State Dems meet, elect leaders
February 28th, 20090 About 2,000 Democrats gathered in Lansing for the pary's state convention on Feb. 21. Dozens of caucuses came together to conduct business and to hear from candidates and elected officials. Elections were held, resulting in the reelection of Ismael Ahmed, a leader in the Arab American community and Director of the...
Restaurant remodels to rave reviews
February 27th, 20090 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – In today’s market, owning a Middle Eastern restaurant in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area is much more difficult than it used to be. Co-owners (from left) Hassan Hachem and his brother Mike pose with their waitstaff inside Beirut by Night restaurant in Dearborn Heights. PHOTOS: Nick...Signs of a thaw, but differences run deep
WASHINGTON - Two high-level U.S. Congressional delegations are setting out for Syria to meet with President Bashar Al Assad. The trips are seen as a precursor for engagement with Syria, but the extent of possible diplomatic deal-making is still in question. U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (C) speaks during a news conference...
Arab American quarterback to play for Wolverines
February 21st, 20090 Ann Arbor Pioneer quarterback Nader Furrha will play for Michigan next year as a preferred walk-on after turning down scholarships from several Division-2 schools. Photo courtesy of Nader Furrha Growing up across from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Nader Furrha dreamed of playing on the big stage in the Big House in front of more...Obama not likely to change Mideast policy
Almost a thousand Palestinian civilians were dead from Israel's recent Blitz on Gaza before Barack Obama interrupted his mantra, that there's only one president at a time, to bemoan what he called a tragedy for both sides. Israel suffered civilian losses, too, after all. Three to be exact. And if Obama, the consummate underdog, didn't...One-state solution requires shared state of mind
In the future, Israelis and Palestinians may find it natural to live together in a single, integrated and democratic state. However, planning for a one-state solution unilaterally is bound to be risky, if not deadly. But as hope for reaching a two-state solution erodes, the one-state solution emerges as an attractive alternative. The...What Israel must do to save itself
Tantalus is punished by the Gods for reasons that are not entirely clear. He is hungry and thirsty, but the water in which he stands recedes when he bends down to drink from it and the fruit above his head continually evades his hand. Tzipi Livni Tzipi Livni is now undergoing a similar torture. After winning an impressive...
Mayoral candidates address community concerns in AAPAC forum
February 21st, 20090 DETROIT — Five of the 15 candidates running for mayor and facing a Feb. 24 primary addressed a crowd at the Islamic Center of Detroit on Feb. 13 in a forum organized by the Arab American Public Affairs Council (AAPAC). Candidate for Detroit mayor Sharon McPhail speaks to a crowd during an AAPAC election forum at the Islamic...
Mayoral primary Feb. 24, two more candidate profiles
February 21st, 20090 Wayne County Sheriff Evans making headway The special election for Detroit mayor is fast approaching, and so far, almost all of the attention has been on the perceived "big three" candidates. But Warren Evans scored a big victory for his campaign recently that might give the Wayne County Sheriff enough publicity for a chance...
O’Reilly plans department shake up
February 21st, 20090 DEARBORN — Mayor Jack O'Reilly on Wednesday announced a planned shake up of a city department and voiced a message of hope despite harsh economic times in his State of the City Address. Dearborn mayor Jack O'Reilly stands with residents Suehaila Amen, Lucia Gliese and Art Hughes, at the Henry Ford Centennial Library auditorium...
Community news briefs: Dingell becomes longest serving U.S. Representative in history
February 21st, 20090 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, became the longest-tenured member of the House of Representatives on Feb. 12. U.S. Rep. John Dingell, of Dearborn He was congratulated a day early by President Barack Obama. "Over the past 53 years, Chairman Dingell has been a champion for the health and well-being of...
Bistro 222: Dearborn’s hidden gem
February 21st, 20090 The sautéed perch with lemon caper sauce is one of the most popular dishes at Bistro 222 in Dearborn. One of the joys of living in a big city like New York or Chicago is discovering a new favorite restaurant, one that's just out of the public eye but still features top-notch cuisine. Dearborn doesn't have as many as those...
Breaking News: Dearborn police cordon off neighborhood during possible hostage situation
February 18th, 20090 Dearborn police block off Appoline Street near Warren Avenue in East Dearborn on Tuesday night. PHOTO: Khalil AlHajal/TAAN DEARBORN – A standoff between police and a gunman who held a man hostage in his home for several hours Tuesday night ended Wednesday morning with the victim suffering only minor injuries. Crowds gathered...
UM-D students vote to study unethical investments
February 14th, 20090 The University of Michigan-Dearborn's student government body voted on Tuesday to form an ad hoc committee to study possible unethical investments within the university's endowment fund. University of Michigan-Dearborn philosophy professor David Skrbina addresses student government members during a meeting on Feb. 3. Skrbina...Will Obama break the law for Israel’s sake?
U.S. President Barack Obama answers a question from Hearst columnist Helen Thomas (L) during his first news conference as president in the East Room of the White House in Washington, February 9, 2009. REUTERS/Jason Reed Since entering office, President Barack Obama has promised sweeping changes in three aspects of governance:......
One thing Iraqis hold onto
Among things that have not changed in Iraq is one that I hope never changes. After a four-year-long absence, each of my meetings here with former friends and fresh acquaintances seems to suggest that adversity has taken its toll on everything except Iraqi hospitality and Iraqi generosity. I am awestruck to find the warmth of the Iraqi...Israeli elections reveal a shift to the right
Israelis voted with an obsession: the occupation. The results were mixed, but the overall picture is a shift to the right: use of force, not reason. Right wing parties which oppose withdrawal from the West Bank and East Jerusalem won the majority of parliamentary seats. Israel's Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu listens to...
Learn about two more Detroit mayoral candidates
February 14th, 20090 Detroit interim Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. Fresh off of his State of the City address last Tuesday, Detroit interim Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. will now turn his attention to the primary election, which takes place on February 24. Only the top two vote-getters in the election will move on to the May 5 final election for the position...
Community responds to Starbucks boycott
February 14th, 20090 DEARBORN — The debate over whether or not to boycott the Starbucks coffee company continues to be a hot topic among activists and Arab Americans in metro Detroit. A picketing of the west Dearborn Starbucks, 22155 Michigan Avenue, is expected to take place on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 4-8 p.m. Organizer Susan Hajhassan, 26, talked......
Dearborn news briefs
February 14th, 20090 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive is hosting a fundraiser for the care of an ailing six-year-old Dearborn girl, Meghan Salter, on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Avenue. Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly, Jr. (right, front), City Council President Tom Tafelski...
New sushi bar in Dearborn
February 13th, 20090 DEARBORN — For years, Dearborn lacked a focused place for sushi lovers to get their fix. But now that the Kabuki sushi bar and restaurant is in town, the drive time for a taste of their favorite rolls and other sushi delicacies has been cut a significant amount. "Our owner, K.J. Lee, used to talk to people from Dearborn all the......
Fordson seniors head to college football
February 7th, 20090 DEARBORN — Wednesday was National Signing Day across the country as high school seniors signed letters-of-intent to the schools of their choice, and the Dearborn Fordson Tractors were well represented with three players receiving college scholarships. Fordson head football coach Fouad Zaban (back) watches his players (from...
Video: ADC gives scholarship awards
February 7th, 20090 DEARBORN — It was a special night at Greenfield Manor in Dearborn last Friday as the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee held its 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Awards Reception. First place Martin Luther King scholarship award winner Laya Charara (center at podium) reads a portion of her prize-winning......
