Arab Americans pack school board meeting, address concerns over reported discrimination
March 3rd, 20120 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Nearly 20 Arab Americans attended a Crestwood School Board meeting here Monday raising concerns over the possibility that the school district discriminated against Arab Americans in the hiring process, and isn't providing non-English speaking students with proper education services. The meeting comes one week...Mayor of Dearborn explains reports of “salary increases”
DEARBORN — In a news report published by the Michigan Capital Confidential (MCC), the news agency discovered details about the fiscal year budget of 2011 for the city of Dearborn, after imposing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on the mayor’s office. O'ReillyWhat they had discovered was that several city officials received...School counselor files complaints, alleges students being denied proper educational services
A student counselor at Dearborn Height's Crestwood High School has filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging discrimination against the school district. Left, CHS counselor Bill Ebbitt and Mrs. Hiam...
Vulgar letters at Fordson snowball into a major bullying outbreak
February 24th, 20120 DEARBORN — One sophomore girl from Fordson High School was celebrating what she described as a wonderful birthday with her family on the eve of February 10. But unbeknownst to her, she was about to receive a letter in the mail that would humiliate her and her entire family and turn her Happy Birthday into an ongoing grueling...
Star International’s Hamdan commits to Wayne State football program
February 23rd, 20120 DEARBORN — The Wayne State University college football program put itself back on the map with a Division-II runner-up performance in 2011, and the university has always had a reputation as a quality school academically. That combination was impossible for Star International Academy's Yaser Jamal Hamdan to pass up, as the versatile...Fighting cancer: local activist honored, supported at recognition banquet
DEARBORN - A recognition and support banquet was held for Dr. Suleiman Barada on Thursday, February 23 at the Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn. Dr. Barada, who is a community activist, was recently diagnosed with cancer and is seeking an alternative form of chemotherapy, which is a trial therapy that is not covered by major health...Murder charges dismissed against two brothers from Christmas day car accident
DEARBORN - Homicide charges were dismissed last Friday against Yaken Al-Ghathie and Saber Alghathie, two Dearborn boys who were accused of killing their sister in a car accident on Christmas day while driving to their other sisters wedding at Greenfield Manor.In what the brothers described as "Zaffa," a Yemeni wedding tradition that...
Wayne County Treasurer stresses communication as tax deadline approaches
February 23rd, 20120 DETROIT – With the March 30 deadline approaching for delinquent taxpayers in Wayne County who may be subject to foreclosure, the county's treasurer, “We are hoping to pursue and give guidance to people during this strenuous, challenging economic time.” Raymond J. Wojtowicz, spoke with The Arab American News about what...New York Times foreign correspondent remembers working with Anthony Shadid
Stephen Farrell, a Middle East correspondent for the New York Times is still grieving the loss of his close friend and colleague Anthony Shadid who received international acclaim as one of the most distinguished reporters to cover the region for the Times. Nada Bakri, Anthony Shadid's wife, lights a candle at a vigil for Shadid, at...Bridge Card abuses placing pressure on local businesses to cheat, witnesses say
The problem of Bridge Card abuse is one that is fueled by people across Michigan of various ethnic and social backgrounds, but according to witnesses, abuse has become a major problem locally. DEARBORN – Many local customers have created lasting friendships with the owners of the city's many locally owned shops, which stands as...Fact-checking: Terry Jones’ worst enemy
DEARBORN — Last week, Qur’an burning Florida Pastor Terry Jones sent out a press release in which he cited examples of the rise of “Shari’a Law” in Dearborn. But when one takes a closer look at the statements Jones is making by doing some fact-checking, they will find that Jones’ claims are either over exaggerated or even...Interfaith leaders meet with FBI Director to discuss training manual concerns
WASHINGTON — Last week, the Muslim Public Affairs Council along with other community and interfaith organizations met with FBI Director Robert Mueller and the FBI’s Public Affairs Office in an effort to address concerns regarding the agency’s use of inflammatory training material. The FBI provided an update on steps it has taken to...Martin Luther King’s legacy shines at ADC scholarship reception
DEARBORN — Martin Luther King Jr. Day might have been commemorated across the country last month, but the civil rights leaders influence was more than alive last Friday, February 10 at the Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn, where the American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee held its 13th annual Scholarship Awards Reception honoring...
