Mid-East Festival returns to Flint, July 12-14
FLINT — The Mid-East Festival will return to the greater Flint area on Friday, July 12. The event will run on that day, from 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, July 13, from noon to midnight; and Sunday, July 14, from noon to 8 p.m. The event includes free admission and boasts authentic Lebanese fare that is prepared,...
A sit-down with Barbara McQuade
June 28th, 20130 DETROIT- As the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Barbara McQuade’s work often centers around issues that concern the region’s Arab and Muslim American communities. McQuade, who has maintained a close relationship with both communities over the years, sat down with The Arab American News recently at the U.S....
FBI aims to dispel misconceptions through its Citizen’s Academy Program
June 28th, 20130 DETROIT - Last Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hosted a graduation ceremony at Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn for 30 local business, civic and religious leaders, who participated in an eight-week seminar taught by agents who work for the Bureau's Detroit division.The Citizen’s Academy Program, established over twenty...City of Dearborn reminds residents to follow firework laws this Fourth of July
DEARBORN - As the Fourth of July approaches, the City of Dearborn is reminding its residents to be extremely cautious and follow local and state laws, when handling and discharging fireworks.In 2012, the State of Michigan removed the ban on the sale and use of many types of powerful or airborne fireworks, known as "consumer" fireworks....Local colleges increase tuition rates for upcoming school year
DEARBORN - While USA Today reports that tuition increases across the country are lower than usual this year, some of Michigan's prominent colleges and universities will see significant tuition spikes, nonetheless.This week, the University of Michigan-Dearborn announced that they will institute a 3.5 percent increase in tuition for the...Crestwood School District offers free preschool program
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - The Crestwood School District announced that it will offer a free preschool program this fall for four-year-old children who are at risk of educational failure.The District will be receiving funding for the pre-school from a state program called the Great Start Readiness Program. Children are qualified based on a...Scholarship to be presented in memory of late editor Kay Siblani
DETROIT - A scholarship will be presented in memory of Kay Siblani at this year’s 31st annual Metro Detroit Youth Day (MDYD) on July 17 at Belle Isle. Siblani served as the editor of The Arab American News, since its inception in 1984, until she lost her battle with cancer on Jan. 1, 2013. Before pursing a career in journalism,...Charity group to raise awareness on kidney disease with upcoming powder-puff tournament
DEARBORN - "Play for the Cure," a charity group that was started by Dearborn resident Shireen Hachem and her husband Bassel Hachem, has been spreading awareness and raising proceeds for medical charities since 2009, by gathering young women in the community and competing in an annual football tournament.The game, which will take place on...Yogurtopia debuts first location in Dearborn
DEARBORN - When Yogurtopia opened its doors in early June on Michigan Avenue, it became the newest yogurt shop in town. However, what many local residents may not be aware of is that Yogurtopia is a franchise that was established in 2010 by Sam Abbass, a former Dearborn resident, in Scottsdale, Arizona.Having owned and operated...New study expected to improve marriage outcomes in American Muslim community
A study being conducted by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) will help address and improve marriage outcomes in the American Muslim community. The study is examining different models of marriage education and divorce prevention programs and will document the effectiveness of these models. Findings from...Arab American entrepreneurs: Innovative or copycats?
DEARBORN — In the last few months, several new yogurt establishments have opened shop in the Dearborn-Dearborn Heights area, making it the hottest, and latest, business trend that local Arab American entrepreneurs seem to be wanting a piece of. However, whenever a new business trend emerges in the Arab American community, it seems...
