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

Podcast: John Conyers’ nephew endorses Brenda Jones over Rashida Tlaib

July 17, 2020July 12, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Podcast: John Conyers’ nephew endorses Brenda Jones over Rashida Tlaib Former Michigan State Senator Ian Conyers accused Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of ignoring her campaign promises to sit in the limelight of international issues “she never addressed” in the 2018 campaign. Conyers said that Brenda Jones, the Detroit City Council President, has the district support to replace…

elections, Federal, General Topics, Government, National, News, Podcast, Radio, rayhanania, Regional Midwest, Taxes

Michigan’s 13th Congressional battle topic on radio Friday with Ian Conyers

July 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Michigan’s 13th Congressional battle topic on radio Friday with Ian Conyers Ian Conyers, the nephew of long serving and popular Congressman John Conyers, who retired in 2017 and creating the vacancy the 13th District seat, will join award winning Palestinian American journalist and radio talk show host on live radio on Friday July 17, 2020…

breaking news, elections, Government, National, News, Podcast, Politics, Regional Midwest

Pat O’Brien slams Kim Foxx record on felony prosecutions at press conference

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pat O’Brien slams Kim Foxx record on felony prosecutions at press conference Under the failed reign of State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, gang-related gun violence has surged in Cook County, and as Chicago experiences one of its bloodiest summers, a national study that analyzes prosecutorial malpractice names Kim Foxx as one of the worst prosecutors in…

breaking news, Chicago, Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, News, Police, Politics, Releases

Illinois Census recognizes needs of Arab Americans

July 15, 2020July 15, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Census recognizes needs of Arab Americans U.S. Census stresses importance of including Arab Americans and Muslims in the 2020 Census count during event at DuSable Museum of African American History on Wednesday. The Census has hired several Arab Americans to assist from Chicago and is receiving support from the influential American Arab Chamber of…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Suburban Chicagoland

COVID-19 cases in Orland Park jump nearly 20 percent in two weeks

July 14, 2020July 14, 2020 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

COVID-19 cases in Orland Park jump nearly 20 percent in two weeks The number of coronavirus COVID-19 infections continues to increase in Orland Park as the virus becomes a focus of the political fight Mayor Keith Pekau asserts are “coordinated, factually incorrect attacks from several angles that were clearly not coincidence and hardly surprising.” Pekau…

breaking news, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

South Elgin’s Hoffer Plastics: “We’re Hiring”

July 13, 2020July 13, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

South Elgin’s Hoffer Plastics: “We’re Hiring” Hoffer Plastics Corporation, an industry leader and innovator in the custom injection molding industry, announced today that is is hiring immediately to fill positions in the following departments: Inspector Technician (Shifts 2 & 3) Set-Up Molding Technician (Shifts 2 & 3) Mold Repair Hoffer Plastics offers its employees competitive…

Business, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas: Stay home! Everything you can do at my office you can do at cookcountytreasurer.com

July 13, 2020July 13, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pappas: Stay home! Everything you can do at my office you can do at cookcountytreasurer.com Homeowners and business people can avoid a trip downtown by taking care of their property taxes at cookcountytreasurer.com, including making payments, searching for refunds and verifying tax exemptions, Treasurer Maria Pappas said today. “Stay home!” Pappas said. “Millions of people…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, News, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Rashida Tlaib faces tough re-election challenge from Brenda Jones

July 10, 2020July 12, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Rashida Tlaib faces tough re-election challenge from Brenda Jones (Radio Podcast) Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, who served a brief five week term representing the 13th Congressional District in Michigan, discusses her rematch with Rashida Tlaib who won the full 13th District Congressional term in 2018. The next Democratic Primary is August 4, 2020…

elections, Federal, Government, News, Podcast, Politics, Regional Midwest

Madigan directs removal of Stephen Douglas portrait from State House Building

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Madigan directs removal of Stephen Douglas portrait from State House Building Research reveals Stephen Douglas, the Democratic candidate for president against Republican Abraham Lincoln, was a slave owner. Madigan also directed the removal of statues of both Douglas and also Pierre Menard, also a slave owner. Madigan said he is directing the state to review…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Photos, Politics, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Stop focusing on guns, focus on the criminals

