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

Opinion: Federal judge tosses politically motivated lawsuit against Madigan

August 23, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Federal judge tosses politically motivated lawsuit against Madigan Federal Judge Matthew F. Kennelly dismisses controversial lawsuit against Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Exclusive, the Des Plaines Valley News, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspaper, and the Southwest News-Herald. August 23, 2019 By Ray Hanania A politically motivated lawsuit (Case No. 16 C 7915)…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Federal, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Brooklyn Historical Society Announces Fall Exhibition

August 23, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Brooklyn Historical Society Announces Fall Exhibition An Opening by Kameelah Janan Rasheed. Rasheed Presents an Audio and Visual Installation Inspired by the Brooklyn Historical Society’s Muslims in Brooklyn Oral Histories. On View: September 7, 2019 – June 30, 2020 The Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) is pleased to announce An Opening, an audio and visual installation by Brooklyn-based artist…

Entertainment, Features, News, Theater

Pritzker signs bill raising minimum teacher salaries to $40,000 to address statewide teacher shortage

August 22, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pritzker signs bill raising minimum teacher salaries to $40,000 to address statewide teacher shortage Taking another step to address the statewide teacher shortage, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation today raising teachers’ minimum salary to $40,000. “As Illinois children head back to school this week and next, this new law says to them and their…

Education, Government, Illinois Legislature, News

Berwyn native participates in Navy Joint-Service training mission

August 22, 2019August 24, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Berwyn native participates in Navy Joint-Service training mission By Joint Hometown News Service Cmdr. Tracy Joy, a 1986 Immaculate Heart Of Mary High School graduate in Westchester and native of Berwyn, Illinois, is a nurse corps officer in the Naval Reserve. She is with the Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Great Lakes One, Illinois, that participated…

News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Orland Park native exemplifies “We Build, We Fight” legacy of Navy Seabees

August 22, 2019August 22, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park native exemplifies “We Build, We Fight” legacy of Navy Seabees By Alvin Plexico Navy Office of Community Outreach “We Build, We Fight” has been the motto of the U. S. Navy’s Construction Force, known as the “Seabees,” for more than 75 years. Commander Michael Meno, a 1991 Carl Sandburg High School graduate and…

News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

School should be more than just an education

August 21, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

School should be more than just an education As my son readies for college, I reminisce about what it was like 50 years ago when I left homew to go to college. It was a different world then and a different world today By Ray Hanania My son Aaron leaves for college next week and…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Education, General Topics, Opinion, rayhanania

Is there a politics to mass shootings?

August 21, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Is there a politics to mass shootings? The mainstream news media covered the killings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas far differently than the news media covered the killings the same weekend in Chicago. Though the circumstances were different, with individual suspects involved in Dayton and El Paso and multiple suspects involved in multiple…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, General Topics, National, Opinion, Police, Politics, Racism, rayhanania

“Miracle” Hit Musical extended through September 29

August 21, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

“Miracle” Hit Musical extended through September 29 The hit play “Miracle” celebrates 108th performance on August 30 with special event. From complimentary Chicago-style hot dogs to over-the-top giveaways, MIRACLE is rolling out all the stops to celebrate this milestone for the production. In honor of the 108 years it took the Chicago Cubs to win the…

Entertainment, Features, Sports, Theater

Quad Cities Casinos Ready for New Sports Betting in Iowa

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Quad Cities Casinos Ready for New Sports Betting in Iowa Quad Cities (August 15, 2019) – Starting at noon on August 15, 2019, sports betting is now legal in Iowa, including on mobile devices that have a registered account. The two Iowa casinos in the Quad Cities are ready for people to start wagering. Both…

Entertainment, Features, News, Releases

Oak Park Police increase presence as students return to school

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Oak Park Police increase presence as students return to school With the new school year about to get underway, Oak Park Police are preparing to ramp up enforcement efforts to protect the many students who walk and bicycle along community streets to and from neighborhood schools. Additional enforcement efforts are planned at key crossings and…

Crime, Education, Features, General Topics, Government, News, Police

Oak Lawn Navy Recruit helps honors WWII Merchant Marine in San Antonio

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Oak Lawn Navy Recruit helps honors WWII Merchant Marine in San Antonio By Burrell Parmer Navy Recruiting District San Antonio Lt. j.g. Kathleen Spyrnal of Oak Lawn, Ill., an Officer Programs operations officer assigned to Navy Recruiting District San Antonio (NRD), had the honor of meeting WWII Merchant Marine Ray Denison during an Alamo Honor…

Features, General Topics, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Chicago Wolves Hockey celebrate Pride Night Oct. 19

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Wolves Hockey celebrate Pride Night Oct. 19 New hockey season begins October 5, 2019 The Chicago Wolves are proud to host their first Pride Night at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Allstate Arena. This night celebrates the Chicago area’s LGBTQ+ community while the Wolves take on the Rockford IceHogs. October marks National…

Releases, Sports

Ticks in Illinois Found to Have Heartland Virus

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ticks in Illinois Found to Have Heartland Virus Last summer (2018), a Kankakee County resident tested positive for Heartland virus, the first case reported in Illinois. In response to this human case, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) collaborated with the Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Laboratory (INHS MEL) and Kankakee County Health…

Health, Releases, Travel

Sanders and Cummings blast Drug Company obstruction of Generic Drug price hike probe

August 14, 2019August 21, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sanders and Cummings blast Drug Company obstruction of Generic Drug price hike probe Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent letters to Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Mylan N.V., and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., opening an investigation…

Baby Boomers, Federal, Health, National, News

Registration underway for continuing education at Moraine Valley

August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Registration underway for continuing education at Moraine Valley Continue your education, earn a certificate or learn for fun this fall at Moraine Valley Community College. Registration is underway for the fall 2019 semester, which starts Aug. 19 with credit classes on the main campus. Credit classes at the Education Center at Blue Islandand Tinley Park…

Education, News

Chicago Native Trains to be a U.S. Navy Future Warfighter

August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Native Trains to be a U.S. Navy Future Warfighter By Jerry Jimenez Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class, Navy Office of Community Outreach Sailors are some of the most highly-trained people on the planet, according to Navy officials, and this training requires highly-dedicated instructors. At Naval Education and Training command, instructors at advanced technical schools…

Chicago, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

West Chicago Native Trains to be a U.S. Navy Future Warfighter

August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

West Chicago Native Trains to be a U.S. Navy Future Warfighter By Rick Burke Navy Office of Community Outreach Sailors are some of the most highly-trained people on the planet, according to Navy officials, and this training requires highly-dedicated instructors. At Naval Education and Training command, instructors at advanced technical schools teach sailors to be…

General Topics, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Marie Newman names Shadin Maali as campaign chairwoman

August 9, 2019September 5, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Marie Newman names Shadin Maali as campaign chairwoman Longtime Suburban Chicagoland community activist Shadin Maali was named as the Campaign Chairwoman for Marie Newman who is a candidate for the 3rd District Congressional seat held by Dan Lipinski. Maali’s appointment underscores Newman’s commitment to the district’s large Arab American population and community in general. Marie…

elections, Federal, General Topics, Government, National, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland