Year-end review: The top international, national and local stories of 2013
December 27th, 20130 20 13The Arab American News (TAAN) experienced deep grief this year after the passing of its co-founder and longtime executive editor M. Kay Siblani, who lost her battle with cancer Jan. 1, 2013. At the same time, TAAN had a lot to be proud and excited about. Its publisher, Osama Siblani, was inducted into the Michigan Journalism...
International charity raises funds for medical center, rehab facility in Lebanon
December 27th, 20130 DEARBORN - Medrar Foundation, an international charity organization, is raising funds for a medical center in Lebanon, which will include a rehabilitation program for drug addicts,.The organization has started building the Medrar Medical Complex in Shokeen, a town near Nabatiyeh in south Lebanon. President of the Medrar Foundation...
Arab American News report initiates changes, improvements at local Secretary of State branch
December 27th, 20130 DEARBORN - A report published by The Arab American News (TAAN) last September regarding concerns raised at a local Secretary of State (SOS) branch has prompted some changes at the office.When TAAN randomly visited the SOS Dearborn location at 5094 Schaefer Rd. last August, we documented troubling issues that included an absence in Arabic...Drug busts, murder rate drop in 2013 attributed to new policies at Detroit Police Department
DETROIT - The Detroit Police Department appears to be ending the year on a positive note with a turnaround that has seen the arrests of hundreds of drug dealers and decreased murder rates across the City in 2013. After a decade long battle concerning unconstitutional conduct that landed the department under federal monitoring with...Blind student inspires peers, family and friends
DEARBORN - Henry Ford Community College student Khodr Farhat is blind but still manages to academically perform better than his peers. “It has never stopped me. Nothing can stop me. I don’t know the meaning of failure, to be honest. Whether it is in class or on a test, I really don’t know the meaning of failing and not...Holidays celebrated at Dearborn City Hall
Last week The Arab American News mistakenly stated in a story titled "The Muslim Christmas," that the City Of Dearborn displayed a "Seasons Greetings" sign instead of a "Merry Christmas" sign for the first time ever. However, according to the City, the Seasons Greeting sign, along with a "Happy Holidays" sign have been displayed there...Tactical Paramedics Join Dearborn SWAT Team
DEARBORN - Dearborn Police in conjunction with the Dearborn Fire Department announce the addition of two paramedics to the Dearborn Police Special Weapons and Tactics Team.The two added SWAT Team paramedics are part of a Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) initiative. TEMS is also supplemented by an Oakwood Hospital...Detroit reaches deal to end interest-rate swaps
DETROIT - The city of Detroit reached an agreement on Tuesday with two banks to end a costly interest-rate swap agreement, a significant step as the city negotiates with creditors to put together a plan to exit the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.Detroit will pay $165 million, plus up to $4.2 million in costs, to end the...Law corner: Healthcare fraud criminal prosecutions are on the rise
Last week, I presented a general overview of the meaning of the word “fraud.” This week, I explore a certain type of fraud commonly known as “healthcare fraud.”In general, healthcare fraud involves the filing of false claims by medical practitioners, with private or government payers, for the purpose of obtaining money....Dearborn inauguration ceremony for newly elected officials scheduled for Jan. 2, public invited
DEARBORN - The public is invited to attend the inauguration ceremony at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2 for the City of Dearborn elected officials who will serve January 2014-December 2017 The ceremony will be inside the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. A dessert reception...Arab American honored for work with homeless community
Jabbar.DEARBORN - Nawal Jabbar of the Arab American Community Center for Economic and Social Services Department’s Emergency Service Team was recognized by the Out Wayne County Homeless Services Coalition during its recent Homeless Awareness Week Recognition Luncheon. Jabbar has helped clients by providing translation services,...Snyder signs new laws to protect consumers against ‘skimmers’
LANSING – Gov. Snyder has signed a package of bills intended to safeguard Michiganders from devices used to steal their personal information and use it to commit fraud. The bills are included among 14 other pieces of legislation intended to help protect Michiganders and their property in a variety of ways.The five-bill package...
