Building trust when cultural differences and society biases impact healthcare for minority groups
June 16th, 20230 By Linda Perkins Health disparities continue to disproportionately affect minority populations despite improvements in overall health for most Americans. In Michigan, minority groups have a higher rate of chronic disease than average, so improving healthcare for these groups is critical. Unfortunately, cultural differences and...
Israeli soldiers will not face criminal charges over death of Palestinian American
June 16th, 20230 Israel's military advocate general said on Tuesday that soldiers who left a Palestinian American man outside overnight after detaining him and who was later found dead will not be criminally prosecuted, but will face disciplinary measures. Israeli forces detained 78-year-old Omar As'ad at a makeshift checkpoint in his West Bank hometown...
U.S. Customs and Border Protection provides travel tips for Hajj travelers
June 16th, 20230 DETROIT – U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations reminds travelers preparing for their pilgrimage to the Hajj to be aware of important travel tips to help ensure a smooth return into the United States. Travelers should familiarize themselves with regulations regarding traveling with currency over...
First Muslim woman confirmed as a U.S. federal judge
June 16th, 20231 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. will have its first Bangladeshi American and first Muslim woman federal judge after the Senate confirmed Nusrat Choudhury on Thursday. The vote in the Democratic-led Senate narrowly passed along party lines. President Biden nominated the civil rights attorney to the United States District Court for the...
Prophets of doom: Kissinger and the “intellectual” decline of the West
June 9th, 20230 It is unclear why 100-year-old Henry Kissinger has been elevated by Western intelligentsia to serve the role of the visionary in how the West should behave in response to the Russia-Ukraine war. But does the centenarian politician have the answers? Every major global conflict that involved the U.S. and its NATO allies in the past had...
Arab American law graduate speaks up for Palestine, slams Israel at commencement
June 9th, 20232 NEW YORK – Fatima Mousa Mohammed, a City University of New York (CUNY) graduate from Queens of Yemeni origin, created ripples after she gave a speech on “confronting the systems of oppression… created to feed an empire with a ravenous appetite for destruction and violence” at her graduation ceremony, pointing her finger straight...
Senate confirms highest-ranking Muslim in government after earlier GOP blockade
June 9th, 20230 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday the Senate confirmed Dilawar Syed as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration, ending more than two years of delays after a blockade by Republicans in the last Congress. Syed will be the highest-ranking Muslim official in the U.S. government. Republicans on the Small Business...
What health experts say wildfire smoke novices need to know
June 9th, 20230 Wildfires are increasingly causing destruction and illness around the world, but the smoke drifting southward from eastern Canada this week is a new experience for the tens of millions who live in the U.S. Northeast. Many in those states are wondering what they need to know about a first-time wildfire smoke event. Are health risks...
Illinois to add “Arab American” as ethnicity option on registration forms
June 9th, 20230 CHICAGO – Illinois has one of the largest populations of Arab Americans in the country, according to community leaders. Yet, on most registration forms, where you are asked about your ethnic background, Arab American is not an option. "It's really important," said Jeanine A. "There isn't a way for me to represent my ethnicity. I have...
Biden administration wants Congress to mandate flight delay compensation
June 9th, 20230 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden administration has submitted draft legislation to Congress that would mandate airlines pay cash compensation for delays of three hours or more when carriers are responsible. The proposal sent earlier this week and seen by Reuters would require "cash compensation in an amount commensurate with the...
Trump faces criminal charges for mishandling documents, obstruction
June 9th, 20230 Former President Trump has been indicted by a federal grand jury for retaining classified government documents and obstruction of justice, according to a source familiar with the matter. The criminal case, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, amounts to another legal setback for Trump as he seeks to regain the U.S. presidency next...
Avoiding scams that target immigrants
May 26th, 20230 By Jennifer Leach When there are big changes that lead to confusion, scammers prosper. Pretty much always. So, as Title 42, the pandemic-era law related to immigration, expired last week, the resulting “what happens next” will almost certainly lead to notarios hoping to ride that question all the way to the bank. So how do...
