The Arab American News
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George Zimmerman dropped by lawyer
SANFORD, Fla. — Mark O'Mara, the attorney who successfully defended George Zimmerman in his second-degree murder trial, will no longer be representing him."I am not representing George Zimmerman in his recent domestic altercation case, or his impending divorce case," O'Mara told CNN, on Tuesday Sept. 10.O'Mara's announcement comes a...Montana newlywed faces murder charge for shoving husband off cliff
MONTANA — A Montana woman was charged this week for killing her husband of eight days, by pushing him off a cliff at Glacier National Park, after he expressed doubts about their marriage during a hike.Jordan Graham, 22, was charged with second-degree murder in U.S. District Court in Missoula, stemming from the July 7 death of her...
Riad Shatila: Family and friends reflect on the legacy of a true pioneer
September 13th, 20130 DEARBORN — The Arab American community lost one of its greatest pioneers last week, when Riad Saad Shatila, 68, founder of Shatila Bakery, passed away on Friday, September 6, after a long battle with throat cancer.Shatila Bakery has been Dearborn's pride and joy for decades now, introducing millions of Americans across the country to...
Crestwood School District now offers halal chicken for lunch
September 13th, 20130 DEARBORN HEIGHTS —The Crestwood School District began serving halal meat as an option on its lunch menu this week, after years of repeated concerns over accommodating the dietary needs of the growing Muslim student population in the district. Arab Americans account for more than 62 percent of the entire district’s student...
Leaked document: NSA ‘routinely’ shares Americans’ data with Israel
September 13th, 20130 The National Security Agency (NSA) regularly shares raw U.S. intelligence data with Israel without even removing information about American citizens, according to the latest revelation published by the Guardian. The report is based on a document leaked by Edward Snowden.On Tuesday, Sept. 11, the Guardian published a previously...
Local communities align at anti-war rally in downtown Detroit
September 13th, 20130 DETROIT — Over one hundred local citizens marched in a rally at Grand Circus Park that concluded in a gathering at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit on Sunday, in an effort to condemn potential U.S. air strikes against Syria. The various organizers of the rally, which included the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and...Hamas urges preachers in Gaza not to criticize Egypt’s military
GAZA — Hamas tried to ease tensions with Cairo on Wednesday, Sept. 11, by ordering Muslim preachers to mute their criticism of the new Egyptian government over what some of the clerics have called its war on Islam."Preachers should avoid speaking of the internal affairs of Egypt and focus on our Palestinian national issues and our...Yemeni president reinstates hundreds of war sacked southern officers
SANAA — Yemen's president has ordered the reinstatement of hundreds of senior army and intelligence officers sacked after a 1994 civil war, to hasten reconciliation talks aimed at ending years of political turmoil in the U.S.-allied country.The officers are from the restive south of the Arabian peninsula country, which lost a 1994...Arab Americans protest in D.C.
DEARBORN — On Sunday evening, over 100 local community members met in front of the Dearborn City Hall and traveled to Washington D.C. on two buses, to protest against a possible U.S. intervention in Syria. The protest, organized by the Syrian American Forum, included hundreds of local Syrian and Lebanese Americans, who marched...Dearborn City Council discussion decision on garage ordinance
DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council voted 7- 0, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, to table the first reading of the zoning ordinance amendment that would ban garages from being converted into habitable spaces. The new ordinance defines a habitable space as, "a space within a structure for living, sleeping, eating and cooking." It prohibits...Congressman Dingell meets with community to discuss Syria crisis
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Last Friday, September 6, Congressman John Dingell, who represents Michigan's 12th congressional district, joined a group of religious and community leaders at the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, to listen to their views on President Obama's position on Syria.Spiritual leader Imam Elahi expressed his...Interfaith ceremony commemorates 9/11
DEARBORN — Community and religious leaders gathered on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Dearborn City Council Chambers to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. Citizens joined in commemorating the victims, by praying for peace and justice. Lebanese American singer Joe Kidd and his music partner Sheila Burke started the...Employers beware: You must strictly comply with garnishment requests
After judgment is obtained in a civil case, many defendants are unable, or unwilling to simply pay the judgment in full. Technically, it is the plaintiff’s job to get the judgment paid. There is no penalty to the defendant for failing to take affirmative steps to pay the judgment. Thus, as many sad litigants have...“The Muslims are Coming” … To theaters
A comedy-documentary, titled "The Muslims are Coming!" will get a limited release in select cities on September 12.The film follows a band of Muslim American comedians, as they visit big cities, small towns and rural areas, in an attempt to dispel Islamophobia with humor. Dean Obeidallah, Negin Farsad, Maysoon Zayid, Aron Kader, Omar...Project to promote dialogue and dance series, celebrating Detroit’s cultural stories
DETROIT — Heritage Works, will produce a series of live performances that celebrate Detroit’s cultural stories. The project will bring together national choreographers who have roots in Detroit and who will engage the community through dialogue, then mentor local dancers and involve youth and the community in unique expressions of......
New walking tour reveals Eastern Market’s Arab history, merchants, food
DEARBORN — The Arab American National Museum’s YallaEat! Culinary Walking Tour is a new, immersive cultural experience that is being offered, free of charge, this fall, as a pilot program and next year as a fee-based program. The docent-guided walking tours of Detroit’s historic Eastern Market, during September and October...State Rep. Phil Cavanagh considers running for Wayne County Executive
State Representative Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) is considering a run for Wayne County Executive in 2014. Cavanagh served for eight years as a Wayne County commissioner. State Rep. Phil Cavanagh had his annual fundraising picnic at his Redford home. About 120 supporters and politicians, including local Democratic Congressmen...Sen. Smith fights against scrap metal theft, introduces two-bill package
MICHIGAN — On Tuesday, Senator Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) introduced legislation that will help take a bite out of scrap metal theft. The theft of scrap affects urban, suburban and rural communities. It also contributes directly to the problem of blight communities. In recent years, thefts of various types of metal have...Convicted Wayne County employee to serve 41 months in federal prison
AllebbanFormer Wayne County Information Technology Director Zayd Allebban was sentenced this week by a judge to 41 months in federal prison. Allebban is a former appointee of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. Last February, Allebban was convicted of two counts of obstruction of justice by a jury, for creating fake receipts to......
Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission makes request to remove Judge McCree from bench
DETROIT — The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission recently made a recommendation, requesting that Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree be removed from the bench. The Commission has ruled that McCree exceeded his authority, when he violated judicial conduct. He was suspended, without pay, after admitting that he had an affair...Bill to allow religious, moral restrictions on adopting families
LANSING — Adoption agencies could deny the placement of children, under the guardianship of new parents for religious or moral reasons, if the State House passes a new bill on adoption next week.The bill insinuates that the State cannot withhold funding from an adoption agency for not facilitating, or allowing an adoption "that......
Man stabs deputy sheriff with comb, escapes Detroit courthouse
DETROIT — A man, about to be sentenced for armed robbery, stabbed a deputy sheriff several times in the neck with a plastic comb, took his uniform and vanished from a Detroit courthouse on Monday, Sept. 9.Police believe the man rode seven floors down a prisoner transfer elevator and escaped from the rear of the courthouse and then...Suspects involved in armed robbery apprehended by police
DEARBORN — On Sept. 7, at 9:28 p.m., an attempted armed robbery was committed on Payne St., near Arthur. Two subjects ran up to a resident, as he was walking from his vehicle to his front porch. One subject placed a handgun to the victim’s head and shouted “Give us what you have!” The second subject held the victim and......