Donor drives being held for two local women
March 15th, 20120 Donor drive being held for local woman with Stage IV CancerDEARBORN — The National Marrow Donor Program’s North Central Region will be holding a donor drive in honor of Amal Fawaz, a 26 year old single mother of two who is suffering from stage IV cancer, the most severe stage of lymphoma. In this stage, tumors spread to organs such...Muslim Students Association celebrating 10 years of unity on March 17
DEARBORN — The Muslim Students Association of the University of Michigan-Dearborn's annual dinner has become one of the signature campus events of the year, and this time around, the organization will celebrate 10 years of achievements and building relationships. Almost 750 tickets have already been sold for this year's...U.S. senators push to extend temporary living status of Syrian nationals
Six U.S. senators are urging President Obama to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of Syrian nationals currently residing in the country. In a letter issued last week the senators called on Obama to take the action in order protect Syrians from returning to their homeland, since it remains unsafe following the unrest that...IRS offering new penalty relief, expanded installment agreements
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service last week announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers by taking steps to provide new penalty relief to the unemployed and making Installment Agreements available to more people. Under the new Fresh Start provisions, certain taxpayers who have...‘Syria Bleeds:’ University of Michigan panel discussion
ANN ARBOR — Seeking to bring some clarity to an emotionally-charged issue, the University of Michigan's Students Allied for Freedom and Equality and Muslim Students' Association hosted a panel discussion entitled 'Syria Bleeds:An In-Depth Analysis Into the Uprising in Syria' this past Wednesday.A crowd of about 150 people attended...
Mayor shares optimistic plans for Dearborn in State of the City address
March 14th, 20120 DEARBORN — Dearborn City hall was packed with local leaders last Monday as Mayor Jack O’Reilly prepared to give his annual State of the City address. Speaking to a crowd which included Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and City Council president Suzanne Sareini, the mayor gave reasons to be optimistic towards the city’s...
The Sadr Foundation: Chronicling stories of hope
March 13th, 20120 Sadr Foundation Chairwoman Rabab Sadr (C) and Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Bechara Rai pose with young students on Rai’s recent trip. The foundation welcomes orphans of all backgrounds. Jihad’s eyes filled up with tears as he bragged about his child’s achievements at Early Childhood Intervention, Lebanon (ECIL)....
Bone marrow drive for Alwerfalli to be held in Dearborn March 25
March 13th, 20120 DEARBORN – The search is on for a bone marrow transplant for 29-year-old Hanya Alwerfalli, who has been diagnosed with acute Leukemia. Alwerfalli has fought cancer three separate times, but a transplant is still needed as soon as possible to help save her life. A bone marrow drive will be held in honor of Alwerfalli on...ADC expresses concerns over “bigoted” film at Schoolcraft
LIVONIA – Two classes at Schoolcraft College in Livonia recently showed the film “The Third Jihad” as part of their curriculum, a movie that the the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee called “blatantly bigoted and hate-filled” in a press release this week. The Council on American-Islamic relations has also publicly...Upcoming safety program provides free digital fingerprinting services for kids
WAYNE — When children are missing law enforcement officials are often delayed in the process of finding them because collecting fingerprints can be time consuming. Many parents already have child safety kits that include their children's fingerprints in case an unfortunate emergency occurs. But statements released by the FBI show 80%...TLC cancels “All-American Muslim”
TLC announced this week that the Dearborn based reality show "All-American Muslim" will no be picked up for a second season. The show, which ran for 8 episodes starting last November became a subject of controversy when retail giant Lowes decided to pull its ads from the show after receiving complaints from a conservative group in...Kickoff event held for Lebanese American Council of Detroit organization
LACD members at its kickoff event last week in Birmingham.BIRMINGHAM — The new Lebanese American Council of Detroit organization held its kickoff event at the Birmingham Community House on Sunday, Feb. 26, establishing its constitution and bylaws while bringing together supporters.The organization's goal is to foster,...Dearborn City Councilman Abraham attacked after Red Wings game
DETROIT – Two of Dearborn City Councilman Robert Abraham's son's friends were the target of aggressive behavior following a Red Wings hockey game Sunday outside of Joe Louis Arena, which prompted him to intervene in order to diffuse the situation and ended with an assault against him. AbrahamAbraham said a man began...
Confronting bullies
March 4th, 20120 Parents flare up over defamatory letters at Fordson meetingsSchool officials, community leaders pledge cooperation DEARBORN — Emotions ran high this week at Fordson High School when Principal Youssef Mosallam had called for a community meeting to discuss bullying initiatives with parents, staff members and community leaders. However...
Ficano delivers apology to residents at annual State of the County address
March 3rd, 20120 DETROIT — Embattled Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano apologized to residents during his 10th State of The County address Wednesday at the Guardian Building here before a crowd of about 300. "After 30 years of public service to the citizens of Wayne County — first as Sheriff and now as the Wayne County Executive — I should......
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......