Dearborn Schools superintendent discusses new meal plan
September 28th, 20180 By Farah Harb DEARBORN – On Sept. 12, the Dearborn Public Schools announced and implemented the expansion of its meal program, and the implementation of a free breakfast and lunch, to include students of all grades. “It is a positive for the students that we can provide the meals because the state came up with...
A tour of Dearborn’s aging schools: District prepares for expensive, but needed infrastructure upgrade bond
September 27th, 20180 DEARBORN – The buildings of the state’s third largest public school district are by no means anything like what has been documented at Detroit’s public schools. Dearborn’s 29 schools seem relatively in fair shape, clean and properly maintained – there are no major safety hazards, no visible mold or asbestos falling from...
El-Sayed launches PAC to support progressive candidates, causes
September 26th, 20180 LANSING — On Monday, September 24, former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed announced that he'll launch a state-based political action committee to boast liberal candidates and progressive causes in Michigan. El-Sayed’s new group, SouthPaw MI PAC, will emphasize grassroots organizing and provide financial support to...
Comerica Park food handler charged for spitting on pizza
September 25th, 20180 DETROIT - Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Jaylon Kerley, 20, a resident of Detroit, in connection with spitting on pizza dough he was preparing while working at a concession stand in Comerica Park. On September 21, 2018, it is alleged that Kerley spat on a pizza he was preparing and covered his saliva with pizza sauce....
Arab American mother still seeks help for terminally-ill son
September 24th, 20180 ANN ARBOR — An Arab American mother of four continues her search for support for her family and terminally-ill son while spreading awareness of his rare condition. In May, The AANews met with Azeza Kasham and her 15-year-old son Haitham Breadiy, whom doctors had diagnosed with a genetic form of progressive myoclonus epilepsy...
CAIR-MI files complaint against DTE Energy on behalf of Muslim man
September 23rd, 20180 SOUTHFIELD — The Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, (CAIR-MI) a civil rights and advocacy group, filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against DTE Energy on behalf of Ibrahim Canales, a former employee who allegedly was forced to leave his job after attending Friday prayer for his Muslim...
Wayne State University offers counseling for Muslim women on campus
September 23rd, 20180 DETROIT — Wayne State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is offering a new service to muslim women on college campuses. The new group, which will meet weekly, aims to provide a place for women to identify and discuss the issues and struggles of being a muslim woman on a college campus. Kaifa Alsoofy,...
CAIR-MI to represent family of man killed by Detroit Police
September 23rd, 20180 DETROIT — The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, (CAIR-MI) a non-profit advocacy group for Muslims, plans to represent the interests of the family of Abdullah Beard (aka Abdullah Abdul Muhamin) regarding his fatal shooting by the Detroit Police on Friday, Sept. 14. "Per the family's request, we will not...
A side of both worlds: What it means to be an Arab American in Dearborn
September 22nd, 20180 DEARBORN — Arab? Arabic? Immigrant? Native born? Is American Arabia a counterculture of America? The Statue of Liberty stands tall and high in New York, symbolizing freedom and enlightenment and is aimed towards sealing friendship. One defining metaphor known in the United States is a "melting pot" of immigrants around the globe,...
Emgage hosts gerrymandering town hall meeting
September 22nd, 20180 DEARBORN — On Thursday, Sept. 20, Emgage, an organization which encourages muslim Americans to engage in local and national politics, hosted a town hall meeting at the Arab American National Museum’s Annex to educate the community on gerrymandering. Voters Not Politicians, a nonpartisan group working to pass Proposal 2 on...
Discrimination complaints forces city to revise confusing gazebo ordinance
September 22nd, 20180 DEARBORN – Inconsistencies in ordinances have been causing confusion among city officials, as residents who have gazebos on their properties complain of excessive ticketing and press administrators struggling to iron out the enforcement language, to find a fix. Although City Council members attempted to tackle this issue last...
