Gov. Snyder signs Medicaid expansion bill into law in Dearborn
DEARBORN – On Monday, Sept. 16, Gov. Rick Snyder signed the Healthy Michigan plan into law. The law is expected to expand Medicaid to nearly a half million Michigan residents. Snyder signed the landmark bill, HB 4714, into law at Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center in Dearborn, surrounded by people whose lives have been affected...Law corner: No Fault Insurance-It’s your fault if you don’t have any
Michigan is a unique state when it comes to automobile insurance coverage. Michigan, as most people have heard, has a “no-fault” system. Most people don’t know exactly what that means. Simply put, it means that in the event that an automobile accident results in damage or injury, each individual involved in the accident...
Officials, community pay tribute to Shatila
September 19th, 20130 DEARBORN — Hundreds gathered at the memorial service of Riad Shatila on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Islamic Center of America here. Elected officials honored Shatila for his years of service to the community by presenting his family with declarations. “We begin by recognizing what he did as a wonderful American, successful...Here’s how the U.S. can help rid the world of chemical weapons
If President Obama is serious about ridding the world, and not just Syria, of chemical weapons, he and America’s closest allies in the Middle East should lead the way.Although the United States has ratified the 20-year-old Chemical Weapons Convention, it has not destroyed its entire arsenal, as required under the CWC. In reference to...Russia throws Obama a life preserver on Syria
WASHINGTON— With President Barack Obama facing increasingly certain defeat in his quest for Congressional authorization to carry out military strikes against Syria, the Russian government, Monday, appeared to offer the White House a way out of the crisis.Seizing on what seemed to be an offhand remark by Secretary of State John Kerry...
Riad Shatila: Family and friends reflect on the legacy of a true pioneer
September 13th, 20130 DEARBORN — The Arab American community lost one of its greatest pioneers last week, when Riad Saad Shatila, 68, founder of Shatila Bakery, passed away on Friday, September 6, after a long battle with throat cancer.Shatila Bakery has been Dearborn's pride and joy for decades now, introducing millions of Americans across the country to...
Crestwood School District now offers halal chicken for lunch
September 13th, 20130 DEARBORN HEIGHTS —The Crestwood School District began serving halal meat as an option on its lunch menu this week, after years of repeated concerns over accommodating the dietary needs of the growing Muslim student population in the district. Arab Americans account for more than 62 percent of the entire district’s student...
Local communities align at anti-war rally in downtown Detroit
September 13th, 20130 DETROIT — Over one hundred local citizens marched in a rally at Grand Circus Park that concluded in a gathering at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit on Sunday, in an effort to condemn potential U.S. air strikes against Syria. The various organizers of the rally, which included the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and...Arab Americans protest in D.C.
DEARBORN — On Sunday evening, over 100 local community members met in front of the Dearborn City Hall and traveled to Washington D.C. on two buses, to protest against a possible U.S. intervention in Syria. The protest, organized by the Syrian American Forum, included hundreds of local Syrian and Lebanese Americans, who marched...Dearborn City Council discussion decision on garage ordinance
DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council voted 7- 0, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, to table the first reading of the zoning ordinance amendment that would ban garages from being converted into habitable spaces. The new ordinance defines a habitable space as, "a space within a structure for living, sleeping, eating and cooking." It prohibits...Congressman Dingell meets with community to discuss Syria crisis
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Last Friday, September 6, Congressman John Dingell, who represents Michigan's 12th congressional district, joined a group of religious and community leaders at the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, to listen to their views on President Obama's position on Syria.Spiritual leader Imam Elahi expressed his...Interfaith ceremony commemorates 9/11
DEARBORN — Community and religious leaders gathered on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Dearborn City Council Chambers to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. Citizens joined in commemorating the victims, by praying for peace and justice. Lebanese American singer Joe Kidd and his music partner Sheila Burke started the...Employers beware: You must strictly comply with garnishment requests
After judgment is obtained in a civil case, many defendants are unable, or unwilling to simply pay the judgment in full. Technically, it is the plaintiff’s job to get the judgment paid. There is no penalty to the defendant for failing to take affirmative steps to pay the judgment. Thus, as many sad litigants have...State Rep. Phil Cavanagh considers running for Wayne County Executive
State Representative Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) is considering a run for Wayne County Executive in 2014. Cavanagh served for eight years as a Wayne County commissioner. State Rep. Phil Cavanagh had his annual fundraising picnic at his Redford home. About 120 supporters and politicians, including local Democratic Congressmen...Sen. Smith fights against scrap metal theft, introduces two-bill package
MICHIGAN — On Tuesday, Senator Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) introduced legislation that will help take a bite out of scrap metal theft. The theft of scrap affects urban, suburban and rural communities. It also contributes directly to the problem of blight communities. In recent years, thefts of various types of metal have......
Convicted Wayne County employee to serve 41 months in federal prison
AllebbanFormer Wayne County Information Technology Director Zayd Allebban was sentenced this week by a judge to 41 months in federal prison. Allebban is a former appointee of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. Last February, Allebban was convicted of two counts of obstruction of justice by a jury, for creating fake receipts to...Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission makes request to remove Judge McCree from bench
DETROIT — The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission recently made a recommendation, requesting that Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree be removed from the bench. The Commission has ruled that McCree exceeded his authority, when he violated judicial conduct. He was suspended, without pay, after admitting that he had an affair......
Bill to allow religious, moral restrictions on adopting families
LANSING — Adoption agencies could deny the placement of children, under the guardianship of new parents for religious or moral reasons, if the State House passes a new bill on adoption next week.The bill insinuates that the State cannot withhold funding from an adoption agency for not facilitating, or allowing an adoption "that...St. Sharbel Annual Church Festival celebrates another successful year
WARREN — The St. Sharbel annual three-day festival was once again a success, as it celebrated its sixth year. The event, which took place at the St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church, included a rich array of Lebanese culture, including authentic Lebanese food, and was held Friday, Sept. 6, through Sunday, Sept. 8. The...City Council candidate Tarek Baydoun holds fundraiser
Over 200 guests packed Byblos Banquets on Monday, September 9, to support city council candidate Tarek Baydoun's fundraiser. Baydoun took the podium to thank his supporters and pointed out that his campaign is a grassroots movement that has evolved from daily interactions with residents and door-to-door knocking. Baydoun is one of...Attorney Lena Masri honored by Michigan Federal Bar Association
SOUTHFIELD — Lena Masri, staff attorney for the Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan, was honored by a chapter of the Federal Bar Association for her pro bono work.Masri was honored on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association State of......
Dearborn resident selected for Challenge Detroit fellowship
DETROIT — Dearborn resident, Jaber Saad, has been selected as one of 32 fellows to participate in Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization program, focused on attracting and retaining talent in Detroit, in an effort to spur revitalization.Challenge Detroit is a one-year program that provides the opportunity for future leaders to work...Local Egyptians rally against “military rule” in Egypt
ROYAL OAK— Americans for Democracy in Egypt, a newly formed local Egyptian American organization, rallied on Saturday, Sept. 31 against "military rule" in Egypt.About 30 protesters stood in front of the Art Beats and Eats Festival in Royal Oak, holding signs, denouncing the crackdown against Muslim Brotherhood protests in Egypt and the......
Civil Rights groups question Detroit police use of ‘stop and frisk’ policy
September 6th, 20130 DETROIT — Detroit human rights organizations questioned stop and frisk activities which are currently ongoing or will be initiated by the Detroit Police Department during a press conference at the American Civil Liberties Office here Thursday. The groups shared concern about the current and future Detroit Police Department search...Concerns over customer service at local Secretary of State branch
DEARBORN — Michigan residents tend to dread visiting their local Secretary of State (SOS) branches, where they get hustled into long lines and sometimes have to interact with less than enthusiastic employees. However, one particular SOS location, at 5094 Schaefer Rd. in Dearborn, appears to take that frustration to another level.In......
