Asian Americans and the food justice movement in Metro Detroit—adding complexity, making connections
February 16th, 20180 By Frances Kai-Hwa Wang MI Asian "Before it was even called urban gardening, my parents kept a garden in the backyard ever since I was a kid," said Shane Bernardo, a life-long Detroit resident and a consultant, facilitator and speaker actively involved in food justice. "So I learned at a very early age how strongly my family...
State grants Dearborn Industrial Generation approval to increase toxic emissions in the Southend
February 16th, 20180 By Stephen Martin The Arab American News DEARBORN — A recently approved permit called 163-17 and submitted by Dearborn Industrial Generation, LLC (DIG) will allow it to increase its emissions of formaldehyde, a chemical recognized by the National Toxicology Program to be a known human carcinogen. The Air Quality Division of...
Religious leaders question the Pew Research Center’s report on Muslim Americans leaving their faith
February 16th, 20181 By Farah Harb WASHINGTON D.C. — The Pew Research Center issued a report in January stating there are as many Muslims leaving Islam as there are Muslims converting to it, leading two of Dearborn's Muslim leaders to question the report's validity. The Pew Research Center stated in its report that 23 percent of adults who were...
PBS show starring celebrity chef to put Arab community in spotlight
February 16th, 20180 DEARBORN — Metro Detroit's Arab American community will be on display this summer with the launch of a new series on PBS called "No Passport Required", hosted by The Food Network's chef Marcus Samuelsson. The series is slated for six one-hour episodes that follow Samuelsson as he explores communities that reveal the best global...
Property values rising in Detroit
February 9th, 20180 DETROIT — It took more than 15 years, but the city of Detroit experienced its first net increase in residential property values, according to an announcement from the city. The increase suggests that property values are rising as revitalization efforts reach more of Detroit's neighborhoods, officials said. "We think that it's...
Dearborn acknowledges Former Mayor Orville Hubbard’s racism with new plaque
February 9th, 20180 DEARBORN — After much contention from residents and even within the Dearborn Historical Commission, the late Mayor Orville Hubbard's statue has a new plaque that acknowledges his hatred for Blacks. The statue's placement, prominently displayed outside the Dearborn Historical Museum on Brady Street, is already controversial. But just...
Arab American officer saves Huron Township woman
February 9th, 20180 HURON TOWNSHIP — Ahmed Kassem, a Huron Township police officer, was praised Wednesday for using his instincts in finding an abandoned snow blower, which led him to the aid of a resident who had suffered a medical emergency and was stuck in her garage for more than 24 hours. Kassem was on patrol at 2:19 a.m. when he noticed a snow...
New Ford Woods ‘modern aquatic facility’ could cost twice initial estimate
February 9th, 20180 γ By Stephen Martin The Arab American News DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council unanimously approved a plan to spend no more than $4,256,200 on a new pool complex in Ford Woods Park, despite an estimated price tag of about $2 million less on a proposal posted on the city's website last year. Council President Susan Dabaja...
Gov. Snyder appoints Publisher Osama Siblani to the State Officers Compensation Commission
February 9th, 20181 LANSING — On Thursday, Feb. 8, Gov. Snyder announced the appointment of The Arab American News Publisher Osama Siblani to the State Officers Compensation Commission. Snyder named Siblani, of West Bloomfield, along with Phyllis Browne of DeWitt, Gerald Hildenbrand of Plainwell and Dan DeGrow of Burtchville. The SOCC is a seven-person...
Trump wants military parade in Washington
February 7th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump has ordered Pentagon and White House officials to begin planning a military parade in Washington similar to the Bastille Day parade he witnessed in Paris in July, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. At a meeting at the Pentagon on Jan. 18 that included Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint...
Rashida Tlaib seeks Conyers’ seat, would be first Muslim woman in Congress
February 6th, 20180 DETROIT — Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat, has officially thrown her hat in the race for Michigan's 13th congressional district. The seat was left open by longstanding U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit), who retired in December amid sexual harassment allegations. "Serving in the U.S. Congress is about much more than voting on bills,"...
