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

Ald. Quinn introduces ordinances to extend Airbnb Ban in 13th Ward

April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ald. Quinn introduces ordinances to extend Airbnb Ban in 13th Ward Chicago Ald. Marty Quinn today introduced two ordinances that further support his constituents’ request to ban home-sharing services like Airbnb from operating in the 13th ward. To date, Quinn has banned Airbnb and other home-sharing services from 40 out of 48 precincts in his ward. His…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News

Three weeks of staying home because of COVID-19 and I am ready to break out

April 21, 2020April 27, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Three weeks of staying home because of COVID-19 and I am ready to break out Tensions between husbands and wives are hitting new highs. After being at home for the past three weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic, I can understand why frustrations are mounting. I’m ready to escape. Published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group:…

Blogger, Commentary, coronavirus, Government, Health, Humor, National, Opinion, Politics

Orland Home under renovation damaged by fire

April 20, 2020April 20, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Home under renovation damaged by fire A home under renovation on the 147th Block of Holly Court in Orland Park was damaged by fire on Monday. Neighbors witnessed heavy smoke coming from the property and alerted the Orland Fire Protection District. Firefighters arriving on the scene quickly brought the fire under control. Officials from…

Fire, News, Orland Park

Oberweis offers Speaker Pelosi ice cream if she goes to Washington D.C. to help small businesses

April 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Oberweis offers Speaker Pelosi ice cream if she goes to Washington D.C. to help small businesses Jim Oberweis, candidate for Congress in the 14th District, said he would send U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi ice cream, from his ice cream business, if she would go to Washington D.C. to develop and support support for small businesses…

Cook County, coronavirus, elections, Government, News, news release, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

US Government Coronavirus Resources for Illinois

April 18, 2020June 4, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

US Government Coronavirus Resources for Illinois Illinois State and Local Partners, Thank you for your continued efforts in the whole-of-America approach to respond to and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) for the benefit of the people of Illinois. As you know, our citizens are best served when response is locally executed, State managed and…

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

Former Orland Park village manager La Margo files lawsuit against Pekau, personally and officially

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

Former Orland Park village manager La Margo files lawsuit against Pekau, personally and officially Former Orland Park Village Manager Joe La Margo accused Mayor Keith Pekau of violating a separation agreement he signed with the village following his forced resignation in May 2019. La Margo was forced to resign after initiating an investigation into allegations…

breaking news, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Opinion: Orland Mayor accuses me of writing fiction over public meeting

April 16, 2020July 5, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Orland Mayor accuses me of writing fiction over public meeting Orland Park’s controversial Mayor Keith Pekau is upset that I publicized his angry personal attacks against Trustee Dan Calandriello from a public meeting he held on April 6 and accused me of writing fiction. But the truth is on the audio tape that the…

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

New Novel: “Yellow:” Greed, Lies and Scandals of 1980s World Of Broadcast Television

April 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

New Novel: “Yellow:” Greed, Lies and Scandals of 1980s World Of Broadcast Television Author Jeanne Charters has authored a new book that pulls the covers off of the scandals, lies and greed of the mainstream broadcast journalism As one of the only women in the male-dominated industry of broadcast television for many years, Jeanne Charters…

Books & Films, Entertainment, Features, Media Bias, Releases, Television

Mexican American activist and former state legislator Frank Aguilar named to succeed Tobolski

April 15, 2020April 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Mexican American activist and former state legislator Frank Aguilar named to succeed Tobolski Democratic Committeemen in Chicagoland’s west and southwest suburbs voted to name former State Rep. Frank J. Aguilar to fill the vacancy on the Cook County Board’s 16th District that was vacated with the resignation of Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski. Aguilar will…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Village of Lyons

Make your own Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic face mask

April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Make your own Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic face mask How to make a face mask to help protect you from the coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic, if you don’t have a hospital grade face mask or don’t want to pay an exorbitant price for one. It’s easy to make and it is effective. This is a video that…

Blogger, Business, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, National, News, Opinion, Podcast, Videos

Public Health Officials Announce 1,222 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease

April 14, 2020April 14, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Public Health Officials Announce 1,222 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease The number of coronavirus cases continue to increase in Illinois and in Cook County with total deaths now at 868 as of Tuesday morning. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,222 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 74 additional…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Municipalities Remain in Limbo Without Ruling from Attorney General on FOIA

April 13, 2020November 9, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Municipalities Remain in Limbo Without Ruling from Attorney General on FOIA With reduced staffing, focus must remain on providing essential services and public health Nearly 200 mayors across the state have joined the Illinois Municipal League (IML) in urging Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office to issue an advisory opinion to grant public bodies additional time…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, DuPage, Government, Illinois Legislature, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Several pets killed in single family Orland Park Home fire on Easter Sunday

April 13, 2020April 13, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Several pets killed in single family Orland Park Home fire on Easter Sunday A fire in an Orland Park home that occurred when the residents were not in the home on Easter Sunday (April 12, 2020) took the lives of three dogs and two cats, officials of the Orland Fire Protection District said. Officials said the…

Fire, General Topics, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Coronavirus cases in Illinois may be flattening out

April 11, 2020April 11, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Coronavirus cases in Illinois may be flattening out Public Health Officials Announce 1,293 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease, which is less than yesterday. Maybe it is starting to turn The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,293 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 81 additional deaths. – Champaign County: 1…

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

Illinois announces 1,465 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Public Health Officials Announce 1,465 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,465 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 68 additional deaths. – Cook County: 1 male 20s, 1 female 30s, 1 female 50s, 7 males 50s, 3 females 60s, 5 males 60s, 4 females 70s,…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

South suburban leaders unite in message against coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

April 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

South suburban leaders unite in message against coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic South suburban leaders unite in message against coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Stay Home! COVID-19 disproportionately hitting South Suburbs, taking black lives due to unacceptable health disparities South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) and Southland Regional Black Mayoral Caucus (SRBMC) officials join other Chicagoland leaders to…

Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Pritzker’s dystopian “Afraid New World” strategy

April 10, 2020April 12, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pritzker’s dystopian “Afraid New World” strategy Gov. Pritzker continues to hold his daily press conferences to update the public on the coronavirus, sometimes with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. And while they speak to the issues of fighting the virus, including social distancing, stay at home orders, and more, too often Pritzker and Lightfoot instead use…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Park Provides Updates and Resources for Residents and Businesses Amid COVID-19 Crisis

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Provides Updates and Resources for Residents and Businesses Amid COVID-19 Crisis Many forms of messaging have been provided by the Village of Orland Park aimed at both the residential and business communities. From daily social media updates with information including resources such as providing much needed masks to Orland Park’s medical offices, to…

Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, Orland Park, Releases