Hijabi Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad seeks to inspire
February 26th, 20160 Ibtihaj Muhammad "I told her to bring home the gold," President Obama told the crowd during his first visit to a mosque in Baltimore last month. He was talking about hijabi fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who will represent the United States in Rio De Janeiro this summer, becoming the first American Muslim to compete in the...Greektown Casino will soon be called “Jack”
DETROIT — Greektown Casino will be changing its name to "Jack" by late 2016. Following Dan Gilbert's acquirement of the casino, the $40 million rebranding project aims to unite the business mogul's three other casinos under one theme. The official name, Jack Detroit Casino Hotel Greektown, suggested by one of Gilbert's...Bloomberg Businessweek highlights contributions of refugees in Detroit
Renan Sadak, who was featured in the article. Photo: Ali Lapetina for Bloomberg BusinessweekDETROIT — A Bloomberg.com article highlighted the economic contributions of Arab refugees to the local economy.The story published on Feb. 18 was titled, "Detroit’s Comeback Has an Arabic Accent." It conveyed the personal stories of Iraqi...CBS names Najah Bazzy among inspirational women impacting Detroit
Najah BazzyDETROIT — CBS named Arab American humanitarian Najah Bazzy as one of five "inspirational women" impacting Metro Detroit in a special dubbed "Eye On The Future: The Power Of Women." GM Chairwoman and CEO Mary Barra heads up the line up of the CBS show, which will air on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. on CBS...N.Y. Magazine taps Rashida Tlaib, 9 others, to be “next Obama”
Rashida TlaibDETROIT — New York Magazine named former State Rep. Rashida Tlaib as one of 10 Democrats who could be a "next Obama" in the Democratic Party.In an article published Thursday, the magazine argued that the Democratic leadership is getting old and named up-and-coming activists who represent the future of the party.Marin...Local candidate for State Rep. receives hate mail
DEARBORN – Abdullah Hammoud, a Democratic candidate in the 15th District State Representative race, said he received an unlabeled envelope over Valentine’s Day weekend containing his campaign mailer, ripped and defaced with the words “No More Arabs” and “Go Back To Lebanon.”His campaign mailer was sent to thousands of...
Court of appeals’ ruling could overturn Odeh’s conviction
February 25th, 20160 Odeh (R) standing with her supporters outside the federal courthouse, March, 2015CINCINNATI — A federal court of appeals ruled in favor of Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh, who had been found guilty of immigration fraud for failing to disclose that she was jailed in Israel on her U.S. naturalization application.The Sixth Circuit Court...Michigan woman has confirmed case of Zika Virus
LANSING. – Michigan health officials have identified the first confirmed case of Zika virus in a Michigan resident. The patient, a female resident of Ingham County, contracted the virus when traveling in a country where Zika virus is being transmitted. The patient, who was not pregnant, experienced...Michigan Uber driver admits role in deadly shooting spree
Jason Dalton, 45KALAMAZOO — A man working as an Uber driver admitted to the fatal weekend shootings of six people in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a police detective testified in a case raising questions about how the car service vets its drivers. Jason Dalton, 45, was denied bail as he made his first court...
Michigan Senate approves $30 million to help pay Flint water bills
February 23rd, 20160 FLINT - Residents of Flint one of the poorest cities in the United States, will get $30 million to help pay their water bills after a lead contamination crisis, under a bill unanimously approved by the Michigan Senate on Tuesday.Gov. Rick Snyder plans to sign the bill, which had been passed unanimously by the state's...
