AAPAC announces endorsements for August 6 primary election
July 19th, 20130 This week, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) announced its endorsements for the August 6 primary elections. The group endorsed seven candidates for Dearborn City Council and three candidates, who are running for mayor in the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights. Dearborn will elect seven city...
Boating tragedy claims lives of two children, devastates community
July 19th, 20130 SYLVAN LAKE — This week several vigils were held at Chaldean churches across metro Detroit, where members of the close knit community gathered to pray for the victims of the horrific boating accident that took place on Sunday and left two siblings, ages 11 and six, dead and another, 10, in critical condition, who’s fighting for...
EEOC: Crestwood School District discriminates against Arab Americans
July 19th, 20130 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Evidence gathered throughout the course of an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission into the Crestwood School District shows Arab Americans were discriminated against. The EEOC has determined that the District violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, by discriminating...Dearborn Police seek public’s help to solve dollar store homicides
DEARBORN — A 20-year-old man was shot dead at the Family Dollar store, located at 22631 Michigan Ave., on the evening of Monday, July 15. Brenna Machus, the store's assistant manager was abducted in the incident and was found dead in a wooded area near the Southfield Freeway and Michigan Avenue, on Thursday July 18.Employees who opened...Trustees vote to include HFCC millage proposal on November ballot
DEARBORN — During the last Dearborn School Board of Trustees meeting, a millage renewal was approved, in a 5-1 vote, to include on the November ballot. The decision will allow voters to decide on whether, or not, to approve a 3-mills renewal, along with a 1-mill increase, over the span of 10 years for Henry Ford Community College...Dearborn Public Library receives grant for reading series on Islam
DEARBORN – Henry Ford Centennial Library recently received a $3,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA) to host a five-part reading and discussion series about the Muslim faith, culture, history and people.The project, which seeks to familiarize the public with Islam in...Happy’s Pizza owner, four others indicted for tax fraud
Happy Askar, the owner of the popular pizza chain, Happy’s Pizza and four others, who work for him, were indicted by a grand jury with tax fraud and obstruction, along with other charges in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. The names of the other four are Maher Bashi, Tom Yaldo, Arkan Summa and Tagrid Summa Bashi. Bashi and...Christian group asks local Muslims to donate books to women’s library in Yemen
NORTH CAROLINA — A Christian volunteer group is reaching out to southeast Michigan's Muslim community, during the holy month of Ramadan, in an effort to upstart a women's library in Yemen. Impact International has volunteered at the Arab International Festival in Dearborn for 14 years and returned this year, despite its...Tawheed Center holds annual food drive
FARMINGTON HILLS — Volunteers for the Tawheed Center Annual Food Drive are needed. Over six trucks of food will be delivered to at-need families across Michigan. You can donate to this effort online, or you can help pack the thousands of boxes and load the trucks on Saturday, Aug. 3 at Sam’s Club, 32625 Northwestern Hwy, Farmington...TSA says not to be alarmed by Muslims practicing rituals in Ramadan
WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a statement at the beginning of Ramadan, urging security agents and travelers not to be alarmed by Muslims practicing religious rituals at airports and on airplanes."TSA has reminded its security workforce that traveling passengers may be observed at various areas in...MMCC starts Ramadan with fight against hunger campaign
MICHIGAN — The Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) began Ramadan with a successful start to its “Ramadan Fight Against Hunger” Campaign. A team of energetic, hard working volunteers came together and helped to package food on the first day of the holy month at Forgotten Harvest. A number of other volunteer opportunities...Elahi meets with Congressman Dingell, discusses U.S.-Iran relations
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - Last week, Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi and Congressman John Dingell met to discuss U.S.- Iranian relations. The discussion centered on the election of the new moderate Iranian president and the opening of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries. Imam Elahi (right) pictured with Congressman...
Man found dead inside Family Dollar Store in Dearborn, woman missing
July 16th, 20130 DEARBORN-- A 20-year-old man was shot dead in a robbery at the Family Dollar store, located at 22631 Michigan Ave., on the evening of Monday, July 15. According to police, Brenna Kathleen Machus, 20, of Romulus, who was working at the store on the same evening, is believed to be abducted and may be "in danger." Employees who opened...Arab Americans avoid traveling to Middle East this summer
Dearborn — Every summer, thousands of Arab Americans from Metro Detroit journey to their home countries in various parts of the Middle East to visit family and take time away from the stress of their daily lives. Unfortunately, this year the Middle East is embroiled in crisis--Syria is in the middle of a civil war that has claimed...Fasting? Health should come first
The Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan this year coincides with some of the hottest and longest days of summer.Fasting in such conditions could create health risks for people with certain medical conditions.Although the Qur'an says, "God does not require a person more than his abilities," some Muslims, who should not fast for medical......
What is Ramadan?
In Islam, Ramadan is a holy month, during which fasting, Quran recital, self-restraint and prayer is observed. Fasting is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat, or drink from sunrise to sunset. Charity, good will, and personal reflection is also practiced....Teen web designer optimistic about expanding business
DEARBORN — At first glance, Mike Berro appears to be your average teenager, who possesses an overt fascination of all things technological. However, at 17 years of age, he has already managed to establish his own successful business. The Dearborn resident is both a web designer and developer, who looks forward to expanding...Floods cause backup, damage in Dearborn-Dearborn Heights
DEARBORN — Last Monday evening, over 2.5 feet of rain drenched main roads and neighborhood roads in the Dearborn-Dearborn Heights area, causing flooding in dozens of homes, according to Dearborn's Department of Public Information. Southfield Freeway service drive near Routanda, where traffic was directed after the freeway was blocked...Michigan college students return from Egypt safely
DETROIT — Students from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, who were studying Arabic in Egypt, returned home safely this week.The students cut their trip short, as a result of the turmoil currently plaguing Egypt.Last week, former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was ousted from power, after only serving a year of the term for......
Egyptians gather in Dearborn, denounce Morsi’s ouster
July 12th, 20130 DEARBORN — About 350 people gathered in front of Dearborn City Hall on Saturday, July 6, to denounce the Egyptian military "coup" against President Mohamed Morsi and demand reinstating him.The Egyptian military, headed by Commander Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi, ousted President Morsi on July 3, following mass protests that began on June 30,...Millage proposal detrimental to future of Dearborn Heights libraries
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights' two libraries could possibly face closure in the near future, if the city council and residents don't take action soon, according to Library Director Michael McCaffery.McCaffery discussed the financial situation of the City’s two libraries with The Arab American News, explaining that funding for......
Dearborn residents divided over proposed garage ordinance
July 12th, 20130 DEARBORN — On Monday, the Dearborn City Planning Commission hosted a meeting at city hall with the objective of moving forward on a garage ordinance that has generated wide spread attention in recent months. The controversy has triggered questions, regarding racial preference in the City's decisions to implement and enforce laws.In a...Law Corner: Sewage backup? Act quickly to protect your rights
This past week brought heavy rainfall to the metro Detroit area. The cities of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, among others, experienced more rainfall than their sewage systems were capable of handling in some areas. As a result, several Dearborn and Dearborn Heights residents experienced sewage backup onto their property.......