State Supreme Court Judge Hathaway resigns amid mortgage fraud charge
LANSING — On January 21st, state Supreme Court Judge Diane Hathaway officially resigned amid allegations of fraud and money laundering in a real estate deal. When the news of the allegations had become public earlier this month, the court was preparing to suspended her regardless, according to news reports. Hathaway committed...
ACCESS brings domestic violence issues to forefront at annual gala
January 25th, 20130 DEARBORN — The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) hosted their 7th Annual Domestic Violence Prevention "Against All Odds" Gala last Friday at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in hopes of continued support for one of their most prominent programs. Domestic violence was the focus of the evening, with...WSU receives $389,000 grant to research lung disease
DETROIT – This month, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the United States Department of Health and Human Services awarded a more than $389,000 grant to Wayne State University to research lung disease. “Specifically, this grant to Wayne State University from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, will help...IHW honors life and work of Kay Siblani
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On Sunday, Jan. 20 the Islamic House of Wisdom here honored the life and work of Kay Siblani, the longtime executive editor of The Arab American News since 1984, when the paper first launched. IHW members held a breakfast in honor of Siblani, who passed away on Jan. 1 this year. Following the recitation...
Dearborn Heights, HYPE Athletics spar over non-profit status
January 25th, 20130 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The city has rejected a resolution to recognize HYPE Athletics as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization despite the federal government, the state of Michigan, and 12 other cities that have worked closely with it identifying it as such. HYPE Athletics CEO Ali Sayed has released a letter to the community,...Gun crazy in America
We have a cockeyed national debate on gun violence in which some motivated by political expediency seek to dodge core issues, while others driven by political ideology work to misdirect the discussion diverting it away from the core issues.The President has now signed Executive Orders offering small but eminently supportable reforms. And...New MDCH campaign focuses on consequences of obesity
LANSING – It’s hard to find the time to exercise and eat right, but the devastating impacts of obesity on people are avoidable with small lifestyle changes. On Wednesday, Jan. 23, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) launched the new MI Healthier Tomorrow campaign aimed at helping people make the changes to impact their...More Muslims urged to become certified foster parents with state
MICHIGAN — A local civil rights group has received a number of complaints over the growing concern about Muslim foster care children converting to different faiths, after being adopted by non-Muslim families. According to the Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan, there are far more Muslim foster children in the system than...Detroit News reporter accused of threatening to kill Andy Dillon’s ex-wife
DETROIT — Detroit News reporter Leonard Fleming, who covered city hall for the paper, has been removed from the beat after allegations that he threatened to kill State Treasurer Andy Dillon’s ex-wife, after the two reportedly had an affair together. Carol Dillon filed a Privacy Protection Order weeks ago claiming that Fleming, a...Groups demand Secretary of State grant young immigrants driver’s licenses
MICHIGAN — Immigrant advocate groups and people across the state are calling on Secretary of State, Ruth Johnson to comply with a federal mandate and grant young eligible immigrants the right to drive. In a telephone news conference on Wednesday, Reverend Jack Eggleston joined two young immigrants to demand that Johnson follow the...Muslim funeral home director donates casket to slain 8-year-old Detroit girl
DETROIT — Two weeks ago Detroit residents were shocked to learn of the death of 8-year-old Tameria Greene, who was allegedly stabbed to death by her mother Semeria Greene, 26, in her Detroit home located on the 2200 block of East Larned Street, just east of Downtown.While the mother is being held at the Wayne County Jail and faces...Students now need to be five years old by Nov. 1 to start kindergarten
DEARBORN — Under a new state law the kindergarten entry date will gradually change over the next three years from Dec. 1 to Sep. 1. The new law takes effect this year meaning that for 2013 children must be five years of age by Nov. 1 in order to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten. However, parents with a child whose birthday...Dearborn Public Schools avoids teacher layoffs
DEARBORN — At Monday's Board of Education Meeting, Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston announced that a planned mid year layoff that would have seen over 20 teachers let go from the district was scrapped, after enough funding was allocated to cover costs in the district.The announcement of the expected layoff was made...Former assistant secretary of defense under Regan Administration to speak in Dearborn
DEARBORN — The Democracy Institute at Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) will host Dr. Larry Korb, who will present “How Much for Defense? Foreign Policy and National Security on a Budget” in Room L-14 of the Liberal Arts Building, located on the main campus on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 11:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.It is free and open to...