Uber driver arrested for shooting rampage that killed 6 in Kalamazoo
February 21st, 20160 Jason Dalton.KALAMAZOO - A gunman killed six people and wounded two in apparently random shootings in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, before being arrested early on Sunday, a prosecutor said. A television station reported the suspect was an Uber driver who took fares between shootings. The 45-year-old suspect, Jason Dalton, was believed to...Tainted Flint water pipes being located and replaced
FLINT ― Work has begun to survey and replace the city’s network of underground lead-contaminated water pipes following a budget resolution of $25 million last month to replace the water infrastructure.In collaboration with Rowe Professional Services, a Flint-based engineering firm, the state legislature passed an agreement to update...Warren man awarded as hero for saving stabbing victim’s life
Didarul Sarder.WARREN ― The Hamtramck resident and General Motors Tech Center valet supervisor who saved a women’s life after being stabbed outside the building last Wednesday was honored.On Thursday, Didarul Sarder was given a proclamation by Warren Mayor Jim Fouts and a $1,000 gift certificate to a Shelby Township jewelry...State Rep. candidate Brian Stone advocates for Arab and Muslim Americans
Brian Stone. DEARBORN — Dearbornites can be particularly picky about their state representative – and for good reason. This past year, the city’s Arab and Muslim Americans have endured racist and Islamophobia attacks by presidential candidates, far right-wing groups and by both the federal and state government. For many, Brian...SOS suspends Detroit auto dealer for alleged stolen vehicles
LANSING — Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced this week that she has suspended the license of an auto dealership in Detroit after the dealer was unable to provide records to department investigators for inspection. Michigan Department of State investigators conducted an inspection of Detroit Scale & Cars, 14301 W. Chicago......
Are Chaldeans Arab?
February 19th, 20169 A girl holds up a sign that reads, "I am an Iraqi, I am a Christian" at Mar Girgis Church in Baghdad, July 20, 2014. Photo: ReutersDEARBORN — Are Chaldeans Arab?It depends.It depends on whom you ask. It depends on your definition of Arab. And it depends on the answer of individual Chaldeans.Anthropologists say a Chaldean would fit the...‘Game-changing’ mortgage program aims to increase Detroit homeownership
Mayor Mike Duggan. DETROIT — Mayor Mike Duggan announced a new "game-changing" initiative Thursday morning to assist new and existing homeowners who receive low mortgages because of depreciated appraisal values. Homeowners and prospective home buyers who could not previously borrow money from a bank to repair or buy a house in...March 1 is the deadline for Yemenis to apply for TPS
The deadline for eligible nationals of Yemen (and people without nationality who last habitually resided in Yemen) to register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is Tuesday, March 1. The TPS designation for Yemen runs from September 3, 2015 through March 3, 2017. Yemen was designated for TPS because of the ongoing armed conflict in...
DHS adds Yemen, Libya and Somalia to Visa Waiver Program restrictions
February 19th, 20160 WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is continuing its implementation of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 with the addition of Libya, Somalia, and Yemen as three countries of concern, limiting Visa Waiver Program travel for certain individuals......
Islamophobia and hate groups rise at alarming rate
February 18th, 20160 MONTGOMERY, ALA. — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has released its annual Year in Hate report and the data depicts a country with extraordinary political and racial tensions. Established in 1971 to make promise of the newly re-enacted civil rights laws, the SPLC’s strategy is to fight hate, teach tolerance and seek...Mona Hammoud appointed to Wayne County Ethics Board
Mona HammoudDEARBORN — Mona Hammoud, of Dearborn, has been appointed to the Wayne County Ethics Board by the Wayne County Commission.Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak, D-Dearborn, nominated Hammoud for the appointment, which was approved by the Commission at its Feb. 18 meeting.Hammoud is a vice president for PNC bank, where she has......
Crestwood School District placing $35 million bond proposal on ballot
DEARBORN HEIGHTS ― The Crestwood School District Board of Education has approved a resolution to place a bond proposal of $35 million on the May 3 ballot.The bond seeks to upgrade technology in classrooms, building infrastructure, safety and security in all schools within the Crestwood School District and is expected to...
Sanders woos Arab Americans during Dearborn visit
February 17th, 20160 Local Arab Americans pose with Sanders at the Dearborn UAW.DEARBORN – “When he talks about shutting the door of America to Muslims, all he’s talking about is scapegoating minorities,” Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told a diverse crowd of local residents at the UAW Local 600 hall in Dearborn. “We will not......
