plan. The department is reaching...

Evans faces lawsuit on residency

July 25th, 20140 LANSING — Wayne County Executive candidate Warren Evans is facing a legal issue regarding his residency. State law requires a 30 day residency to vote or be a candidate. Evans changed his address from Washtenaw County to Wayne County on April 21 and filed his candidacy for county executive the following day. Former Canton Township...