Group seeks families to host exchange students from the Middle East
July 30th, 20150 D EARBORN – Youth For Understanding (YFU), a non-profit organization that assists in bringing foreign exchange students into the country, is looking for hosting families who would be able to provide a home for three students during their stay. YFU works with the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, a scholarship program...
Israeli diplomat: majority of American Jews support Iran nuclear deal
July 30th, 20150 Alon PinkasDETROIT — According to Alon Pinkas, the former Consul General of Israel in New York, American Jews are more in favor of the Iran nuclear deal than the general American public. A telephone poll of 501 respondents conducted by the LA Jewish Journal found that 49 percent of American Jews favor the deal, while 31 percent...
‘Harley Hijabi’ stirs social media discussion
July 30th, 20151 DEARBORN — On Monday, July 27, The Arab American News published a photo on its Facebook page capturing a Muslim woman in a headscarf riding a motorcycle on Ford Road in east Dearborn. A reader who had stopped at a traffic light with the Muslim biker sent the photo to the newspaper. It was taken at an angle that did not reveal...
Land swap deal approved by Detroit City Council
July 30th, 20150 DETROIT—On Tuesday, the Detroit City Council approved a controversial deal between the city and billionaire Manual “Matty” Moroun. The land swap deal would not only provide land for Moroun to build a second span adjacent to the Ambassador Bridge, which he owns, but also $3 million that would be...
Grand Rapids man arrested for smuggling guns to Lebanon
July 30th, 20150 GRAND RAPIDS— A Grand Rapids man faces federal charges for allegedly smuggling guns from the United States to Lebanon.Gilbert Oscar Elian, a Lebanese man who became a naturalized U.S. citizen, was in federal court in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, July 28.Federal authorities allege the 54-year-old used the import/export business he owns to...
Court of Appeals to consider case of Arabs’ bank accounts’ closure
July 30th, 20153 Huntington Bank in DearbornDEARBORN — The U.S. Sixth Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to dismiss a lawsuit against Huntington Bank for allegedly discriminating against Arab Americans by closing their accounts. The lawsuit was filed in Detroit in July 2013...Community garden contributing to recovery process for adults with mental illness
DEARBORN—ACCESS Hope House members and ACCESS youth volunteers toiled in the soil this spring to plant the center’s first community garden. Hope House members, adults with a history of mental illness, worked together with the youth to dig up the ground near the front corner of the Hope House...
Muslim man accused of trying to establish campground to train terrorists
July 28th, 20150 SalhaDETROIT—Nayef Salha, a Dearborn resident was denied a permit to establish a campground in northern Michigan after neighbors accused him of trying to use it to train terrorists. Salha, a father of seven said all he wanted to do was build a secular peaceful summer youth camp in Michigan. Salha was shocked by the accusations....
Registered voters encouraged to cast ballots in Aug. 4 elections
July 28th, 20150 LANSING—All eligible voters are encouraged to cast their ballots in local elections on Tuesday, Aug. 4. According to Secretary of State Ruth Johnson 46 counties in Michigan are holding elections. “Because many of these elections are for schools, townships and cities, everyone’s vote is essential,”...
Muslim group offers condolences to families of Chattanooga victims
July 27th, 20150 DETROIT—The Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) stands with other American Muslim organizations across the country in condemning the attack and offering prayers and condolences to the families of the Chattanooga shooting victims. “Our hearts go out to the loved ones who are...
Yemeni businessman competes in Hamtramck City Council race
July 27th, 20150 AlsomiriHAMTRAMCK— Mohamed Alsomiri, a Yemeni American, is one of nine candidates competing in the race for Hamtramck City Council. He is also one of two Yemeni American candidates. The other is Saad Almasmari. The primary election will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Only six candidates will compete in...
Attorney Zeina S. Djurovski joins Gary Peter’s staff
July 23rd, 20150 DjurovskiDETROIT— Zeina S. Djurovski, an attorney at the law office of Ayad and Associates and a board member of the Arab American Civil Rights League, recently accepted a position as constituent services representative with United States Senator Gary Peters’ (D- Mich.) office. Djurovski is a graduate of...
