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

Illinois unemployment surges in wake of coronavirus restrictions on businesses

March 26, 2020March 26, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois unemployment surges in wake of coronavirus restrictions on businesses Unemployment Rate Dropped to New Historic Low in February, While State Sees Significant Increase in Unemployment Claims in March While the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate fell -0.1 percentage point to 3.4 percent, a new record low, the…

Chicago, Cook County, General Topics, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Politics, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pritzker announces 330 new coronavirus COVID-19 cases in Illinois

March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pritzker announces 330 new coronavirus COVID-19 cases in Illinois Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said that the number of Coronavirus COVID-19 cases in Illinois increased by 330 and that there are three COVID-19 related deaths. The Governor also announced he was extending the deadline for income tax filings and providing a $90 million program to help…

Business, Chicago, Cook County, Editors Pick, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Illinois State confirms 250 new cases of Coronavirus Disease: Trump offers support

March 24, 2020March 25, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois confirms 250 new cases of Coronavirus Disease: Trump offers support President Donald Trump said that his administration is continuing to pursue a bi-partisan response to the coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic, including pushing a national stimulus bill that would provide funds to every American to boost the economy which has been hit hard by negative media…

Federal, Government, Health, News

Lightfoot, Pritzker and holier-than-thou political hypocrites

March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lightfoot, Pritzker and holier-than-thou political hypocrites Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker are using the coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic as a political weapon to advance their partisan political agendas. Instead of working with President Donald Trump, whom they loath, Lightfoot and Pritzker are blaming their own shortcomings on the President, to help cover…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, elections, Government, Health, Opinion, Politics

Change voting system so we can make better choices

March 22, 2020March 22, 2020 Ray Hanania 5 Comments

Change voting system so we can make better choices Americans need to give the system of national elections a serious reconsideration and come up with a new system that doesn’t give certain states all fit weight in the election cycle. Before even half the states complete their primaries, the candidates are already chosen By Ray…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, National, Opinion, Politics

Illinois Announces rising New Cases of COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease

March 22, 2020March 22, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Announces rising New Cases of COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease We will update this page as the new cases of coronavirus are reported. The number of new cases of coronavirus COVID-19 jumps from 168 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday March 21 to 296 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday March 22. New cases reported every…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, Health, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

The politics of diseases, Coronavirus versus the Swine Flu

March 19, 2020March 22, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

The politics of diseases, Coronavirus versus the Swine Flu When you look at how the news media covered the Swine Flu in 2009 and President Obama’s seven month long response before declaring it a national emergency, and their coverage of President Trump and his two month response to the coronavirus, you can see how political…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Federal, Government, Health, National, Opinion, Politics

Newman claims victory over Lipinski in 3rd Congressional District

March 17, 2020March 18, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Newman claims victory over Lipinski in 3rd Congressional District Marie Newman, a progressive Democrat, is being hailed as the victor in the tough-fought battle for the 3rd Congressional District seat, defeating five-term incumbent Dan Lipinski, a conservative Democrat. The winner of the Democratic Primary will easily win the election on Nov. 3, 2020 as the…

breaking news, Chicago, Cook County, elections, Federal, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

First Illinois Coronavirus disease death announced

March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

First Illinois Coronavirus disease death announced The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced the first death of an Illinois resident who tested positive for the Coronavirus COVID-19, a Chicago resident in her 60s. Health officials are closely monitoring outbreak at long-term care facility in DuPage County The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today…

Chicago, Cook County, Health, News, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland, Travel

Arab groups divided on Illinois 3rd Congressional District battle

March 17, 2020March 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab groups divided on Illinois 3rd Congressional District battle Three of Illinois’ leading political organizations released endorsements in key elections in Illinois’ March 17, 2020 Democratic Primary races. Although all three endorsed the same candidates, they differed on one key contest, the closely contested battle for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District held by incumbent…

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

Radio Show: Illinois prepares to celebrate April Arab Heritage month

March 13, 2020March 13, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Radio Show: Illinois prepares to celebrate April Arab Heritage month Media professional Warren David joins The Arab street Radio and podcast on WNZK AM 690 Radio Friday March 13, 2020 to discuss Arab American Heritage month activities in April, and the politics of Senator Bernie Sanders. By Ray Hanania Arab Americans will be pushing to…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, General Topics, News, Podcast, Politics, Radio, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Illinois identifies 25 patients with Coronavirus

March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois identifies 25 patients with Coronavirus The World Health Organization (WHO) declares COVID-19 a “Pandemic” The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today is announcing six additional individuals have tested positive at the IDPH laboratory for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “More cases in more places in Illinois means we are seeing growing transmission of the virus in…

Chicago, Cook County, General Topics, Health, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

IL Department of Human Services Announces First Day to Complete the 2020 Census Online

March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

IL Department of Human Services Announces First Day to Complete the 2020 Census Online Illinois residents can complete the census online starting tomorrow March 12, 2020, at my2020census.gov. IDHS refuses to provide information, however, to Arab American organizations on how the state’s $20 million funding is being appropriated and which ethnic and racial groups are being prioritized or ignored…

Chicago, Federal, General Topics, News, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Are Census funds to improve count or politics?

March 9, 2020March 9, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Are Census funds to improve count or politics? Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has allocated $20 million for the Census count in Illinois, monies additional to funds allocated by the U.S. Census. But how much of that money is going to count the most undercounted constituency in Illinois and Cook County, the Arab American community?…

Blogger, Commentary, Opinion, Politics, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Replay Lincoln Park invites Shrek Fans to “Welcome to me Swamp” Pop-Up beginning March 13

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Replay Lincoln Park invites Shrek Fans to “Welcome to me Swamp” Pop-Up beginning March 13 “Oh, and it is LOVELY. You know, you’re really quite a decorator. It’s amazing what you’ve done with such a modest budget. I like that boulder. That is a NICE boulder.” – Donkey As Smash Mouth says: “somebody once told…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features

Election news items from President to Congress

March 4, 2020March 5, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Election news items from President to Congress A roundup of election news in politics in Illinois and nationally including in the hotly contested 3rd Congressional District and in the presidential contest. The Illinois Democratic Primary election is Tuesday March 17, 2020. Lots of news in election contests across the country from Biden vs Sanders to…

breaking news, elections, Government, News, Politics

I feel better just whining about it all

March 3, 2020March 3, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

I feel better just whining about it all A look at the increasing hassles of life for baby boomers as they move from technology to the grocery deli islands, handicapped parking spaces and cramped airline seats. Life isn’t easy so why shouldn’t we complain about it? By Ray Hanania I’m not sure why I am…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, Features, General Topics, Health, Humor, Opinion, restaurants, Seniors, Taxes, Technology, Travel

It’s never about who’s best in national elections

March 3, 2020March 3, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

It’s never about who’s best in national elections You can pretty much tell how strong Michael Bloomberg is as a candidate against Donald Trump by all the efforts that democrats, and local liberal news media, are making to disparage him. They definitely don’t want Bloomberg to win the Democratic nomination, just like the news media doesn’t…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics