Remembering former U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a civil rights advocate and friend of the Arab American community
November 2nd, 20190 DETROIT —During his five decades in Congress, former U.S. Rep. John Conyers, who died Sunday at age 90, played a major impact in both local and national politics. In the wake of his passing, those who knew him and/or worked with him spoke out about him and his accomplishments. “John Conyers lived to serve Detroit, his community...
Wayne County Sheriff raids drug house on Dearborn border known to have Arab American clients
November 2nd, 20190 DEARBORN – A drug house in Detroit near the city's border with Dearborn that had a known Arab American clientele was raided on Thursday by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. As drug overdoses prove to be a public health epidemic in the Arab American community, with recent tragedies showing Dearborn and Dearborn Heights to be...
As protests swell in Iraq, local Iraqis speak out about the troubles in their homeland
November 2nd, 20190 DETROIT – A sea-change in Iraqi governance looms as tens of thousands of Iraqis across ethnic and sectarian divides have taken to the streets to demand their right towards prosperity and self-determination. Prominent support towards the ousting of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi will likely not be enough to quell the fury behind the...
Dearborn protesters rally for change in Lebanon and in support of the uprising
November 2nd, 20190 DEARBORN — Protests in support of the uprising in Lebanon continued this past weekend in Dearborn, with nearly 500 people showing up to rally for reforms and the resignation of government officials in front of the Henry Ford Centennial Library and Dearborn Police on Sunday, October 27. The protest followed a pair of similar events...
Paletko vows to fight on as court sides with Dearborn Heights City Council once again
November 2nd, 20190 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – At a hearing in the Third Circuit Court in Detroit last Friday, October 25, Judge Muriel Hughes denied three motions by Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko in an ongoing legal battle between him and the majority members of the Dearborn Heights City Council. Paletko told The Arab American News that he plans to...
Debbie Dingell introduces foster care legislation in honor of Rehab and Ahmed Amer
October 30th, 20190 WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) introduced the Rehab and Ahmed Amer Foster Care Improvement Act of 2019 on Wednesday, legislation that requires state foster care programs to ensure children are prioritized for placement with their relatives and puts additional requirements in place for a fairer decision-making...
Dearborn Public Schools are now serving 100 percent halal meals
October 30th, 20190 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools District boasts more than 20,000 students attending classes in more than 30 different buildings, and a large number of them come from Muslim American backgrounds. Now, these students will be able to eat what DPS Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko calls a “fresher, higher quality and more cost...
Sanders proposes big changes to U.S. military aid for Israel, Starting with “Respect and Human Dignity” for Palestinians
October 29th, 20190 WASHINGTON, D.C. — United States presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spoke out against the misuse of U.S. military aid by Israel at a conference on Monday, calling for major change should he be elected president. “At a time when we spend $3.8 billion on military aid to Israel, we have the right to say to the Israeli...
Mayoral candidates, City Council members preparing for tightly contested elections in Inkster
October 27th, 20190 INKSTER — On Nov. 5, Inkster Mayor Byron Nolen will face off against challenger Patrick Wimberly. The winner will take over the top post for the city, which is bordered by Dearborn Heights and Garden City and has a population of 24,453, according to 2017 U.S. Census estimates. Nolen, 50, has been a trial attorney for 23 years...
AAPAC’s 22nd annual banquet: Celebrating Arab American achievements with the community
October 27th, 20190 DEARBORN — The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) celebrated its 22nd year as Metro Detroit’s premiere political organization at the Byblos Banquet Center in Dearborn on Wednesday. The event featured a wide array of speakers, honorees and special guests who reflected on issues relevant to the area’s thriving Arab...
Protesters locally, nationally rally in solidarity with Lebanese seeking reform, ousting of corrupt government
October 27th, 20190 DEARBORN/ANN ARBOR —Protesters from Michigan to California and everywhere in between have rallied in support of demonstrators in Lebanon this past week, sending the message that large-scale change is needed now, and long overdue. On Wednesday at the University of Michigan, a crowd of nearly 200 people chanted, “The people want the...