‘Underwear’ bomber gets life in prison
February 19th, 20120 Nigerian 'underwear' bomber gets life in prison in U.S.Taylor witness: “You are merely a government patsy” Abdulmutallab and the remnants of his failed underwear explosives. DETROIT - A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a Nigerian man to life in prison for trying to blow up a U.S. airliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day in...Byblos: Dearborn’s “generous” banquet hall
Youssef (Joe) Bazzi has been known around the Dearborn community as “Mr. Generous,” after opening up his Byblos Banquet Hall in 2005. Since then, Byblos has quickly become a prime location for events such as weddings, dinners and parties with its fancy interior décor and its wide menu of food options. Bazzi with his wife (second......
Wayne County officials federally charged, Ficano rejects call to resign
During a Wayne County Commission meeting Thursday commissioner Laura Cox asked County Executive Robert Ficano to resign, describing his administration as corrupt and incompetent.Ficano responded in this statement released by his office: "I am not resigning, and there have been no allegations of wrongdoing made against me. My...
Arraf, fellow American citizens deported for peaceful protests in Bahrain
February 18th, 20120 University of Michigan graduate and human rights lawyer Huwaida Arraf has been a familiar face at many of the countless peaceful demonstrations in occupied Palestine and was also a participant on the original Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which landed her time in an Israeli prison. Huwaida Arraf (R) and Adam Shapiro.This past week, Arraf......
Interfaith initiative celebrated by Girl Scouts in metro Detroit
DETROIT — Members of the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan celebrated 100 years of the Connecting Communities Through Faith initiative at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.Hundreds of Muslim Girl Scouts members from from the Islamic House of Wisdom participated while presentations were given by Bishop Hanchon, Rabbi Shere, Pastor...
Pulitzer-winning reporter dies from asthma attack in Syria
February 18th, 20120 New York Times correspondent Anthony Shadid apparently died while on assignment, according to paper Anthony ShadidAward-winning journalist Anthony Shadid has died while on a reporting assignment to Syria, his employer The New York Times says.The exact circumstances for his death were not clear, but the paper said he apparently died of an...Faraj murder case dismissed, case refiled due to late prosecutor
DETROIT – Fadi Hassan Faraj, the 35-year-old man accused of killing 23-year-old Hassan Zeidan after a pickup basketball game in Dearborn this past summer, had his murder case temporarily dismissed this morning after the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office was not ready for jury selection. The case has been refiled but must now work...Shabaik brings Irvine 11’s case to Metro Detroit
DEARBORN/DETROIT — American universities have long bastions for free speech, but in February 2010, a one-line statement from 23-year-old activist Osama Shabaik was enough to land him in handcuffs and in front of an Orange County prosecutor along with nine of his peers."Michael Oren, propagating murder is not an expression of free......
Report: Tax changes in Michigan will hurt low income families the most
A report recently issued by the Michigan League for Human Services shows that businesses in Michigan will benefit from new tax cuts from the state while individuals will end up paying more. According to the report's author Joanne Bump, low income families will be hit the hardest, she said, citing an analysis of the state's tax...City of Detroit in the development phase of Immigration Affairs Office
DETROIT — The city of Detroit has recently announced that it is in the development phase of opening up its very own Immigration Affairs Office with the collaboration of New Michigan Media sometime this year. The announcement seems appropriate after many have noted a strong continued trend of Immigration growth not just in Detroit, but......
Ficano modifies county ethics policy
DETROIT - Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano announced on Thursday that a new ethics policy will be mandated that will manage a broader scope of executive branch at-will employee conduct. Policy changes will include strengthening at-will employee accountability, promoting greater transparency and implementing mandatory...Family shocked by charges in wedding day accident
DEARBORN – A Dec. 25 accident that took the life of 22-year-old Eitedac Alghathie has led to preliminary charges of reckless driving and second-degree murder for two of her brothers who were drivers during the incident, according to family members, with a preliminary exam set for Friday, Feb. 17 at 9 a.m.The grieving family said they......