Local singer sentenced to 11-22 year prison sentence for sexual assault
December 20th, 20130 DETROIT - Local singer Nasser Mohamad Bazzi, who goes by the stage name Nasser Habib, was sentenced to a minimum of 11 years and a maximum of 22 years in prison on Thursday, Dec. 19 for criminal sexual conduct involving his niece, who was a minor at the time the incidents occurred. Bazzi’s sentencing hearing took place at the...Santa visits Salina Elementary School, delivers gifts to 900 children
Dearborn — ACCESS employees made dreams come true on Friday, Dec. 19, when they provided gifts to 900 smiling children at Salina Elementary School just in time for the Christmas holiday.For more than 40 years, ACCESS has teamed up with local businesses and nonprofit groups in December to distribute toys to elementary...
The Muslim Christmas: Residents, religious leaders debate celebrating the holiday
December 20th, 20130 DEARBORN - The local Muslim-American community seems to have adopted several cultural and religious traditions as it has established its presence here. However, every year a debate seems to emerge amongst local residents over how to ingest the nationally celebrated holiday of Christmas.For Americans, the presence of Christmas can be felt......
Children chop off hair for charity at Becker Elementary
14 elementary girls cut their hair at Becker school to be used for wigs by the organization Children With Hair Loss. PHOTO: Nofila HaidarAlong with the hair drive, which will be donated to the organization Children With Hair Loss to make wigs for cancer patients, dozens of other children at the school donated canned...
Local community collects clothing, blankets for Syrian refugees
December 20th, 20130 DEARBORN - "My people and your people, my Syrian Brothers, are dead. What can be done for those who are dying? Our lamentations will not satisfy their hunger, and our tears will not quench their thirst. What can we do to save them between the iron paws of hunger?" Kahlil Gibran wrote these words to urge Levantine expatriates'......
OK-2-SAY hotline intended to make schools safer
LANSING – Students statewide will have a 24/7 confidential tip-line to help prevent school tragedies after Gov. Rick Snyder signed a law creating the OK-2-SAY hotline.“The OK-2-SAY student safety program will help students break the culture of silence by providing them with a confidential resource to stop tragedy and violence before...Schools to carry epinephrine injectors to help protect students from dangerous food allergies
LANSING - On Tuesday, Dec. 17, Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation to help protect Michigan children suffering from dangerous and life-threatening food allergies by making sure schools carry epinephrine injectors.The legislation requires schools to have at least two injectors onsite and to have at least two staff members trained to use...Detroit emergency manager, mayor-elect reach power-sharing agreement
DETROIT - Detroit Mayor-elect Mike Duggan will control about two-thirds of city operations once he takes office next month, the Detroit News reported Wednesday.Detroit, the largest U.S. city ever declared bankrupt, is under the control of state-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr. He and Duggan, who won the mayor’s race in November,...Renisha McBride’s shooter to stand trial for second degree murder
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - 20th District Court Judge David Turfe ruled that Theodore Wafer will stand trial for the slaying of Renisha McBride, the 19-year-old African American woman who he shot on his front porch in a Dearborn Heights neighborhood in the early hours of Nov. 2Judge Turfe said at the end of the two day pre-trial that based on......
HFCC offers new “Study Abroad” course in Morocco for Spring 2014
DEARBORN - In collaboration with The Arab American Foundation for Multicultural Education and Students’ Understanding (ARAMFO) in Denver, Colorado, Henry Ford Community College is launching a new "Study Abroad" course in Art History (ART-290) in Morocco. ART-290 is a three-credit course taught by Dr. Hashim Al-Tawil, a specialist...Brighton High School students embrace diversity by wearing Islamic headscarf for whole day
BRIGHTON - Students at Brighton High School embraced diversity recently when they decided to wear Islamic headscarves for a whole day. The students were from an AP language course. Earlier this fall they were required to read a memoir by Iranian author Azar Nafisi. The memoir discusses the experiences of women during Iran's......
Michigan Arab Orchestra expands mission nationally under new name
DETROIT - The Michigan Arab Orchestra has a new mission and a new name. Now called the National Arab Orchestra, the expansion of its mission was announced by the Orchestra's Board Chairman, Moose Scheib. Under his leadership and vision, Scheib will direct the organization into broader opportunities across the United States and...City council pays tribute to Hubbard and Sareini at their last meeting
DEARBORN - After 24 years on the city council, Nancy Hubbard and Suzanne Sareini attended their last meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Fellow councilpersons, the mayor and the city clerk took the opportunity to praise the outgoing councilwomen for their service and dedication to the city."The citizens were well-served for 24 years," said......