Christian group returns to volunteer in Dearborn, despite cancellation of Arab Festival
June 21st, 20130 DEARBORN — While this past Father's Day weekend marked the first time, in 18 years, that the Arab International Festival was not held along Warren Avenue, it did not stop a Christian volunteer group that works to promote tolerance and understanding, from coming to town to continue a tradition of their own. In May, the American...Governor Snyder cuts visit to Israel short
Governor Rick Snyder visited Israel on an official trade mission from Saturday, June 15, to Thursday, June 20. The visit was supposed to last nine days, but was cut short, because the governor had to get back Michigan to push a bill to reform and expand Medicaid through the State Senate. The official stated purpose of the visit was...U.S. Census undercounting Arab Americans raises concerns
According to a recent report from the U.S. Census, 1.5 million Americans are of Arab decent, however that figure is in sharp contrast with another report from the Arab American Institute, an advocacy group based in Washington D.C., which states approximately 3.6 million Arab Americans live in the country. The figure from the U.S....Chase bank criticized by civil rights group for closing business bank account
JPMorgan Chase has come under fire by civil rights groups for abruptly closing a business account for an Arabic language business, without explanation.The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan (CAIR-MI) is asking the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which is a division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, to investigate......
Detroit emergency manager orders investigation on two employee benefit programs
Orr.DETROIT — Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr has signed and issued an order to open an investigation into the City’s two employee benefit programs. The investigation is being launched by the Inspector General and Auditor General into possible waste, abuse, fraud, and corruption possibly connected with the benefit...LAHC-YLC continue efforts to feed Detroit’s needy
DETROIT — On Tuesday, the Lebanese American Heritage Club (LAHC) and its Young Leaders Committee (YLC) visited the Prayertime Tabernacle C.O.G.C. Church in Detroit and provided food and nutritional supplies to hundreds of people in dire need. This effort was carried out in partnership with Walmart. Over the years, this program,......
Three defendants plead guilty to brutal murder of local Arab American man
DEARBORN — Three of the four suspects involved in the case of a local Arab American man, who was brutally murdered at his home last summer, have pleaded guilty to the crime. On June 13, Kristan Kainnadenise Holmes pled guilty to one charge of second degree murder in the death of Hassen Jaber, 45. The counts of felony murder,...Domestic assault suspect arrested; charged with multiple crimes
DEARBORN — On June 6, Dearborn Resident Ferdinand Lansang was apprehended and arrested by Dearborn Police Special Operations officers, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Apprehension Team. Lansang was arraigned by 19th District Court Judge Sam Salamey for ‘assault with intent to murder,’ ‘assault by...Tennessee hopes to be home of Fiat-Chrysler headquarters
While currently based in Auburn Hills, Chrysler, which is in the process of merging with Italian automaker Fiat, is being tempted by Tennessee officials to move its headquarters to their state.Fiat head Sergio Marchionne met with Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Sunday, June 16, at a ceremony to mark the expansion of a Fiat factory in...Michigan Republican Party opens 10 regional offices
LANSING — The Michigan Republican Party announced Tuesday that plans to open 10 regional offices on July 1, 2013. The 10 counties with offices will include Grand Traverse, Ottawa, Kent, Saginaw, Livingston, Kalamazoo, Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne and Macomb. “The Michigan Republican Party’s new political strategy is......
Whole Foods Market issues apology for ‘English-only’ policy
Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, released a statement this week, apologizing for the national food chain’s ‘English-only’ policy. The apology comes only days after an online petition, calling on the company to end its ‘English-only’ policy, garnered more than 15,000 signatures within a week. The signatures came...Wayne State University’s incoming president to make over $500,000 a year
DETROIT — Wayne State University's incoming President Dr. M. Roy Wilson is expected to earn over half a million dollars annually in pay, benefits and bonuses, according to his job contract, which was made public on Monday, June 17.He will receive close to $500,000, as a base salary, and at the end of his fifth year, is expected to......
HFCC prepares amnesty for students who owe money, lays off 12 employees
DEARBORN — Henry Ford Community College has taken its first steps in finding a solution to some of the financial struggles that it has faced in recent years, which involve students who were abusing financial aid services and now owe the institution money.Earlier this year, the college announced that it would be hiking tuition rates for...Tips to boost your smartphone’s battery life
Smartphones have become such integral parts of our lives that when we see those low battery warnings our hearts sink right along with the power of our mobile devices.And as most smartphone owners use their mobile devices for way more than just calls or texting, this can take a serious toll on battery life.“One of the biggest pain......