Terry Jones protest at Islamic Center passes without incident
April 8th, 20120 DEARBORN - Terry Jones finally held his protest at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn on Saturday, April 7 much to the dismay of the community and local civil rights groups. The protest, which passed without incident, came days after back and forth arguments between the City of Dearborn and Jones’ camp who claimed his...Flooding issue continues to hurt Dearborn Heights residents, local cities
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - Local residents Ali & Rola Abdallah recently filed a lawsuit against the city of Dearborn Heights after their basement flooded on May 25 of last year, claiming negligence for not properly operating and maintaining the city's sewer systems. "We are suing Wayne County," said Mayor Dan Paletko. "It just doesn't...Family upset “human rights” conference has deceased daughter’s name on it
DEARBORN - A local Arab American family is angry over an upcoming ''human rights'' conference that features the name of their deceased daughter, believing that its true goal is to push an anti-Islam agenda. "It wasn't a honor killing at all," a close friend of the family said. The Jessica Mokdad Human Rights Conference is scheduled to...HFCC President Gail Mee wins national leadership award
DEARBORN — Dr. Gail Mee, the president of Henry Ford Community College (HFCC), has been named by The Chair Academy as the recipient of the 2012 Idahlynn Kárre International Exemplary Leadership Award. Dr. Mee at a recent event at HFCC.Mee, who has been the president of HFCC since 2006, was recognized for her ability to advance...Wayne State walk-out challenges pro-Zionist “whitewashing” of children’s rights issue
DETROIT — Impassioned chants of “Free, Free Palestine!” and “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation” were heard echoing through the center of Wayne State University's campus yet again on Wednesday, April 4. The chants followed another silent walk-out of a speaking event deemed by a coalition of groups to...
Dismissal of football players’ charges a major victory for ACRL
April 6th, 20120 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights 20th District Chief Judge Mark Plawecki dismissed the criminal charges brought against four Arab American high school football players from Star International Academy on Wednesday."This court declines to criminalize football today," Plawecki said. While announcing his ruling, Plawecki added that...Judge permits Jones to protest without signing “hold harmless” agreement
DEARBORN- Florida Pastor Terry Jones is expected to protest outside the Islamic Center of America on Saturday, April 7. Earlier this week he filed a lawsuit against the city of Dearborn. In the suit Jones alleges the city violated his free speech rights by asking him to sign an agreement before his scheduled protest outside the...
Gas station owner committed to helping community heal after shooting
April 6th, 20120 DETROIT — Protests outside of the BP gas station at Fenkell and Meyers in Detroit have been almost a daily occurrence since a shooting that resulted in the death of one young man, Michael Haynes II, and first-degree murder and illegal weapons possession charges against another, former employee Ibrahim Saleh, who was recently...HFCC hosting Pre-Pharmacy seminar April 18
DEARBORN – The annual Pre-Pharmacy Spring Seminar is being held Wednesday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hackett Conference Room, located in the Health Careers Education Center (HCEC) on the main campus. Attendees will receive information about pharmacy school admission requirements, pharmacy school opportunities, HFCC's...Eight tax-time errors to avoid
With the tax-filing deadline looming on Tuesday, April 17, the IRS has released a list of eight common tax-time errors to avoid. If you make a mistake on your tax return, it can take longer to process, which in turn, may delay your refund. Here are eight common errors to avoid: 1. Incorrect or missing Social Security numbers: When...New law would prevent renewal of driver’s license following unpaid parking tickets
A new Michigan law expected to be enacted on May 16 would block the renewal of a driver's license in the event that three parking tickets have not been paid.Currently in the state six unpaid tickets would result in the same consequence. The secretary of state is notified when an individual has a significant amount of unpaid...Rally held in Dearborn to spotlight Shaima Alawadi case
DEARBORN — Despite heavy rains resulting from a thunderstorm just prior to the event, a rally was held on behalf of Shaima Alawadi, an Iraqi American Muslim woman who was killed in her El Cajon, California home. It was attended by about 30 people in front of City Hall. Imam Husham Al-Husainy speaks with an Iraqi TV station about the...U.S. Rep. Conyers working on national Amer Act bill
DETROIT — Families are the backbone of a strong society and Michigan's families received extra protection in December 2010 with the passage of the 'Amer Act,' or HB 4118, which gives special consideration to families and to religious similarities in foster care cases. After a meeting with U.S. Rep John Conyers (D-Detroit) this...
