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Israel draws condemnation for forced removal of Palestinian family, demolition of their home
January 19th, 20220 After a multi-day standoff, Israeli authorities illegally removed a Palestinian family from their home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem and demolished it. Resident Mahmoud Salhiyeh and members of his family took to the roof of the home to defend it on Monday and threatened to blow it up with gas canisters...
Candidates emerge for special election to fill State House seat vacated by Abdullah Hammoud
January 17th, 20220 DEARBORN — Three names have emerged as contenders to fill out the State House seat vacated by Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud through the end of the year. Wayne County Clerk records show three people are now in the race for the State House District 15, which encompasses most of Dearborn. On the Democratic ticket are Alabas...
Schools nationwide to receive 5 million COVID tests from the federal government
January 14th, 20220 Schools in the U.S. can expect additional COVID-19 tests, being made available by the federal government, in about two weeks. The additional tests are part of a Biden administration strategy to keep schools open during a nationwide coronavirus surge, accelerated by the highly contagious Omicron variant. The White House has said the...
Lebanese judge imposes travel ban on central bank governor amid probe
January 11th, 20220 BEIRUT — A Lebanese judge said on Tuesday she had imposed a travel ban on central bank governor Riad Salameh, who is at the center of investigations into alleged fraud and other misconduct launched after Lebanon was plunged into a deep financial crisis. Salameh, who said he had no knowledge of the ban and denied any wrongdoing, is...
International year in review: Israel leads genocidal campaigns against Palestine, continued crises in Yemen and Lebanon
January 9th, 20220 2021 saw continued turmoil in the Middle East, with the U.S. reaping the fruits of long established and disastrous foreign policy escapades. Israel ramped up its ethnic cleansing in Palestine, with the Biden administration continuing to stand by Israel as it conducted blatant humanitarian crimes, despite international condemnation....
Hamtramck schools extend virtual learning through COVID surge
January 5th, 20220 HAMTRAMCK — The Hamtramck Public Schools District announced this week its schools will be continuing virtual learning for all students until Jan. 14, amid a COVID-19 surge in the region. HPS originally scheduled virtual learning for students upon the week following the district’s holiday break, Jan. 3 – 7, but is now...
Rashida Tlaib to run for newly-drawn 12th District, including Dearborn and Dearborn Heights; Brenda Lawrence to retire from Congress
January 4th, 20220 DEARBORN — U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) has officially announced she will be running for the newly drawn 12th Congressional District covering Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and surrounding cities, and Southfield, in this year's election. This mean the neighboring 13th Congressional District, covering Detroit, Hamtramck and...
A new era for Dearborn: Mayor Abdullah Hammoud’s first day in office
January 4th, 20220 DEARBORN — Abdullah Hammoud, Dearborn’s newly elected mayor, began his duties on Monday, Jan. 3 at the Dearborn Administrative Center. Hammoud is the first Arab American mayor of the large and historic city, home to the Ford Motor Company headquarters, with a population of close to 110,000. His election made international...
Whitmer calls for special election to fill Abdullah Hammoud’s MI House seat
January 4th, 20220 LANSING — Governor Whitmer announced Monday that she has sent a letter to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson calling for a special election to fill a vacant seat in the Michigan House of Representatives. The vacancy is caused by the election of Representative Abdullah Hammoud, who previously represented the 15th House District, as...
Hamtramck’s all-Muslim elected government is sworn in during historic inauguration
January 4th, 20220 HAMTRAMCK — New members of Hamtramck’s first all-Muslim City Council and its first Muslim Arab American mayor, Amer Ghalib, were sworn in on Sunday, Jan. 2 Judge Alexis Krot swore in Ghalib and new Council members Khalil Al-Refai, Amanda Jaczkowski and Adam Albarmaki. They joined current Councilmen Mohammed Hassan and Mohammed...
Community mourns passing of longtime local teachers union president John McDonald
January 1st, 20220 The passing of a longtime local teachers union president and college professor is being mourned by many in the Dearborn community. John McDonald served as the president of the Henry Ford College (HFC) Federation of Teachers, Local 1650 for an unprecedented 43 years and was a faculty member at HFC for nearly 53 years. McDonald also...
