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

Chicago columnist to host “Special Election Coverage” on Arab radio in Detroit

October 5, 2020October 6, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Chicago columnist to host “Special Election Coverage” on Arab radio in Detroit Middle East’s leading English language newspaper The Arab News will launch a weekly radio show on Detroit’s US Arab Radio Network to explore issues in the Nov. 3, 2020 General Election. The show will be hosted by the newspaper’s US Special Correspondent Ray…

Chicago, elections, Features, Government, News, Political Pundit, Politics, Radio, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

No injuries in Fire that destroyed Orland Park home

October 5, 2020October 6, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

No injuries in Fire that destroyed Orland Park home An Orland Park residential home sustained serious damage during a fire Sunday evening on Oct. 4, 2020. No one was injured. Attached are photos of the fire from the Orland Fire Protection District The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a 911 Fire Emergency call at around…

Cook County, Fire, Government, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Anniversary of Arab American Recognition in Illinois

October 4, 2020October 4, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Anniversary of Arab American Recognition in Illinois Two years ago in October 2018, Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan introduced legislation that formally recognized April as Arab American Heritage Month at a meeting of the Arab American Democratic Club. Madigan’s legislation made the declaration a state law. Here’s a story recalling that important event in…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Editors Pick, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Opinion, Politics, Racism, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

Newman continues to lead Republican challenger

October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Newman continues to lead Republican challenger Polls claim that the gap between Marie Newman, who unseated seven term Congressman Dan Lipinski in the March 2020 Democratic Primary election, and her Republican rival Mike Fricilone, is narrowing. but the district is strongly Democratic with an even stronger conservative edge. Not electing Newman to office would be…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Trade enforcement can accelerate America’s economic recovery

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Trade enforcement can accelerate America’s economic recovery The stock market has largely rebounded from COVID-19 and American retail sales are improving steadily. Even more encouraging is that the U.S. unemployment rate fell for the fourth consecutive month in August, exceeding market expectations. Each of these gains are sure signs that the Trump administration’s economic response…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, coronavirus, Government, National, Opinion, Politics

Media hypocrisy corrupts debate on Ginsburg succession

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Media hypocrisy corrupts debate on Ginsburg succession Politics is politics in America and politicians say one thing and do something else. Both Republicans and Democrats. In the debate over the succession to the vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the US Supreme Court, that hasn’t changed. But what has changed is…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Government, Media Bias, Opinion, Politics

Don’t let Facebook off the hook for their violations of your rights

September 24, 2020September 24, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Don’t let Facebook off the hook for their violations of your rights By Ray Hanania Don’t let Facebook Off the Hook for violating your rights. If you live/lived in Illinois for 186 days straight in the past few years, you are eligible to receive a payment from a class action lawsuit settlement … All you…

breaking news, Briefs, Business, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Technology

What impact will the battle over Ginsburg vacancy on the US Supreme Court have on the Presidential election?

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

What impact will the battle over Ginsburg vacancy on the US Supreme Court have on the Presidential election? The Arab News Newspaper Live Arab Radio Election Coverage focusses on the impact of the Ginsburg vacancy on the November Presidential election What impact with the battle to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg have on the Nov. 3,…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, elections, Features, Federal, Government, National, News, Politics, rayhanania

Deadline Nears To Add Veteran’s Name to Orland Park Memorial Wall

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Deadline Nears To Add Veteran’s Name to Orland Park Memorial Wall Last day to add a veteran’s name to Orland Park’s granite memorial is Oct. 15 to be read aloud during Veterans Day ceremony The Village of Orland Park hosts ceremonies each Memorial Day and Veterans Day, inviting area families to add their veterans’ names to the…

Cook County, Features, Government, Orland Park, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans

Cook County Forest Preserve to host public events Sept. 26 at forest locations

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Forest Preserve to host public events Sept. 26 at forest locations The Forest Preserves of Cook County is throwing a party, and everyone is invited! From morning till night, Cook County residents can enjoy numerous self-guided activities and guided programs on September 26 at various Forest Preserves locations to celebrate National Public Lands…

Chicago, Cook County, Editors Pick, Environment, Events, Features, Government, Health, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Travel

Oberweis slams Underwood for coddling violent protestors

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Oberweis slams Underwood for coddling violent protestors The Jim Oberweis campaign has made a 500-point ad buy on broadcast TV in the Chicago media market that is started on Saturday slamming Democratic Congresswoman Lauren Underwood for supporting the violent protestors who looted, burned down and destroyed businesses during Black Lives Matter protests in May and…

Crime, elections, Features, General Topics, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Aurelia Pucinski receives support for retention as Illinois Appellate Court justice

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Aurelia Pucinski receives support for retention as Illinois Appellate Court justice Illinois Appellate Court Justice Aurelia Pucinski is seeking retention on the Tuesday, November 3, 2020 General Election ballot. Her Ballot number is 201 and she needs your support. This year’s ballot is going to be very long and difficult because of having so many…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, Features, Government, Illinois Legislature, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, women

The Jews of Lebanon, special “Deep Dive” series by the Arab News Newspaper

September 12, 2020September 12, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Jews of Lebanon, special “Deep Dive” series by the Arab News Newspaper A once-thriving community with roots dating back hundreds of years, they are now a silent and forgotten minority. The Arab News Newspaper, the Middle East’s leading English language publication, tracked down Lebanese Jews in the diaspora to talk to them about their memories…

Editors Pick, Features, news release, Releases, Religion

O’Brien can’t beat Foxx as a “Republican”

September 10, 2020September 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

O’Brien can’t beat Foxx as a “Republican” Judge Pat O’Brien is in a unique position to unseat Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx who has made race and racism the determining factor in how she prosecutes crimes. But O’Brien can’t defeat Foxx if he wraps himself in the Republican Party and associates himself with far…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

American Arab Chamber applauds Chicago compromise on flavored tobacco ban

September 10, 2020September 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

American Arab Chamber applauds Chicago compromise on flavored tobacco ban Chicago Aldermen adopted a ban on the use of flavored tobacco in vapes that appeal to children under the age of 21. The ordinance was adjusted so as not to undermine the Hookah lounge industry which provides an American Arab cultural experience to people who…

Chicago, News

8,500 Cook County homeowners are owed automatic refund for tax overpayments

September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

8,500 Cook County homeowners are owed automatic refund for tax overpayments Pappas: Are you one of the 8,500 homeowners getting an automatic refund? Find out at CookCountyTreasurer.com More than 8,500 homeowners who overpaid their First Installment taxes are set to receive $12.8 million in refunds without filing an application, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said…

Chicago, Cook County, Features, Government, News, news release, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Judge Issues restraining order to prevent Trump from moving up 2020 Census deadline

September 6, 2020September 6, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Judge Issues restraining order to prevent Trump from moving up 2020 Census deadline Civil Rights Groups Secure Court Order to Stop Trump’s Rushed and Incomplete Census Count. Decision Adds More Time for a Fair Counting and Will Account for Millions More People The Trump administration’s last-minute move to terminate 2020 census operations would likely lead to a…

Federal, Government, National, News, Politics

How criminals become heroes in today’s screwed-up world

September 5, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

How criminals become heroes in today’s screwed-up world The biased mainstream news media is failing at its job to report facts. Instead of reporting facts, they are reporting half truths, and politically partisan opinions. The case of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin is a good example of how only part of the…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Government, National, Opinion, Police, Politics, Racism, rayhanania