Detroit giving 50% discount for those who pay all parking fines
DETROIT – The city announced that people with outstanding parking tickets will receive a 50% discount if they pay up immediately. Detroit still has about $35 million worth of unpaid parking fines that must be collected. The program is being called "All or Nothing Amnesty" meaning all...Pioneering LoanMod.com fights for homeowners in Michigan and beyond
DEARBORN — While the state of Michigan was one of the hardest-hit during the recent U.S. mortgage crisis, many residents have been lucky enough to have one of the leading organizations in the fight to save homes in their backyard. ScheibLoanMod.com, hailed as the first loan modification company...
Supporters, dignitaries turn out to honor new Assistant U.S. Attorney Hammoud
June 19th, 20110 Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly (left) poses with Abed Hammoud at Byblos Banquets.DEARBORN – Almost a month after he was sworn in by Chief Federal Judge Gerald Rosen in Detroit, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Attorney Abed Hammoud was back among friends and family again on Tuesday Jun 14th for a...Residents unhappy with proposed Esper Library closing
DEARBORN- Jenan Hachem, 15, walked to the Esper Branch Library on the east side of the city from her house a few blocks away in order to get access to a computer on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 14. She was just one of the many other children who were at the Library on this day. However, many of...ACC doubles scholarships at annual golf outing awards dinner
Arab and Chaldean Council scholarship donors pose for a picture at the Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield. Not all recipents were present for the event, which was held in conjunction with the ACC's annual golf outing for scholarships. A total of 18 scholarships were given out this year compared with 10 from last year. ...U.S. Agriculture Department: It now costs $226,920 to raise a child
WASHINGTON — The yearly estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been released, determining that it now costs about $226,920 ($286,860 factoring in expected inflation) for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise a child over a span of the next 17 years for a middle-income...
Dearborn Board of Education votes to lay off 48 teachers as funding issues continue
June 19th, 20110 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education voted in favor of a plan including 48 teacher layoffs on Monday night from several schools and grades as it prepares to submit a balanced budget by its next meeting on Monday, June 27. Dearborn Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston and...NAAMA condemns violence against civilians in Syria
BIRMINGHAM — The National Arab American Medical Association, a non-political professional and humanitarian organization of physicians, has issued a statement concerning the security situation in Syria. The statement says the organization "continues to watch with a heavy heart the...CAIR-MI welcomes decision on center targeted by anti-Muslim campaign
SOUTHFIELD — The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) this week welcomed a decision of the Farmington School Board to grant approval for the sale of a closed school to be used as an Islamic educational and activity center, despite an anti-Muslim campaign to block...Rally held against racial profiling by Customs and Border Protection
DETROIT – Fifty community members rallied in southwest Detroit June 11 against racial profiling and harassment by agents of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Testimonies were given by Lidia Reyes, Director of the Latino Family Services agency, and Ramon Morales, a victim of profiling. "Border...ADC’s incomplete civil and human rights building receives foreclosure extension
DEARBORN — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Michigan has obtained a foreclosure extension on a civil and human rights center it built that was never completed. On June 5 the building was expected to go into foreclosure, but an extension was granted through July 15. Imad Hamad,...Bing warns of drastic changes if budget cut compromise isn’t made
DETROIT – Cuts in city bus services along with hundreds of police and firefighting jobs could be made because of the city council's proposed $50 million in cuts to the 2011-12 budget. Bing had vetoed the cuts earlier but the council overrode it. Bing told the Detroit Free Press that if the cuts...Man who cursed in private conversation removed from flight by Detroit Metro security
DETROIT — Robert Sayegh, a 37-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y. resident, was removed at the end of a Delta Airlines flight from Kansas City to Detroit Metro airport by security after a conversation with a fellow passenger was overheard by a flight attendant. Sayegh, a children's book author, said that he...Fakih to hand over crown to new Miss USA on Sunday
LAS VEGAS - Dearborn native and current Miss USA, Rima Fakih, is scheduled to transfer her crown to the next winner of the pageant after Sunday's event, which airs on June 19 on NBC at 9 p.m. Fakih has said she has learned a great deal from her experience in the spotlight while staying in...University of Michigan — Ann Arbor to ban smoking effective July 1
ANN ARBOR – A smoking ban beginning on July 1 will take effect across all University of Michigan-Ann Arbor property on campus. Smoking will still be allowed in cars or on public sidewalks, however. According to a Detroit Free Press report, tickets won't be issued, however. Disciplinary issues for......
Dearborn officials remind residents to keep grass at 6 inches or less
DEARBORN – The city is reminding residents to cut their grass to six inches or less in accordance with its ordinances as summer approaches. Those in violation are given a notice reminding them to address the problem within a certain time period. If the city is forced to cut the grass, the owner...Metropolitan PHILIP, also known as Philip Saliba, celebrated his 80th birthday on June 10. He currently serves as the Metropolitan Archbishop Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America of New York and of all of North America. Philip Saliba grew up in Abou Mizan, a village in...
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Jones march to festival cut short after scuffle, others rally at Warren and Appoline
June 18th, 20110 DEARBORN – A planned march from City Hall to the Arab International Festival by extremist Pastor Terry Jones was cut short today as Jones found himself in a scuffle with counter-protesters that resulted in six arrests. Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad reportedly said that five of the six were from outside the city. Jones and a...
Dearborn Mayor O’Reilly urges community to ignore Jones visit
June 14th, 20110 Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly released the following letter on Tuesday, June 14. The Arab International festival will run from June 17-19 in the city.Dear residents and friends of Dearborn, This weekend we will again be visited by persons who want to use our community for their own ends. This time their...Parents question narrative of “honor killing” in daughter’s death
The April 30 fatal shooting of 20-year-old Jessica Mokdad in Warren allegedly carried out by her stepfather has led to an outpouring of emotions and support for the Mokdad family as well as a murder charge against the man who raised her for much of her life. Jessica Mokdad was killed on April 30;...Why America is running on three flat tires
According to last month's employment numbers and housing prices across the country, it looks like the U.S. economy is hurting bad. The truth of the matter is that the picture is even grimmer than what is portrayed by these reports. The majority of Americans are starving, our interstate highway......
Landmark Ethnic and Minority Media Partnership announced in Mackinac
June 11th, 20110 MacKinac Island—Two southeast Michigan media organizations announced the launch of a new partnership that spotlights the contributions of the region's ethnic, minority and immigrant entrepreneurs. Participating representatives (from left) Osama Siblani of The Arab American News, Elias Gutierrez...
Dearborn approves 2011-2012 budget, plans closures and 42 layoffs
June 11th, 20110 DEARBORN – After two meetings lasting more than six hours combined on Monday and Tuesday nights filled with heated debates about proposed cuts, the city's budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year was unanimously passed on Tuesday, June 7. A parking rate increase was also passed unanimously......
Fordson group hopes to build next generation of community leaders
June 11th, 20110 Poetry slam attracts hundreds as political science club wraps up first year Fordson COPS members Mohamad B. Idriss, Rami Faraj, and Husain Bazzi prepare backstage for last Thursday's poetry slam event at Fordson High School. Faraj and Idriss helped found the group and said they wanted to leave a...
Palestine ambassador Safieh discusses new book, prospects for peace
June 11th, 20110 DEARBORN – The Arab American National Museum hosted Roving Ambassador for Special Missions for the PLO Afif Safieh for a discussion on Saturday, June 4, as part of a national tour for his new book "The Peace Process: From Breakthrough to Breakdown." The event was presented by the ADC's Greater......