Pollution and southwest Detroit
February 2nd, 20180 By Omar Abdel-Baqui The Latino Press "These particles and chemicals can penetrate our body and enter our bloodstream and wreak havoc on health. We have only recently realized the serious damage PM2.5 can cause." - Guy Williams, president & CEO of Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice Residents of southwest Detroit...
Dearborn Heights Commission on Women and Girls holds inaugural meeting
February 2nd, 20180 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Women's activist Dana Mohammad is working to form the Dearborn Heights Commission on Women and Girls. The commission would be the first of its kind in the state, according to Mohammad, who held a meeting at the Caroline Kennedy Library on Jan. 25 to gauge support, brainstorm ideas and raise awareness about the...
Dearborn Heights City Council considers medical marijuana shops
February 2nd, 20180 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — As federal officials and states remain in a tug of war on the legality of marijuana, cities across the nation where the consumption of the drug is permitted on some level are grappling with whether to allow dispensary stores in their neighborhoods. In Dearborn Heights, residents of the largely bedroom community...
Arab Americans undeterred despite failure to get MENA category on 2020 Census
February 2nd, 20180 "Accurate Census information ensures equal opportunity access to public resources, particularly for historically marginalized groups." -ADC DEARBORN — A promising decade-long endeavor by America's most targeted communities to gain political and social leverage hit a roadblock after the U.S. Census Bureau rejected the addition of a......
Wayne County Treasurer offers free mobile app to pay delinquent tax bills
February 2nd, 20180 DETROIT — Wayne County Treasurer Eric R. Sabree has introduced a new mobile app that allows people to pay their delinquent tax bills or payment plan installments via a free mobile app that accepts credit cards or checks. "We are very pleased to offer a mobile app that will give Wayne County taxpayers even greater convenience in...
Arab American cousins open a Dairy Queen, bringing major franchise to east Dearborn
February 2nd, 20180 DEARBORN — A major franchise returned to east Dearborn on Jan. 31, with an investment from two local cousins. Talal and Ali Haidous were born and raised in Liberia before they immigrated to Dearborn in 1998 and 1999, respectively. "It's our hometown," Talal Haidous told The AANews about why he and Ali decided to open up a...
USA Gymnastics says all directors have resigned after abuse scandal
January 31st, 20180 LANSING — USA Gymnastics, the sport’s U.S. governing body, said on Wednesday that all its remaining directors have now resigned following revelations that the longtime team doctor had sexually abused numerous athletes under his care. A USA Gymnastics spokeswoman on Friday had said that the full board intended to resign. The U.S....
Two former Michigan governors to lead MSU out of quagmire
January 30th, 20180 LANSING - Michigan State University will name former Michigan Gov. John Engler to be interim president, according to Detroit Free Press sources. Engler, a Republican, is a MSU graduate. He is expected to be named to the position at a special 9 a.m. MSU board meeting Wednesday. Also coming on board is another former Michigan......
Trump rolls out plan for path to citizenship for 1.8 million ‘Dreamers’
January 26th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump is ready to sign on to a plan that would open a path to citizenship for as many as 1.8 million "Dreamers," young immigrants brought illegally to the country as children, senior White House officials said on Thursday. The White House presented the offer as a major concession aimed at attracting...
Obituary: Joseph Haiek, who documented the history and achievements of Arab Americans, dead at 85
January 26th, 20180 LOS ANGELES — Joseph R. Haiek, 85, a well known Arab American historian and journalist who spent his life documenting the achievements of our community in this country, died on Thursday, Jan. 25, according to his family. "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Joseph Rizek Haiek, this morning, January 25,......
Acclaimed theater company searching for Arab Americans with Dearborn stories
January 26th, 20180 DEARBORN — Ping Chong + Company, an internationally acclaimed theater company known for bringing unheard voices to the stage, is partnering with the Arab American National Museum to present Undesirable Elements/Dearborn, an interview-based theater production for the AANM's Global Fridays series. The production is now accepting...
Community and officials bid farewell to Detroit FBI head David Gelios
January 26th, 20180 DEARBORN — "Unparalleled" leadership, community outreach and the ability to fight crime are what local Arab Americans will miss about FBI Special Agent in Charge David Gelios. Those qualities are why former FBI Director James Comey named Gelios head of the Detroit division in September 2015, and what has helped Gelios form deep......
