The Arab American News
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Darkness descends on the Muslims of Murfreesboro
June 4th, 20110 So, it turns out Islam is a religion. Imagine that. Granted, this would be considered self-evident by most of us, but it has been a matter of great controversy in the Tennessee town of Murfreesboro, where 17 people went to court last year to prevent a group of Muslims from building a mosque. On...Arab nations: New governments, same story
The first wave of Arab revolutions is entering its second phase. Along with dismantling the structures of political despotism, they have embarked on the arduous journey toward genuine change and democratization. On the opposite side, the U.S. is seeking to recover from the initial state of disarray...
Libya rebels to normalize ties with Israel if in power
June 4th, 20110 French writer passes National Transitional Council’s message of intentions to Netanyahu JERUSALEM - French writer Bernard Henri Levy said he delivered a message on Thursday from Libyan rebel leaders to Israel's premier saying they would seek diplomatic ties with Israel if they came to...NATO warplanes pound Tripoli, car bomb rocks Benghazi
TRIPOLI — NATO air raids shook Tripoli Thursday as the UN denounced crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the conflict between Muamar Gaddafi's forces and rebels seeking to topple the strongman. A Libyan woman shows a photograph of her son Louay Chouichi at her house in Misrata June...
Yemen: Living with an endless revolution
June 4th, 20110 Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a rally to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa May 31, 2011. Street fighting raged across the Yemeni capital on Tuesday after a tenuous truce broke down between tribal groups and forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh, edging the impoverished Arab...Luxurious spa offers elegant services at reasonable prices
It’s no surprise that lavish spas can be expensive. The soaring costs for extravagant beauty services have inspired one local woman to start a business. Terri Sitto, owner of Day Dream Nails and Spa in West Bloomfield, is merging pricey procedures with cheap rates, a unique concept. Sitto...Undefeated, freedom flotillas expand
GAZA CITY (IPS) — A gleaming new memorial towers in the center of Gaza City's battered port. Flanked by flags of various nations whose citizens have sailed to the Gaza Strip to highlight the all-out siege on Gaza, the memorial's inscription bears the names of the Turkish solidarity activists who...
Time running out for two-state solution
June 4th, 20110 RAMALLAH (IPS) — Time is of the essence if the implementation of a two-state solution to end the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to succeed. Changing demographics both within Israeli and Palestinian society could render this impossible, with a one-state solution the only feasible...More than immigration at stake in historic effort to recall AZ’s Pearce
Pearce, who took over as president of the state Senate this year, has been in office for 10 years. Like many of his constituents, he is a member of the Mormon church.PHOENIX — A bipartisan effort to recall conservative Arizona state Senator Russell Pearce, known for his tough stance on illegal immigration, could signal a shift in...
Detained Saudi woman driver freed on bail, promises king it won’t happen again
June 4th, 20110 JEDDAH - Saudi authorities decided Monday to free on bail Manal al-Sharif, who was detained for 10 days for breaking the ultra-conservative kingdom's ban on women driving, her lawyer said. "We were informed today of the decision to free Manal on bail. The procedural steps towards her release are...2011 Arab American Book Award winners revealed
DEARBORN — Established American literary luminaries and compelling new voices inspired by global events are represented among the winners of the 2011 Arab American Book Award presented by the Arab American National Museum. This national literary competition, the only one of its kind in the U.S.,...
ACCESS withdraws from organizing Arab Festival but remains a sponsor
June 4th, 20110 DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council granted a special event permit to the American Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) on Tuesday in a meeting at City Hall. Under conditions of the permit Warren Avenue will be closed in order for the AACC to hold its annual Arab International Festival from...Multi-platinum band Coldplay endorses “Freedom for Palestine” musical collaboration
Iconic British rock band Coldplay recently endorsed an upcoming musical project called "Freedom for Palestine," which was released as a single by the War on Want and One World foundations recently. The adult alternative/art rock band referred fans to the "Freedom for Palestine" page on Facebook on...
Dearborn campaign highlights teen driving safety concerns
June 4th, 20110 Ford Driving Skills for Life Program Manager Jim Graham speaks last Friday at a teen driving safety event in front of the Dearborn police station as Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad (to his right) looks on along with another officer. PHOTOS: Nick Meyer/TAANDEARBORN – Local officials from the city's police department, schools, and...
A third way on Syria is still possible
June 4th, 20110 Beirut — In yet another incredibly dangerous turn in the Middle East, "liberal interventionists" are once again joining forces with "hawkish" neoconservative voices to advocate for the collapse of the Syrian regime — sooner rather than later. Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad......
Owe back taxes? All excuses welcome!
Tax Amnesty available until June 30, 2011 For a 45-day period this spring, the Michigan Department of Treasury will offer an opportunity for delinquent taxpayers to pay their state taxes and have penalty charges waived through Tax Amnesty. Regardless of the reason a taxpayer has fallen behind, All...
No evidence of Iranian weapons program, despite rhetoric
June 4th, 20110 Seymour Hersh reports in the latest issue of The New Yorker that "despite years of covert operations inside Iran, extensive satellite imagery, and the recruitment of Iranian intelligence assets, the United States and its allies, including Israel, have been unable to find irrefutable evidence of an...Michigan real estate hit hard by foreclosed homes
DETROIT — MICHIGAN-Realty Trac, a company that publishes the largest database of foreclosed, auction and bank owned homes in the country, has found that foreclosure has greatly affected the state in the first quarter of 2011. Realty Trac reports that 32% of the homes sold within the first quarter...Dearborn Judge Hultgren testifies in discrimination lawsuit from ex-employee
DEARBORN — Judge William Hultgren of the 19th District Court testified last Thursday in a trial over whether or not former Dearborn probation officer Simone Calvas' civil rights were violated when she was fired by the court's chief judge Mark Somers in fall 2007, according to a report in the......
State budget approved early despite some worries
LANSING — The $46 billion state budget for the upcoming fiscal year has been completed earlier than expected. The budget, which was approved by a Republican led legislature, goes into effect on October 1 and will see cuts in educational aid as well as state departments. According to the Associated...Dearborn Heights city budget approved
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — In a 4-2 city council vote, the Dearborn Heights general government budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, beginning on July 1, was approved last Tuesday. Coming in at $36.4 million, the approved budget was $1.7 million less than that of the current fiscal year. Councilwoman......
Major changes coming for tax laws on Michigan businesses
LANSING —The Associated Press is reporting that Governor Rick Snyder has just signed "the most sweeping tax change in the state since 1994." The change cuts overall business taxes by $1 billion in the upcoming fiscal year beginning on October 1 and $1.7 billion the following year. The change will...ALUG invites Lebanese college graduates to participate in future networking gatherings
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — More than 40 people gathered at Al-Amer restaurant in Dearborn Heights for a breakfast held by the American Lebanese University Graduates (ALUG). ALUG was formed in 1996 with the objective of bringing together university graduates of Lebanese decent with various......