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

Aguilar helps secure $8 million in coronavirus funding for West suburbs

July 27, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Aguilar helps secure $8 million in coronavirus funding for West suburbs Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar joins County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in detailing COVID-19 relief funds Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar joined Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in announcing millions of dollars available for suburban communities facing unexpected expenses due to COVID-19….

Business, Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Walgreens chooses to fight Cicero Face Mask order

July 27, 2020July 27, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Walgreens chooses to fight Cicero Face Mask order Walgreens, which operates three retail store locations in the Town of Cicero, has decided to fight a Cicero Executive Order requiring essential businesses to require employees and customers to wear face masks. Town President Larry Dominick and the Town of Cicero Board issued the face mask requirement…

Business, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas: Pay Cook County property taxes through October 1 with no penalty

July 27, 2020July 27, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Pay Cook County property taxes through October 1 with no penalty Second Installment Cook County property tax bills are due August 3, 2020, but property owners have two extra months to pay without a late fee, Treasurer Maria Pappas said today. “In my nearly 22 years as Treasurer, I’ve never told people not to…

Cook County, Government, Releases, Taxes

The Political Pundit Comic Strip lampoons Mayor Lightfoot

July 27, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Political Pundit Comic Strip lampoons Mayor Lightfoot You can view all of The Political Pundit Comic Strips here at Suburban Chicagoland by selecting Comic Strip from the drop down menu. Here is the latest The Political Pundit Comic Strip for July 27, 2020. The Political Pundit Comic Strip by Ray Hanania, 07-27-20 — Chicago…

Blogger, Chicago, Comedy, Comic Strip, Commentary, Government, Humor, News, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Reflecting on the past week’s violence

July 24, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Reflecting on the past week’s violence The Black Lives Matter protestors should be held accountable for the violence of many of those who participated. Although supporting Black Lives is a just cause, the organizers failed to take responsibility for the widespread violence, looting, arson and shootings that took place in the midsts of their protests….

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Government, News, Opinion, Police, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Defending the statue of Christopher Columbus

July 23, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Defending the statue of Christopher Columbus Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot continues to turn her back on the rule of law and defending all of the city’s ethnic and racial groups, taking no action to punish ands identify individuals engaged in the destruction of statues including an attempted destruction of the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant…

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

COVID-19 infections at Orland Park Village Hall continue to rise

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

COVID-19 infections at Orland Park Village Hall continue to rise Confirmed cases of Coronavirus COVID-19 continue to increase in Orland Park with the latest numbers showing a rise of more than 30 percent over the past three weeks since July 1, 2020. Despite the increase, the Mayor continues to assert that the wearing of face…

coronavirus, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Law introduced to protect seniors from scams

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Law introduced to protect seniors from scams “Stop Con Artists Preying on the Fears of Older Americans,” Says Congresswoman Robin Kelly upon Introducing the Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act Congresswoman Robin Kelly has introduced the bipartisan Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act (H.R. 7699), legislation that directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report…

Baby Boomers, breaking news, Crime, Federal, Government, News

Naval Aviators team with U.S. Coast Guard to safeguard Mariners

July 22, 2020July 22, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Naval Aviators team with U.S. Coast Guard to safeguard Mariners On Wednesday, June 24 as a five-person crew aboard VAW-124’s E-2C Hawkeye were manning the skies above Hampton Roads they heard a potential Search and Rescue (SAR) distress call announced on the Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and took action. By Jennifer Cragg Commander, Naval Air…

Briefs, General Topics, National, News, news release, Releases, Veterans, Veterans Column

Podcast: Overcoming the challenges facing Arab Americans

July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Podcast: Overcoming the challenges facing Arab Americans The Problem with the Arab American Community: Award winning journalist and communicator Ray Hanania talks about how the Arab American community can overcome the self-imposed failings to become successful. Many Arab Americans live here physically but are “mentally” still back home Podcast, July 21, 2020, Volume III, Episode. 11 Ray…

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

Orland Park COVID-19 cases continue steady rise

July 20, 2020July 20, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

OPINION: Orland Park COVID-19 cases continue steady rise Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau asserts in a recent video that face masks are only a substitute for other measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, despite the fact that the village continues to show a troubling and ominous rise in infections which increased by…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

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