Dialect discrimination: 1-in-3 Michiganders fear an “accent wage penalty”, study reveals
May 26th, 20230 In a 2015 interview, Stephen Colbert was quoted as saying: “At a very young age, I decided I was not gonna have a Southern accent”, adding that as he thought it would hold him back professionally. He noted that it is difficult to determine a newscaster's regional origin based on their accent. Research from the University of...
Five facts about Arabic speakers in the U.S.
May 26th, 20230 By Mohamad Moslimani Arabic has become a much more widely spoken language in the United States in recent decades. The number of people ages 5 and older who speak Arabic at home in the U.S. rose from 215,000 in 1980 to 1.4 million in 2021, making it the nation’s seventh-most common non-English language spoken at home. Arabic speakers...
Tlaib, Khanna lead letter urging President Biden to support ending war in Yemen
May 26th, 20230 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D- Detroit) and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) led 39 of their colleagues in a letter to President Biden and his Yemen policy team in support of ongoing diplomacy to end the 8-year long war in Yemen. “We write to applaud the recent diplomatic progress made by the warring parties......
The White House is urged not to adopt a definition of anti-Semitism that includes criticism of Israel
May 26th, 20231 WASHINGTON, D.C. – "The Biden administration is close to completing a national anti-Semitic strategy, but the question of how it defines anti-Semitism remains fluid," Jewish Insider revealed. According to the site, "As the White House prepares to launch a national strategy to combat anti-Semitism in the coming weeks, the question of...
Comcast RISE provides grant packages to 500 more small businesses in five cities
May 26th, 20230 PHILADELPHIA – Comcast announced that a new round of businesses in five cities will receive grants through Comcast RISE, providing 500 more small businesses with comprehensive grant packages that include business consultation services, educational resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production, media schedule and a......
“Not on our dime!”: Why U.S. Democrats are growingly challenging Israel
May 24th, 20230 Though the United States remains a strong supporter of Israel, there are some indications that the supposed “unbreakable bond” with Tel Aviv is faltering, though more in language than in deeds. Following the provocative “Flag March” on May 18, which is carried out annually by Israeli Jewish extremists in the Occupied...
Immigration policy should serve America’s interests
May 24th, 20230 All eyes have been on the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks as politicians and pundits assess the impact of changing rules for who can enter the United States. But the fixation on the border can distract from a bigger problem: America’s immigration system hasn’t kept up with the times. We need an immigration policy that advances...
Former ICE agent sentenced on criminal sexual conduct charges
May 16th, 20230 LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Kevin Taylor, a former federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, was sentenced on May 10 to five to 15 years' imprisonment and sex offender registration. Taylor, 49, of Riley, Michigan, pleaded no contest to two counts of third degree criminal sexual...
Two Michigan students named 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars
May 16th, 20230 On May 10, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 59th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields. The Michigan scholars include (hometown, scholar, school): MI – Bloomfield Hills – Adnan......
Nearly 22,000 student loan borrowers in Michigan approved for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
May 16th, 20230 To mark Public Service Recognition Week, the U.S. Department of Education announced it has approved nearly 616,000 borrowers nationwide for approximately $42 billion in Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) since October 2021. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), covers public employees — such as teachers, firefighters and...
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum introduces bill to restrict aid to Israel
May 16th, 20230 WASHINGTON, D.C. – A U.S. representative from Minnesota has renewed a push to ensure that aid to Israel does not contribute to abuses of Palestinians, particularly children, as progressive legislators continue to call for conditions to be placed on the assistance. On Friday, May 5, Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum reintroduced a......
Friend or foe — The dawn of the AI revolution
May 16th, 20230 By Peter White A research scientist who works on the intersection of reasoning and machine learning likens the boom in artificial intelligence to the Industrial Revolution. “I wasn’t around then,” said Hector Palacios, “but back in the day people would say, ‘I’m going to buy an engine.’” After a while, nobody was...
San Diego attorney general promises Arabs and Muslims to fight rising hate crime
May 6th, 20230 On Thursday, San Diego Attorney General Rob Bonta told members of San Diego’s Arab and Muslim community that he is working to increase the inclusion of immigrants in California while simultaneously fighting rising hate crime. “We know there has been an increase in hate crimes and Islamophobia,” he said, promising to fight it as......
