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

Coronavirus hits Orland Village Hall as Pekau challenges virus restrictions

June 25, 2020June 27, 2020 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

OPINION: Coronavirus hits Orland Village Hall as Pekau challenges virus restrictions After championing the fight to ease coronavirus restrictions, and suing Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is dealing with the news that an employee who works with him has been diagnosed with coronavirus. An employee in the Village Manager’s Office has been diagnosed…

Blogger, Commentary, coronavirus, elections, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Township Receives Donation from Lions Club

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township Receives Donation from Lions Club Orland Township was honored to accept a substantial donation from the Orland Park Lions Club for the Food Pantry’s Grocery Distribution to assist residents experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the office of Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady. The Orland Park Lions Club donated $5,000…

Cook County, coronavirus, food, Government, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

The hatred and reverse racism of the protests

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

The hatred and reverse racism of the protests Mayor Lori Lightfoot has again taken the side of injustice, marginalizing the violence of the looters, arsonists and even killers who attacked business and police in order to play politics with the emotions and violence of the Black Lives Matter protests following in the wake of the…

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

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lets everyone down

June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lets everyone down Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot puts her own personal agenda ahead of the safety of not only the citizens of Chicago but all of Cook County in a selfish political display that jeopardizes the safety of everyone who doesn’t embrace violence. Lightfoot has done nothing to prosecute the looters…

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

Pappas: See Your New Property Tax Bill at cookcountytreasurer.com

June 17, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: See Your New Property Tax Bill at CookCountyTreasurer.com Second Installment Cook County property tax bills have been posted to cookcountytreasurer.com, where property owners can see how much they owe two weeks before the bills are received in the mail in early July, Treasurer Maria Pappas said today. The Second Installment is due August 3,…

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

Orland Township seeking high school students for “Service Hours”

June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township seeking high school students for “Service Hours” Volunteers needed for Orland Township Drive-In Concert Orland Township is looking for energetic high school students who want to earn service hours by assisting local seniors and listening to live music at an upcoming event, according to the office of Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady. Orland Township…

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

Exclusive Garth Brooks concert to be performed at SeatGeek Stadium and 300 venues across America

June 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Exclusive Garth Brooks concert to be performed at SeatGeek Stadium and 300 venues across America Garth Brooks will perform a virtual show that will be broadcast on big screen drive in theaters around the country including on a “drive in” screen to be set up at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview The exclusive one night performance will…

Cook County, Entertainment, Festival, National, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Dr. Wilson donates face masks to Chicagoland’s Arab American Community

June 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dr. Wilson donates face masks to Chicagoland’s Arab American Community The Willie Wilson Foundation donated thousands of face masks and gloves to members of the Chicagoland Arab American and Muslim Community on Monday during a meeting at the Palestine Club Center in Bridgeview. Wilson has been supporting all of the ethnic communities and the Chicagoland…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Editors Pick, General Topics, Health, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Venturing out of the Coronavirus Pandemic

June 14, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Venturing out of the Coronavirus Pandemic Everyone needs a moment to get out of the house and enjoy a great meal. The coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic has made that almost impossible for the past three months, but recent precautions being taken by local restaurants to allow outdoor seating with proper social distancing and the mandatory wearing…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, food, News, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Fire damages home in Orland Park June 12

June 13, 2020June 13, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Fire damages home in Orland Park June 12 The Orland Fire District received multiple 911 calls at approximately 9 PM on Friday June 12, 2020 for a fire in the garage in the 15200 block of Woodmar Drive. Garage Fire on the 15200 block of Woodmar Drive. Video courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District…

Fire, News, Orland Park, Photos, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Ford Encourages Governor to Hold Moment of Silence against Hate and Racism

June 10, 2020June 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ford Encourages Governor to Hold Moment of Silence against Hate and Racism With residents across the state coming together to stand against racism and police brutality, state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, is calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to lower the state’s flags and to call for an 8 minute and 46 second moment…

Chicago, Cook County, Crime, General Topics, Illinois Legislature, News, Police, Politics, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

DVR-based Security camera systems need to be replaced

June 6, 2020June 6, 2020 Ray Hanania 5 Comments

DVR-based Security camera systems need to be replaced There are a lot of security camera systems to chose from but you should avoid the DVR-based systems like Swann, Q-See or Shadow because of the technical problems of “port forwarding” so that you can actually see your cameras remotely. Instead, select a cloud-based system like Blink…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, General Topics, Opinion, Police, Technology

For Pekau, it is always about him, even in closing Secretary of State’s Office

June 5, 2020July 12, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: For Pekau, it is always about him, even in closing Secretary of State’s Office Once again, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau puts his own political interests above the interests of the residents of Orland Park in his ultimatum that forced the closure of the Secretary of State’s Satellite Office that was located in the…

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

Radio host files lawsuit against Governor Pritzker

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Radio host files lawsuit against Governor Pritzker Chicago radio talkshow host Amy Jacobson, a popular former Chicago TV reporter, has been banned by Gov. J.B. Pritzker from attending his daily and political coronavirus briefings. Jacobson co-hosts the conservative weekday morning radio show “The Answer” with political activists Dan Proft and the show is among the…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Features, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Politics, Radio, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

Maywood man charged with aggravated battery to a child after incident May 23 at Super Target in Tinley Park

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Maywood man charged with aggravated battery to a child after incident May 23 at Super Target in Tinley Park A 31-year-old Maywood man was charged with aggravated battery to a child, endangering the life or health of a child, domestic battery, criminal damage to property and two counts of fleeing and eluding police after an…

Cook County, Crime, General Topics, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Pritzker issues guidelines for businesses/workplaces to reopen in Phase 3

May 25, 2020May 25, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pritzker issues guidelines for businesses/workplaces to reopen in Phase 3 Governor J.B. Pritzker released guidelines that will allow businesses to reopen under Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan, expected to begin May 29, 2020 in the wake of the deadly coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Guidance Developed by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and…

Business, Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, food, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Politics, restaurants

Coronavirus has changed our lives forever

May 24, 2020July 12, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Coronavirus has changed our lives forever The coronavirus has changed how we will live forever. Social distancing is here to stay. Concern about viruses and pandemics will not go away anytime soon. Things we should have learned from the politics of the 1918 “Spanish Flu” which wasn’t Spanish at all. And why we need to…

Blogger, Commentary, coronavirus, Government, Health, National, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Travel

Tara Reade reminds us how hypocritical the DNC really is

May 24, 2020May 24, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tara Reade reminds us how hypocritical the DNC really is Sexual harassment claims by Tara Reade against Democratic Presidential contender Joe Biden are not being taken as seriously as sexual harassment claims made by women against President Donald Trump. That’s because no one is really concerned about sexual harassment. They are more concerned about how…

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