Local experts share thoughts on Iran nuclear agreement
July 23rd, 20150 Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Local experts on the Middle East agree that the historic agreement reached between world powers and Iran over its nuclear program both prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and opens doors for cooperation between the United States and...
New charter school dedicated to preserving culture of Iraq’s indigenous people
July 23rd, 20150 MADISON HEIGHTS — As Iraq’s Christian population continues to diminish, the language, culture and history of Chaldeans, Assyrians and Syriacs are also dying. “Right now, we are on the verge of extinction,” said Nathan Kalasho, a local Chaldean activist. Today, only a projected few hundred thousand Christians...
Tired of media bias, more Arab Americans are becoming journalists
July 23rd, 20150 DETROIT — More Arab Americans are pursuing journalism careers to combat stereotypes perpetuated by mainstream media. As the American media turned their attention to the Arab World after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the recent turmoil in the Middle East, more Americans became increasingly interested in Arab and Muslim cultures and......
New Dearborn superintendent pursues unique educational initiatives
July 23rd, 20150 Maleyko.DEARBORN — Despite taking on the position of the new superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools less than a month ago, Glenn Maleyko has already outlined several unique initiatives he plans on pursuing for the benefit of the district’s nearly 20,000 students. According to the passionate longtime educator, more than 60...
Fall registration now open at Henry Ford College
July 23rd, 20150 DEARBORN — Students can now register for fall courses at Henry Ford College. The fall semester begins Thursday, Aug. 27. HFC offers courses and programs that respond to the changing needs of students, community and corporate partners. In addition, HFC continues to develop relationships with industry sectors and organizations that...
Dearborn Board of Education appoints Fadwa Alawieh
July 23rd, 20150 Alawieh.DEARBORN – On Monday, June 20, the Dearborn Board of Education selected Fadwa Alawieh to fill the vacant seat left by former trustee Aimee Schoelles, who resigned last month after accepting a job in Ohio.Alawieh was one of 20 Dearborn residents who applied for the position. The school board conducted 15 minute interviews with...
BREAKING: Gov. Rick Snyder declares financial emergency in Wayne County
July 22nd, 20150 Wayne County Executive Warren Evans DETROIT—Gov. Rick Snyder confirmed Thursday that a financial emergency exists in Wayne County. The announcement comes after Snyder appointed a review team to closely examine Wayne County’s finances. This week, the team determined a financial emergency exists. Snyder had 10......
Dearborn City Council refers parks smoking ban to Recreation Commission
July 21st, 20150 DEARBORN— The city council will not vote at tonight’s meeting on an ordinance that would ban smoking at city-owned parks. It has referred the proposal to the recreation commission, which will make recommendations to amend the ordinance.However, according to the council and commission's calendars, it is unlikely that the ordinance...
Updated: Two arrested suspects linked to larceny and home invasions
July 20th, 20150 ChoucairDEARBORN — An Arab American woman and her male accomplice were arrested on July 14 after Dearborn Police responded to a breaking and entering 911 call.Alicia Choucair, 21, and Derrick Fletcher are believed to be linked to a string of home and car invasions in both Dearborn and Dearborn......
Councilman Abraham: My commitment to the community is unwavering
July 17th, 20150 DEARBORN — After supporting a string of ordinances that some Arab Americans perceived as targeting them, Councilman Robert Abraham's connection with his Arab American identity has been questioned. But in an interview with The Arab American News, the councilman said he is loyal to his heritage, which has helped shape him as a...
Arab American presence in Michigan Democratic Party solidified
July 17th, 20150 New MDP chair Brandon Dillon (C) with the head of the Dearborn Democratic Club Sami Khaldi and his wife Sahar Khaldi, who is also a political activist.PORT HURON — The Michigan Democratic Party elected a new chairperson at its annual convention in Port Huron on July 11. The gathering also solidified the role of Arab Americans within......