Former U.S. Congressman John Conyers dies at age 90.
October 27th, 20190 DETROIT - John Conyers, a Democrat who was the longest-serving African American member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving for more than half a century, died on Sunday at the age of 90. Conyers joined the House in 1965 and stepped down in 2017, after his reputation was sullied by sexual harassment accusations. The...
Free kidney health screening to be held in Dearborn Heights
October 27th, 20190 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — A free kidney health screening will take place on Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Islamic Institute of America, 26305 Ford Road in Dearborn Heights, 48127. The event, which is being put on by the Institute and the Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program, will include a free kidney health...
Meet the candidates for this year’s Hamtramck City Council election
October 27th, 20196 HAMTRAMCK – Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Hamtramck City Council in the November 5 general election. City Council is the only item on the ballot for the densely populated and culturally diverse city nestled within Detroit. The two-square-mile city of almost 23,000 residents continues to face big challenges, with...
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson encourages voters to apply for Michigan independent redistricting commission
October 26th, 20190 DETROIT – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joined other officials and community leaders on Thursday, Oct. 24, in Detroit to announce the state’s new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The state is now accepting applications from eligible Michigan residents to help draw the state’s next political district......
Dearborn native becomes rising star representing Lebanon in international rugby
October 26th, 20190 DEARBORN — Michigan sports can often seem dominated by college and pro football, baseball and basketball leagues, overlooking others that have international interest and are no less athletically demanding. Sports in the Arab American communities in Metro Detroit are no exception to this bias. For instance, not many may know of a...
Jordanian soccer team huddles around opposing player during game so she can fix her hijab
October 25th, 20191 AMAN, JORDAN — A Jordanian soccer team is garnering praise for their sportsmanship after they formed a human shield to give privacy to a member of the opposing team whose hijab started to slip off her head. The event happened in Aman at a 2018 Jordan Football Association Final Women's League game, but the story has been picked up by...
Several homes in Dearborn Heights flooded with raw sewage
October 24th, 20190 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Multiple families in Dearborn Heights have been dealing with the aftermath of flooding this past week, a familiar problem in the city that has been the subject of discussion among candidates in November 5's upcoming election. “We wake up and all of our belongings were floating,” said Dearborn Heights resident...
Wayne State pledges free tuition program for Detroit residents, calling it “a life-changer”
October 23rd, 20190 DETROIT — Incoming freshmen from Detroit will receive a large financial break if they want to earn a college degree at Wayne State University, a report from The Detroit News said. The university announced it will provide free tuition for some of its semesters and discounted rates to other high school graduates in Detroit as part of......
CURE Physical Therapy hosts free yoga for breast cancer awareness month
October 23rd, 20190 DEARBORN - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the founder of CURE Physical Therapy, Dr. Antima Gupta, will be conducting a Free Yoga Event for Breast Cancer Awareness called Care by CURE on October 26 at 1 p.m., at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. After working at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn for...
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2019: What You Need to Know
October 21st, 20190 This week, October 20-26, marks the observation of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, a call to bring together individuals, organizations, industry, and state, tribal and local governments to increase lead poisoning prevention awareness in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to lead. Lead can be found both inside and outside......
Dearborn Heights responds to new state rules for lead testing in tap water
October 21st, 20190 DEARBORN HEIGHTS - In 2018, the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act (MSDWA) was changed to include more stringent procedures for testing and analysis for lead and copper. The new regulations are intended to have a more proactive approach in monitoring each community’s lead and copper levels. Since 1992, the City of Dearborn Heights,...
Judge spares prison time for Detroit-area men who sent millions to Yemen
October 20th, 20191 DETROIT - U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn refused to send to prison a group of Detroit-area men who transferred millions of dollars to Yemen without registering as a money transfer business. Cohn refused such sentencing, even though legal guidelines called for a few or more of the men to see prison time. The group of men reportedly......