U of M professor refuses to grant student referral to study in Israel
September 21st, 20180 ANN ARBOR — A University of Michigan associate professor is facing criticism for not writing a student a letter of recommendation to study in Israel. John Cheney-Lippold, who teaches in the American Culture Department on the relationship among digital media, identity and the concept of privacy, had initially agreed to write the...
Couple charged in carjacking of 88-year-old Livonia woman
September 21st, 20180 LIVONIA — Jason Malinas, 38, of Sterling Heights, and Jessica St. Clair, 41, of Wayne, have been charged by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy in connection with the carjacking of an 88-year-old Livonia woman. On September 18, the victim parked her car at a Walmart Store in Livonia. As she was walking to get a shopping cart,...
State Department: Trump will consult with Congress on refugee cap
September 18th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump will make the final decision on the number of refugees allowed into the United States after consulting with Congress, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Tuesday. On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States proposed capping the number of refugees at 30,000 for...
Trump administration to reconsider asylum for separated immigrant families
September 17th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump’s administration has agreed to reconsider the asylum claims of some 1,000 immigrant parents and children who were separated at the U.S. border as part of a deal to settle lawsuits over his “zero-tolerance” immigration policy. The settlement, detailed in court documents late on Wednesday,......
Snyder signs new rules for medical marijuana businesses
September 17th, 20180 LANSING — On Tuesday Sept. 11, Gov. Snyder signed new emergency administrative rules to continue implementation of the Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA). The rules issued by the Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) ensuring protection for medical marijuana patients. Under the new rules, depending on...
Dearborn Public Schools’ Arabic classes focus on culture as well as language
September 16th, 20180 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools have been expanding the number of students learning a different language and Arabic has become one of the district’s fastest growing foreign languages since the late 90s. All high schools and the vast majority of middle schools within the district offer Arabic; and community members and...
Comerica Park to host first Arab American night
September 15th, 20180 DETROIT—Comerica Park will holds its first-ever Arab American night on Saturday, Sept. 22 as the Detroit Tigers face the Kansas City Royals. “To the best of our knowledge, it’s the first of its kind in all of baseball at least,” said Jim Cleary, a sales executive for the Tigers, who came up with the idea for the event in...
Dearborn and Pittsfield Township fire departments to receive combined $600,000
September 15th, 20180 DEARBORN – U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) announced that the Dearborn and Pittsfield Township Fire Departments will receive a combined $600,000 in federal support to acquire new vehicles. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) will go directly to the local fire departments to help them acquire new vehicles, including......
CAIR-MI files civil rights complaint on behalf of Muslim boxer
September 14th, 20180 FARMINGTON HILLS — On Thursday, Sept. 13, the Michigan Chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) announced the filing of a Michigan Department of Civil Rights complaint against USA Boxing in support of 18-year-old Michigan boxer Basheer Abdur, a Muslim who was barred from competition because of the beard he believes he...
Survey finds voters support recreational marijuana proposal, split on gerrymandering
September 14th, 20180 LANSING — A recent survey by the Detroit News and WDIV-TV found that Michigan voters favor a recreational marijuana initiative on the ballot this November. The new poll of 600 Michiganders suggests marijuana Proposal 1 would pass comfortably nine weeks before the election, while Proposal 2, to end gerrymandering, was split in......
Dearborn School District to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students
September 14th, 20180 DEARBORN — On Wednesday, Sept. 12, the Dearborn Public Schools announced an expansion of its free lunch program. Celia Nasser, a Dearborn Public Schools board member, told the AANews she was informed by Thomas Wall, executive director of business and operations at the district, that the state changed its percentage of “qualified,...
Reception hosted in honor of Palestinian college students visiting Michigan
September 10th, 20180 ANN ARBOR — On Tuesday, September 4, Global Ties Detroit and U of M’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted a welcome reception in honor of the students from Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU) in the Michigan League University Avenue building in Ann Arbor. Global Ties Detroit, in partnership with the University of Michigan......