Obama administration guarantees Syrians Temporary Protected Status
April 5th, 20120 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) praised the announcement by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to allow Syrian nationals in the United States to stay beyond their visas and avoid the risk of returning to their homeland which has been plagued by violence since the popular...Rally held in Dearborn to bring attention Shaima Alawadi case
DEARBORN – Despite heavy rains resulting from a thunderstorm just prior to the event, a rally was held on behalf of Shaima Alawadi, an Iraqi American Muslim woman who was killed in her El Cajon, California home, attended by about 30 people in front of City Hall. The killing of Alawadi, who was found brutally beaten in her home......
Judge urged to dismiss charges against four Arab American high school football players
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — During a court hearing Wednesday here at the 20th District Court Chief Judge Mark Plawecki was urged to drop the battery and assault charges brought against four senior Arab American football players from Star International Academy. The four seniors from Star International Academy who were charged with battery and...
Community shocked over former Dearborn woman’s killing
March 31st, 20120 Women in mourning cry outside a memorial service for Shaima Alawadi held at the Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib Center in Lakeside, California March 27, 2012. REUTERSDEARBORN — Arab Americans are still grieving over the gruesome death of a former Dearborn woman. Shaima Alawadi, 32, of El Cajon, California was found brutally beaten in......
ASU celebrates achievements, Mother’s Day at annual dinner
March 31st, 20120 DEARBORN - The Arab Student Union of the University of Michigan Dearborn held its 7th Annual ‘Empowering the Youth’ dinner on Friday March 23 at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in Dearborn with Keynote speaker Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich. The Arab Student Union, members of which are shown, welcomed Congressman Dennis...
Habib’s takes Middle Eastern cuisine to a higher level
March 31st, 20120 DEARBORN — Chef Habib Bazzi came to the United States in 1991 already having an idea of what it was he wanted to pursue once he settled in. During his time in Lebanon as a child, he remembers vividly always having a definite interest in hospitality."I used to always set up tables with my mom when I was 8 or 9 years old," Bazzi...CAIR-MI pledges to continue fight for civil rights at annual banquet
DEARBORN — The Council on American-Islamic Relations has been at the forefront of the challenging civil rights movement for American Muslims, and many of the most important issues faced by the community have occurred in Michigan. CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid (left) presents the Peace...Gas station re-opens with lower prices, protests after killing
DETROIT – The gas station where a 24-year-old Michael Hayes was shot and killed, allegedly by store clerk Ibrahim Kassim Saleh, 23 on March 10, has re-opened with new prices about 40 cents below the state average according to WXYZ Detroit. Protesters have rallied outside the station after the killing of Hayes since the re-opening,......
Heights Councilwoman named to county bench
DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Margaret Van Houten of the Dearborn Heights City Council was named to the 3rd Wayne County Circuit Court bench in Detroit on Monday by Gov. Rick Snyder. Van Houten fills the vacancy of Mary Beth Kelly, who was appointed to the state Supreme Court. Van Houten's term ends January 1, 2013, but she will have to run...Investigation launched into Michigan profiling incident
LIVONIA – An investigation will be launched into the actions of a policofficer who pulled over a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent in Livonia who was allegedly threatened with deportation and bodily harm.The ACLU sent a letter on behalf of the man, Tiburcio Briceno, 41, from Grand Rapids who said he was also handcuffed for hours at a......
Bridge of Knowledge Radio show hosts fundraiser April 14
LIVONIA — In commemoration of its 15th anniversary, the Bridge of Knowledge Radio Program on WNZK 690 AM will host a fund raising event with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Michigan human service organization 'Gift of Life' and its multicultural outreach programs. The event will be held on April 14 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary...YABA elects new executive committee and board members
DEARBORN — The annual election meeting for the Yemen American Benevolent Association were held on Sunday, March 25, with new executive committee and board members elected by the group. Guests and comments were welcomed by Fahd Saleh, YABA's president, with presentations given by Ali Baleed Almaklani, Adel Nasser Alsoofi, and......