Hamtramck doctor raided for prescription abuse, next door pharmacist speaks out
January 18th, 20131 HAMTRAMCK — On Wednesday, Doctor Basil Qandil of Hamtramck was arrested and charged for writing more prescriptions of controlled substances than any other doctor in the state. Only the University of Michigan had written more prescriptions, according to reports.The Qandil Family Medical & Urgent Care Center, where the doctor......
Kay Siblani: A mentor, dedicated editor and passionate caregiver
Kay Siblani, the late editor of The Arab American News who succumbed to cancer Jan. 1, 2013 was widely known for her work with the paper, but she wore many other hats throughout her life. To her family, she was a passionate caregiver, who everyone could depend on when a health issue emerged. Siblani always went out of her way to...NEI transforming region, embracing diverse communities
Since its inception in 2008, The New Economy Initiative (NEI) has sought to leverage $100 million pooled from 10 leading philanthropic organizations and businesses to reshape and redefine the economic landscape of Detroit and Southeast Michigan. This unique collaboration, aligning the expertise and resources of The Community Foundation......
Arab American takes on leadership position at Ford
DEARBORN — In Nov. 2012, Dr. Mazen Hammoud took on a leadership position with Ford Motor Company as its Electrified Powertrain Systems Chief Engineer. He leads system sizing, supplier strategy, controls, and calibration for all HEV, PHEV, and BEV programs globally to deliver cost effective best in class fuel economy and superior...Hagel nomination: Stakes are high, but far from over
In the lead up to President Obama's announcement, there was an intense debate over former Senator Chuck Hagel's potential nomination as Secretary of Defense. At times Hagel's opponents became a touch hysterical, indulging in excessively harsh rhetorical attacks. At first, they charged that he was not sufficiently pro-Israel or hawkish...
Arab American charged with alleged criminal enterprise
January 18th, 20130 WAYNE COUNTY — In a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Wayne County Prosecutors Office with state, county and federal agencies, an Arab American man has been arrested for an alleged real estate fraud scheme. 32-year-old Samer Salami, a licensed agent for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, has been charged with conducting an...The depressing ‘Zero Dark Thirty’
When I watched the get-bin-Laden movie Zero Dark Thirty at a theater just outside Washington D.C., I was struck by how silent the audience was from beginning to end with almost no reaction to the climatic killing of the terrorist leader or to the film’s lame stabs at humor.For instance, the screenwriters apparently thought they had......
Group collects clothes for needy families
DEARBORN — If you have additional clothing items you’re not planning to wear again, there’s a fast and easy way to get them to needy families. The Lebanese American Heritage Club located here is continuing to collect clothing items for needy families in the region as part of its Winter Clothing Drive. Donations are being sent to...Iraqis reject divisiveness among religious sects in their homeland
DEARBORN — More than 50 Iraqi Americans rallied outside city hall on Saturday, Jan. 12 in support of the country they trace their roots to. The demonstrators called for unity among all religious sects in the Iraq, and rejected the idea of division among Iraqi civilians. They held up signs in support of Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al......
Number of low-income working families increases Michigan ranks 26th in the number of low-income working families
MICHIGAN — The number of low-income working families continues to grow, with nearly a third of all working families in the United States now struggling to earn enough money to meet basic needs, a new report by the Working Poor Families Project shows.In Michigan, the data found there were 308,000 low-income working families in 2011,...Dearborn Police seek help finding missing woman
Dynasty MylesDEARBORN — Dearborn Police are requesting the assistance of the community in locating a missing person. Twenty-three-year-old Detroit resident, Dynasty Myles has been missing since approximately 10 p.m. on Jan. 1. She was last seen near Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn. Dynasty left her young child......