‘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...
Detroit billboard responds to Bay City ad, protests U.S. aid to Israel
February 11th, 20120 DETROIT — The latest episode in the Israel/Palestine public advertisement feud has unfolded in Michigan, but this time around, the pro-Palestinian side has had a fair chance to make its voice heard. A new billboard protesting American aid to Israel to the tune of millions per day went up on Monday, Feb. 6, with the message “$8...Blue Café GRAND OPENING
Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly leads the ribbon cutting ceremony at Blue Café in Dearborn with Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano; Dearborn City Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini; Co- owners of Blue Café Mike Khodr and his brother Ali Khodr; American Arab Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Fay Beydoun; ADC-Michigan President Zouheir...
Statute of limitations leads to dismissal of Amer civil lawsuit in Detroit
February 10th, 20120 The Amer family including Ahmed (L), Hussein (C, not suit coat), and Rehab (to his right) pose with lead attorney Nabih Ayad (front, C) and supporters in Detroit outside of the Theodore Levin Courthouse downtown.DETROIT – A civil lawsuit of involving Dearborn's Amer family in their pursuit of justice against the state and the Judson......
Former Abu Ghraib detainees represented by local attorney in lawsuit
Troy based civil and human rights attorney Shereef Akeel is representing more than 100 people in a lawsuit against two companies for inhumane crimes committed against former detainees of the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The violence against prisoners came to light in 2004, and included human rights violations, sexual, physical and...County officials giving away Detroit homes for $500
DETROIT – Wayne County will begin sending people door-to-door to offer foreclosed homes in Detroit for sale for as little as $500 according to a report from WWJ. More than 6,000 homes that were foreclosed did not sell at an auction last fall. The county treasurer’s office said it is willing to negotiate with anyone living inside......
Tougher Wayne State admissions policy approved
DETROIT – A new plan designed to improve Wayne State's graduation rate was approved last week according to local reports. Freshmen will be evaluated differently according to new policies, splitting them into three separate groups: those who have been accepted, those who need to finish a summer program first, and those who will be...IRS keeping close eye on ID theft, more than 100 arrests made
A crackdown in Michigan and more than 20 other states has been launched after the IRS noticed identity theft had spiked from criminals filing fake returns. Many of the scam artists obtain info from people off the Internet or by calling unsuspecting victims and using their social security numbers, names or addresses to file tax...Oversight measures urged as Michigan Homeland Security center expands
DETROIT — The Michigan Intelligence Operations Center of Lansing opened five years ago and is now expanding into southeast Michigan, a plan that has renewed opposition. The so-called "fusion center" will be the second in the state and is said to aid authorities in assessing possible threats. Opponents say that privacy invasions...Arab American Studies minor at UM-Dearborn officially approved
DEARBORN – After years of planning, the University of Michigan-Dearborn officially approved its new Arab American studies minor, which will begin for the winter 2012 semester.Students will be given the choice of several unique classes exploring the historical, political, artistic, cultural and other aspects of the Arab American history......
Wayne County’s Loan Modification Program looks to cap foreclosures
February 10th, 20120 DETROIT- With economical difficulties still straining the state of Michigan, many residents might not be aware that the Wayne County Department offers a free program to homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage. The program is an effort made by the county to put a cap on the growing number of foreclosures that have affected the...Paid parking system, rate hikes still plaguing west Dearborn businesses
DEARBORN — From the site of the former Avant Garde bridal shop on Monroe and Michigan Avenue all the way down to the old Inca Computers building near Military, the number of vacant properties in the city's west downtown area has been a problem for years. Comments from business owners and customers for the past few years have......
Irvine 11 activist Shabaik heading to Detroit for three local events
Cal-Irvine grad who was convicted for protesting Israeli ambassador set to speak Eight of the ten Muslim college students from University of California, Irvine charged with unlawfully disrupting a speech by Israel's ambassador to the U.S. last year, listen to their attorneys speak after they were convicted at a court in Santa Ana,...ADC, MPAC head group of 40+ organizations demanding an investigation
In response to the report, a total of 40 coalition partners including the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Muslim Public Affairs Council have demanded immediate action including an external investigation of the NYPD, acknowledgement of wrongdoing and a halt to such activities. “By continually violating the trust of......