Grass in front of Islamic Center cut after residents raise concerns
June 19th, 20150 DEARBORN — Residents raised concerns this week regarding overgrown grass on a median in front of the Islamic Center of America that was estimated to have been between three to four feet high. Following a delayed response from the city and county about getting the grass cut, residents took measures into their own hands in fears...
Arab American leaders rue loss of festival at BRIDGES meeting
June 19th, 20150 DEARBORN — At a BRIDGES meeting on Tuesday, June 18, representatives of the Arab American community rued the loss of the Arab International Festival after successive lawsuits brought by anti-Muslim protesters. Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity (BRIDGES) was formed shortly after 9/11, in an effort to...
State report documents health challenges of Arab community
June 19th, 20150 LANSING — A report by the state of Michigan released last week concluded that Arab Americans face specific health challenges, including lack of healthcare coverage and appropriate cancer screening. Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab American populations nationwide. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services...Snyder signs bill tying truancy to assistance
LANSING — On Thursday, June 11, Gov. Snyder signed into law a state policy that ties cash assistance for families to school attendance. “To break the cycle of poverty, kids need an education to position them for future success,” Snyder said in a statement. “We have to do everything we can to see that they are regularly attending...
Arrests made in Medicare fraud
June 19th, 20150 DETROIT — Federal officials have announced the apprehension of 16 area health officials in what they’re describing as the “largest national Medicare fraud takedown in history.” Officials claim the arrested individuals, including six doctors and a pharmacist, were involved in more than $122 million in kickback schemes and...Wayne County Executive asks state to declare financial emergency
DETROIT—In an effort to rid the County of its $52 million structural deficit, Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans requested an extra measure of support and authority from the State of Michigan. Today Evans delivered a letter to State Treasurer Nick Khouri asking for a declaration of a financial emergency in Wayne...Suspects tied to Dearborn home invasion arrested
DEARBORN—Dearborn Police responded to the 24000 Block of Dartmouth on a report of a home invasion with multiple shots fired in the home. No one was injured during the incident. With the aide of residents nearby, officers were able to quickly identify the suspects in this case. The suspects were arrested by...
Gov. Rick Snyder makes initial appointments to Middle Eastern American Affairs Commission
June 12th, 20150 LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced initial appointments to the Middle Eastern American Affairs Commission.Established by Executive Order 2015-6, the 15-member commission was created to act in an advisory capacity to the governor and the director of the Department of Civil Rights.“The Middle Eastern American...
Reports expose multi-million dollar Islamophobia network
June 12th, 20150 DETROIT — Widely-read reports from the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) expose the multi-million dollar network inciting Islamophobia in the United States. According to CAP’s in-depth investigation, “Fear, Inc. The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America”, a...
EnvisionTEC CEO named Entrepreneur of the Year
June 12th, 20150 Ali Siblani. DETROIT — Al Siblani, the president and CEO of Envision TEC, was named Entrepreneur of the Year on Thursday at Cobo Center. “To all my friends, family members and all the EnvisionTEC customers and employees across the globe, I say thank you,” Siblani said. Siblani was one of 25 finalists for Entrepreneur of the...
Final two candidates selected for Dearborn Superintendent
June 12th, 20150 DEARBORN – This week, the Dearborn Board of Education held interviews with four candidates for the superintendent position and selected the final two Thursday evening. The board came to a decision that Executive Director of Staff and Student Services Glenn Maleyko and Associate Superintendent at...
U.S.-Iraqi Youth Institute promotes interfaith unity at peace conference
June 12th, 20150 DEARBORN — Hundreds attended the United States-Iraqi Youth Institute’s (USIYI) peace conference on Thursday, June 4. The objective of the conference was to denounce the association of religion with terrorist organizations. The conference was held in the wake of the emergence and rise of ISIS in Iraq. USIYI is a...Rasmea Odeh defense files brief to appeal conviction and sentencing
DETROIT — On Tuesday, June 9, Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh’s lead defense attorney, Michael Deutsch, filed a brief with the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to appeal her conviction and sentencing. The appeal urges the court to reverse the conviction, arguing that Odeh was denied her right to present her complete...
Bill Saad appointed to Underground Storage Tank Authority Board
June 12th, 20150 Saad.WOODHAVEN — Gov. Snyder has appointed Bill Saad, CEO of Michigan Fuels Inc., a leading brand wholesaler for ExxonMobil and Marathon Oil Company, and five others, to the newly created Underground Storage Tank Authority Board (USTAB). Established by Public Act 416 of 2014, the six-member board will oversee the creation of a...
ACC awards 26 scholarships to high school seniors
June 12th, 20150 WEST BLOOMFIELD — During its 13th annual Golf Outing and Scholarship Awards Dinner on June 2, The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) distributed 26 scholarships to high school seniors who plan on attending college this fall. The event took place at the Shenandoah Country Club. Many of the scholarship recipients had grade point......
Crime levels in Dearborn lower than expected
June 12th, 20150 DEARBORN— While many people here feel that crime is on the rise, it has actually remained steady.Since 2013, crime in Dearborn has been relatively level, although there has been an increase in property crimes.Police Chief Ron Haddad said larceny from cars is what drives the numbers up, with a 30 percent increase since 2012. He...
Educare Student Services receives special tribute
June 12th, 20150 DEARBORN — On Friday, June 5, State Sen. David Knezek (D- Dearborn Heights) presented the tutoring company Educare Student Services with a special tribute. Knezek presented Educare founder Hussein Hachem with a plaque during a private reception at the company’s new office in West Dearborn. The plaque was signed by...
Children playing in the streets, a growing concern
June 12th, 20150 DEARBORN – As school is officially out for summer break this week, the season kicks into full swing with children enjoying daily outdoor activities. But a growing concern has been looming over the local Arab American community’s children – they have turned the city’s neighborhood streets into their very own playground. With...
Coalition of international broadcasters combating piracy and copyright infringement
June 11th, 20150 DEARBORN — On Monday, June 8 the International Broadcasting Coalition Against Piracy (IBCAP), an organization of leading international broadcasters, announced actions it is taking to combat piracy and copyright infringement during a press conference at the Regency Dearborn Hotel and Convention Center. The coalition, which......
Dearborn man identified as “Detroit serial rapist”
June 10th, 20150 Ali Nasser Alriashi.DETROIT - The local community was shocked to learn about the arrest of Dearborn resident Ali Nasser Alriashi, 31. the alleged serial rapist in connection to several cases in Detroit.Following months of growing concerns that a serial rapist was targeting local women in the southwest region of the city, police were...
Group accuses Sterling Heights mayoral candidate of being anti-Muslim bigot
June 10th, 20150 STERLING HEIGHTS—The Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan is concerned about mayoral candidate Paul Smith's history of spewing anti-Muslim rhetoric. Smith has been slammed for an anti-Muslim email and comments in 2010 during the Park 51 Community Center controversy, in......
Local boy left injured following intentional hit-and-run
June 9th, 20150 12-year-old Rumzey Maatouk, days after sustaining injuries from an intentional hit-and-run. DEARBORN - A local 12-year-old boy was intentionally hit by an on coming vehicle when he was trying to cross the street on his bicycle in an east Dearborn neighborhood. Rumzey Maatouk was riding his bike with a friend near Oakman Elementary...
Proposed second span of Ambassador Bridge raises concerns in the community
June 5th, 20150 DETROIT — Residents are concerned about the negative environmental impacts from the proposed construction of a second span adjacent to the Ambassador Bridge. The city-owned Riverside Park, a piece of land needed to build the second span, was reported by billionaire Manuel “Matty” Moroun, owner of the Ambassador bridge, as......