Redistricting Commission adopts final maps, offering possibilities for Arab American enclaves
December 29th, 20210 The state’s citizen-led, bipartisan Redistricting Commission has adopted its final versions of political maps by the expected timeline. Although experts are now anticipating legal challenges to the maps, residents at least get a good glimpse into how they could be represented in state House and Senate seats as well as the important...
Local religious leaders say people have “religious obligation” to keep others safe during COVID surge
December 26th, 20210 With COVID-19 cases continuing to surge in the area, religious and community leaders are urging people to take caution around the holidays. The Wayne County Health Department COVID-19 dashboard shows Dearborn still in the lead for total cases and deaths. County-wide cases continue to average well above 500 a day and hospital emergency...Redistricting maps continue to face criticism for lack of minority and ethnic representations
December 24th, 20210 MICHIGAN — The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) is expected to vote on the final political district maps starting Dec. 28. The upcoming finalization of the state’s political boundaries comes after months of debate and deliberation over the drawing of state and federal districts, with the aim to give...
Passport fees set to increase by $20 starting Dec. 27
December 23rd, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. State Department said this week that on Dec 27, the cost for a passport book will increase by $20. The department said the the increased fee is necessary to ensure it continues to produce one of the most secure travel and identity documents in the world. Travelers can learn more about their......
Mayor-elect Hammoud selects Issa Shahin as next Dearborn chief of police
December 20th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn Mayor-elect Abdullah Hammoud has selected Dearborn Police Department Commander Issa Shahin as the city’s next chief of police, effective Saturday, Jan. 1. Shahin has served in that department for some 24 years, serving as executive commander for the last three. He will succeed current Chief Ronald Haddad, who...
Dearborn Council President-elect Mike Sareini talks outgoing administration’s rush to fill positions in its 11th hour
December 18th, 20211 Dearborn's City Council president-elect is speaking out against the efforts of the outgoing administration to illegally create a position for one of its political appointees in the new city administration. Dearborn City Councilman Mike Sareini, who is also Council president-elect, stopped by The Arab American News offices to chat with...
House passes bill to combat Islamophobia after racist remarks made by Trump-endorsee U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert
December 17th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would establish a special envoy office at the U.S. State Department with the aim to "monitor and combat" international Islamophobia. The Combating International Islamophobia Act, introduced by U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Jan Schakowsky...
Hundred of Virginia school students walk out, asking accountability over Islamophobic attack on student
December 17th, 20211 Hundreds of Fairfax High School students in the town of Fairfax, Virginia walked out on Thursday and demanded their school take action following a disturbing attack on one their Muslim schoolmates by a fellow student. On Tuesday, a boy reportedly pushed a Muslim girl to the ground, took off her Islamic head scarf or hijab and beat her......
When to expect $400 car insurance refund checks
December 14th, 20210 LANSING — The state of Michigan announced a new consumer page for residents to learn about the upcoming $400 car insurance refund checks, for which the state has set a May 29 deadline on insurers. The state has also launched a consumer FAQ page at Michigan.gov/MCCArefund. The web page contains important information and answers...
Against city rules, outgoing Dearborn administration gives new $80K position to public information director
December 11th, 20210 DEARBORN - Dearborn community members and a City Councilman were alarmed and concerned by a last-minute salaried position created improperly at the 11th hour and given to a political appointee as the city transitions out into a new administration and Council, and is facing a massive budget shortfall. The “Neighborhood Liaison”......
Pfizer booster doses authorized for ages 16-17
December 10th, 20210 LANSING - Following CDC approval, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging all eligible Michiganders 16 and up to get the Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their two primary COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, Pfizer is the only authorized vaccine for under age 18. Eligible Michiganders should...
First Omicron variant case detected in Michigan
December 10th, 20210 LANSING — Michigan has recorded its first confirmed case of the emerging Omicron COVID-19 variant as it continues to battle rising cases of the dangerous Delta variant. The news comes as the country is coming to grips with yet another variant of the virus, with first cases reported in California, New York and Colorado in the last......