July 8, 2020July 8, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Stop focusing on guns, focus on the criminals If Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot would stop trying to be the icon of several “movements” and start acting like a leader who can recognize the real problems, maybe Chicago wouldn’t be making headlines every week with record shootings and a growing list of gun related fatalities. By…

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

Judge Pat O’Brien Urges Solutions to End Tragic Violence

July 7, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Judge Pat O’Brien Urges Solutions to End Tragic Violence Cook County States Attorney Candidate Judge Pat O’Brien criticizes incumbent Kim Foxx for failing to provide relief to the surge in violence in Cook County and especially in Chicago. After a violent Fourth of July weekend where 79 people were shot and 15 killed, including a…

Chicago, Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Sims and County Board lead support for Black Lives Matter

July 7, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Sims and County Board lead support for Black Lives Matter Cook County commissioners urge passage of Justice for Black Lives resolution to shift resources from incarceration to human needs. Resolution would provide moral compass for County Commissioners in difficult budget decisions, ensure Black lives are protected and supported Cook County Commissioners Deborah Sims (D-5th), Stanley Moore (D-4th),…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Township To Hold July Drive-Thru Grocery Distribution

July 6, 2020July 6, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Township To Hold July Drive-Thru Grocery Distribution Free, pre-packaged food boxes available for residents on Friday, July 17 Orland Township will hold a free, drive-thru grocery distribution for Township residents who are experiencing financial hardship since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, according to the office of Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady. The Township Food Pantry…

coronavirus, food, Government, Health, News, Orland Park, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Feeling sorry for failed Mayor Keith Pekau

July 1, 2020April 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Feeling sorry for failed Mayor Keith Pekau Everything you need to know about Orland Park’s extremist and controversial Mayor, Keith Pekau, who attacked me, yet again, in his political newsletter, making the false assertion of “factual inaccuracy” in my opinion columns. Of course, if anyone has a problem with facts and accuracy, it is…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, News, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Orland Park challenge to Pritzker restrictions stumbles

July 1, 2020July 5, 2021 Ray Hanania 5 Comments

Opinion: Orland Park challenge to Pritzker restrictions stumbles Orland Park is stumbling because it is poorly led by an incompetent official who puts his personal interests above the interests of the public he was elected to represent. Mayor Keith Pekau’s fight against Gov. J.B. Pritzker isn’t about protecting the taxpayers, but rather about stirring up a political base he…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania

Taco Village in Des Plaines offers free face masks with purchases

June 29, 2020June 29, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Taco Village in Des Plaines offers free face masks with purchases A restaurant in Des Plaines is giving away face masks to customers for use against the coronavirus. Taco Village owners Maria Marquez says many customers have saids they can’t get masks because of hoarding during the pandemic and wants to help the public be…

Business, Cook County, coronavirus, Features, food, General Topics, News, news release, Releases, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Remembering our fathers and the past

June 29, 2020June 29, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Remembering our fathers and the past The story about my father, a proud immigrant from Palestine who came to America in 1926 to get away from the religious hatred that plagued Christians, Muslims and Jews. He loved America. Fought to defend America enlisting right after Pearl Harbor with his brother, and taught his children to…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Features, General Topics, Opinion, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans

2nd Coronavirus case slams Orland Park Village government

June 27, 2020June 27, 2020 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Opinion: 2nd Coronavirus case slams Orland Park Village government Two days after revealing the first case of coronavirus to infect an employee in the beleaguered administration of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, a second confirmed Coronavirus case has been confirmed in the Village’s Recreation Department. The two cases are a political embarrassment for Pekau who is vacationing during…

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