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

Former Jerling teacher sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting two students

December 3, 2020December 3, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Former Jerling teacher sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting two students After delays of more than a decade, a Jerling Junior High school basketball coach accused of sexually molesting two female students was finally sentenced on Thursday. The two victims, who were 13 when the sexual harassment began in 2008, decided to accept a plea…

Cook County, Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas: Get early look at next year’s property taxes

December 3, 2020December 3, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Get early look at next year’s property taxes Pappas: Get early look at next year’s property taxes; Download your bill at cookcountytreasurer.com Next year’s First Installment Cook County property tax bills are available at cookcountytreasurer.com so that property owners can make payments before the end of this year or plan their finances for 2021,…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Technology

US Justice Department convicts Indian-based IRS scammer

December 1, 2020December 1, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

US Justice Department convicts Indian-based IRS scammer Owner and Operator of India-Based Call Centers Sentenced to Prison for Scamming U.S. Victims out of Millions of Dollars. An Indian national was sentenced today to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release in the Southern District of Texas for his role in operating…

Business, Crime, Federal, Government, News, Police, Technology

Tinley firefighters rescue two children from apartment fire

December 1, 2020December 1, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tinley firefighters rescue two children from apartment fire The Tinley Park Fire Department late Tuesday morning responded to a fire in the 6500 block of West 173rd Place. At the scene, firefighters located the fire on the first floor of a two-story, four-unit apartment building. Residents from the apartment building were outside and uninjured upon…

Cook County, Fire, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Winter viewing of Bald Eagles best in Quad Cities region

December 1, 2020December 1, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Winter viewing of Bald Eagles best in Quad Cities region Each winter when the weather turns cold, the Quad Cities serves as host to a large majority of bald eagles making their annual southern migration from Canada to the unfrozen waters of the Mississippi River. The Quad Cities celebrates over 50 years of bald eagle…

Editors Pick, Environment, Features, General Topics, News, Photos, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Massive rise in COVID-19 infections slam Orland Park

December 1, 2020December 2, 2020 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Massive rise in COVID-19 infections slam Orland Park Coronavirus hits alarming level with a surge of nearly 1,400 more infections in Orland Park just in the past month, as incompetent Mayor Keith Pekau continues to pander with his “Politics over People” party, hosting a $500-per-person fundraiser so he can turn his do-nothing four years in…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Release of Alex Winter’s highly acclaimed documentary on Frank Zappa, “Zappa,”

November 29, 2020November 29, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Release of Alex Winter’s highly acclaimed documentary on Frank Zappa, “Zappa,” Forget Black Friday, Franksgiving is the real event as today ushers in the long-awaited release of Alex Winter’s highly acclaimed documentary, “Zappa,” about the prolific genius composer, free speech activist, cultural ambassador to Czechoslovakia and legendary musician, Frank Zappa, as well as the surprise digital…

Entertainment, Features

New State-of-the-Art Cannabis Dispensary Coming to Chicago Suburbs

November 29, 2020November 29, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

New State-of-the-Art Cannabis Dispensary Coming to Chicago Suburbs Consume Cannabis Co. is opening a destination dispensary with interactive displays, educational experiences, and a variety of products in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois Consume Cannabis Company is excited to announce the opening of its newest location, aimed to be an immersive and educational experience into the world of…

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

“Conspiradentalism” and the murder of John F. Kennedy

November 26, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

“Conspiradentalism” and the murder of John F. Kennedy The murder of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963 put a dark cloud over every Thanksgiving celebration since, especially given the failure of the government to convincingly resolve the mystery of who was behind the assassination and the accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. Many political…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Federal, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Study shows Cicero has lowest tax increases in Chicagoland

November 26, 2020November 26, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Study shows Cicero has lowest tax increases in Chicagoland A recent study released by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas shows that the Town of Cicero had the lowest tax increases of more than 35 suburban Chicagoland communities during the past 20 years. The Pappas study shows the average increase is 95.4 percent with many communities…

Chicago, Cook County, Editors Pick, Government, News, news release, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Patlak and Wendt exchange courteous words in example of positive election transition

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Patlak and Wendt exchange courteous words in example of positive election transition After a grueling election fight for the First District of the Cook County Board of Review, the Cook County Board of Elections issued a certification officially declaring Democrat Tammy Wendt as the winner over Republican incumbent Dan Patlak. The two contenders issued statements…

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

The Coronavirus versus the “cost virus,” the public is paying for it

November 21, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Coronavirus versus the “cost virus,” the public is paying for it As American’s continue to suffer through the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic, the virus continues to create opportunities for industries like Cable TV for price gouging and requires fees for everything. It’s not subtle. But Americans are being forced to pay a steep price to…

Blogger, Commentary, coronavirus, Entertainment, General Topics, Government, Movies, News, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors

Suspect in Bridgeview car and child theft arrested, charged and to appear in bond court this morning

November 18, 2020November 18, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suspect in Bridgeview car and child theft arrested, charged and to appear in bond court this morning Bridgeview Police filed multiple charges against Rudy Gutierrez, 28, in the theft of a vehicle and four-year-old child Liam Barbarasa on Monday evening around 5:35 PM from in front of a 7-Eleven at 79th and Roberts Road. Barbarasa was…

breaking news, Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Government, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Trump his own worst enemy; Biden’s supporters are hypocrites

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Trump his own worst enemy; Biden’s supporters are hypocrites By Ray Hanania If there is one thing that came out of Tuesday’s election, besides the important election of Joe Biden as our unofficial president-elect, it is the hypocrisy of American politics, the media and the haters. The election showed America is almost equally divided with…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, National, Opinion, Politics

Tinley Park hosting Holiday House Decorating Contest

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tinley Park hosting Holiday House Decorating Contest Residents can help light up Tinley Park by participating in the Village’s Holiday House Decorating Contest! To enter, residents can visit TinleyPark.org/HolidayShine and fill out the provided form on the page. A photo of the decorated home is required with the submission. Residents can also text a five-second…

Features, News, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

As mail-in votes are counted, Tammy Wendt surges to apparent victory over Dan Patlak in election upset

November 13, 2020November 17, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

As mail-in votes are counted, Tammy Wendt surges to apparent victory over Dan Patlak in election upset As mail-in ballots continue to be counted, the Cook County contest for Board of Review inn the First District race between Dan Patlak & Tammy Wendt flipped with Wendt now soundly leading by 3,695 votes. Patlak was declared…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Public Health Officials Announce 12,702 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease

November 12, 2020November 12, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Public Health Officials Announce 12,702 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 12,702 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 43 additional deaths. – Adams County: 1 male 80s – Brown County: 1 male 90s – Bureau County: 1 male 90s – Clinton County: 1 male 50s,…

Cook County, coronavirus, Health, News, Suburban Chicagoland

National media creates confusion with vote count in the 14th Congressional District

November 9, 2020November 9, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

National media creates confusion with vote count in the 14th Congressional District News media inflates election results to help Lauren Underwood campaign over challenger Jim Oberweis. But Oberweis and election officials say his lead remains solid and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood continues to lag behind Oberweis election numbers While the New York Times and other national…

elections, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland