Author: Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland. His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing. Email Ray Hanania at [email protected]. Follow RayHanania at Twitter

Exclusive interview with Orland Mayor Jim Dodge says former mayor left huge debt

July 12, 2025July 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Exclusive interview with Orland Mayor Jim Dodge says former mayor left huge debt Newly elected Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge detailed the problems that former Mayor Keith Pekau left to the taxpayers of the village he controlled for the past six years including an impending financial debt of $200 million. You can read the entire…

breaking news, elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Republican, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago Wolves hockey unveil 2025-26 Season schedule

July 12, 2025July 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Wolves hockey unveil 2025-26 Season schedule The Chicago Wolves announced their 2025-26 American Hockey League schedule on Thursday. The franchise’s 32nd season will feature a 72-game slate beginning with the Season Opener on Oct. 11 vs. the Wild in Iowa. The Wolves’ Home Opener will be Oct. 18 against the rival Rockford IceHogs at…

Chicago, Events, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN

July 12, 2025July 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN By Maria Pappas If you own property in Cook County, there’s one number you should always know: your PIN. That’s short for Property Index Number—a 14-digit code assigned to every piece of real estate in the county. It’s tied to the legal description…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Chivas de Guadalajara and Club Leon to meet in Chicago

July 12, 2025July 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chivas de Guadalajara and Club Leon to meet in Chicago Primtetime Sports is set to host the international friendly match between Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club León on Sunday, September 7, 2025 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Chivas de Guadalajara is the only Liga MX club that plays exclusively with Mexican players and it’s one…

Bridgeview, Chicago, Events, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Frozen with an Orland Firefighter at McDonald’s

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Frozen with an Orland Firefighter at McDonald’s Orland Park, IL – About 100 children and their parents participated in an exploration of an Orland Fire Protection District Fire Truck at a “Frozen with a Firefighter” event hosted by McDonald’s in Orland Park. Each child and parent attending the event received a free Frozen drink, courtesy…

Events, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago dad’s court victory brought kidnapped daughter home

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago dad’s court victory brought kidnapped daughter home By Laura Reichel A Chicago dad found himself living out his worst fear when his ex kidnapped his little girl and isolated her from him. Desperate to bring his daughter back home, he called attorney Jeffery Leving to find his daughter. The Law Offices of Jeffery M….

Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Radio

Leading members of State’s Gun Violence Prevention Community endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Leading members of State’s Gun Violence Prevention Community endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate Many top leaders, advocates and champions of the state’s gun violence prevention movement today endorsed Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate. The group has founded gun violence prevention organizations, raised their voices, told their stories and led with passion on ending senseless…

elections, Federal, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

IAM Union Members at Arrow Gear Ratify Strong Contract After 9 Weeks on Strike

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

IAM Union Members at Arrow Gear Ratify Strong Contract After 9 Weeks on Strike After an intense nine-week strike, approximately 118 IAM Union Local 701 members at Arrow Gear in Downers Grove, Ill., have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year agreement that delivers major victories, including significant economic gains and critical improvements to working conditions. The…

Business, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Union

Seven Individuals Charged in Drug and Firearm Investigation Centered on South Side of Chicago

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Seven Individuals Charged in Drug and Firearm Investigation Centered on South Side of Chicago A drug and firearm investigation centered on the South Side of Chicago has resulted in federal criminal charges against seven individuals. A superseding indictment returned by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses the seven defendants of participating…

Chicago, Crime, Federal, Law, News, NewsWire

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Launches Congressional Campaign

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Launches Congressional Campaign Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller is launching her campaign for Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District today, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, with an introductory video, linked here, that summarizes her family’s history of service and her plans to carry that legacy forward. Miller raised her family in the south…

Chicago, elections, Federal, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Mohammed Jaber takes Oath of Office for Orland Fire Commission

July 8, 2025July 8, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Mohammed Jaber takes Oath of Office for Orland Fire Commission The Orland Fire Protection District’s Board of Fire Commissioners on Monday, July 7, 2025, administered the Oath of Office to Mohammed Jaber, 42, to fill a vacancy on the three-member board. The Fire Commission reviews and recommends issues related to the hiring of firefighters and…

Fire, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago parents and other community leaders must work together to make sure this summer isn’t deadly for our children

July 3, 2025July 3, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago parents and other community leaders must work together to make sure this summer isn’t deadly for our children By Jeffery M. Leving While many divorced and separated parents live with the worry that a school shooting can happen anywhere, anytime, parents in Chicago tend to worry the most when school is out for the…

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Village of Orland Park to Host Annual Veterans Golf Classic

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Village of Orland Park to Host Annual Veterans Golf Classic Event to be held August 26 at Silver Lake Country Club, 9:30 a.m. shotgun start Registration is now open for the 2025 Veterans Golf Classic, hosted by the Village of Orland Park. Scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, at Silver Lake Country Club located at 14700…

Entertainment, Golf, Government, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Dad and son reunited after Leving team’s hard-fought court victory

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dad and son reunited after Leving team’s hard-fought court victory By Laura Reichel The bond between a father and his child is fundamental. It shapes their lives, nurtures confidence, and provides the stability every child deserves. Most dads want nothing more than to love, protect, and be present for their kids—through every scraped knee, every…

Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Tastes and culture from 6 continents featured at SeatGeek Stadium World Fair US July 7 – 28

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tastes and culture from 6 continents featured at SeatGeek Stadium World Fair US July 7 – 28 Organizers of the World Fair US at SeatGeek Stadium this month said they are hoping to recreate the successes they experienced at the 2020 World’s Fair hosted in Dubai. The World Fair US opens in Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium,…

Bridgeview, Chicago, Culture, Entertainment, immigrant, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Bridgeview Police arrest two suspects in major chop shop crackdown

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Bridgeview Police arrest two suspects in major chop shop crackdown The Bridgeview Police announced Tuesday, July 1, 2025, that two suspects have been taken into custody following a police raid of an illegal chop shop at 10024 S. Harlem Avenue. The Police raid took place in the early morning hours on Monday at the public…

Bridgeview, Crime, Law, News, NewsWire, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Man with Assaulting Federal Employee Outside Federal Courthouse in Downtown Chicago

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Man with Assaulting Federal Employee Outside Federal Courthouse in Downtown Chicago The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a man with assaulting a federal employee outside of the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago. The assault occurred on Tuesday afternoon, June 23, 2025, as the victim was standing on the sidewalk outside of…

Chicago, Crime, Federal, Law, News, NewsWire, Police

Property tax bills delayed in Orland Township

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Property tax bills delayed in Orland Township Orland Township Assessor Rich E. Kelly made the following announcement Monday, June 30, 2025: When Cook County’s second installment property tax bills are sent on time, tax bills hit mailboxes in late June and are due around August 1, 2025. This year, however, the mailing and due dates…

Government, News, Orland Park, Orland Township, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes