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

Pritzker to give financial aid to illegal and undocumented students

January 6, 2020January 6, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pritzker to give financial aid to illegal and undocumented students The governor’s directive will also provide state financial aid to transgender students. Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid provides qualifying students an opportunity to apply for MAP Grants For the first time in Illinois, eligible undocumented students and transgender students who are disqualified from federal financial…

Education, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics, Taxes

Chicago named “most welcoming city” for immigrants

January 5, 2020January 5, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago named “most welcoming city” for immigrants A study by the New American Economy, founded by corporate executives including Michael Bloomberg and Rupert Murdoch, shows that cities in the Midwest led in welcoming immigrants to their communities. The study focused on larger cities and Chicago was identified as the most welcoming. This year, according to…

Business, Chicago, General Topics, National, News

Movie remakes are always so disappointing

January 4, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Movie remakes are always so disappointing With all of the advances, instead of being creative, Hollywood is dumbing down, pandering to our old memories remaking movies instead of being creative with new concepts, new movies and new ideas. By Ray Hanania Imagine, they decided to do a remake-sequel of “Mary Poppins,” the memorable 1964 movie…

Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, Movies, Opinion, Television, Theater

Hurley, Cunningham and O’Shea Host Local Seniors for New Year’s Eve at Noon Pizza Party

January 3, 2020January 3, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hurley, Cunningham and O’Shea Host Local Seniors for New Year’s Eve at Noon Pizza Party State Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, recently partnered with Sen. Bill Cunningham and Ald. Matt O’Shea to host a New Year’s Eve at noon pizza party to give local seniors an opportunity to gather and celebrate New Year’s Eve safely. “My…

Chicago, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics

Chances of surviving heart attack the best in Orland Fire District

January 3, 2020August 29, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Chances of surviving heart attack the best in Orland Fire District By Chief Michael Schofield Your chances of surviving a heart attack — cardiac arrest — in the region served by the Orland Fire Protection District are better than in most other regions in the country. This achievement has been recognized nationally and was the…

Editors Pick, Features, Fire, Government, National, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Tomasulo’s comedy show at Beverly Arts Center was hilarious

January 1, 2020July 12, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tomasulo’s comedy show at Beverly Arts Center was hilarious WGN TV Sports reporter Pat Tomasulo took his standup comedy to the Beverly Arts Center stage on New Year’s Eve entertaining two sold-out audiences with his unique and powerfully delivered with that I call hilarious sarcasm. Tomasulo had the audiences belly laughing without being able to…

Chicago, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, Features, General Topics, Humor, News, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Television

94 West one of the best restaurants in the Southwest Suburbs

December 31, 2019December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

94 West one of the best restaurants in the Southwest Suburbs If you are planning a celebration, there is no better place to do it over dinner than at one of the best restaurants in the Chicagoland suburbs, 94 West Restaurant, which is best known for its phenomenal steaks and seafood menus. 94 West boasts…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, Features, food, Opinion, Orland Park, Recipes, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland, Travel

Tinley Park homes go all out with Christmas lighting

December 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tinley Park homes go all out with Christmas lighting I was never one to spend a lot of money or time decorating the outside of my home for Christmas like Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but I envy the beauty and happiness decorations bring. This year, a home in Tinley Park, Illinois has…

Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, Features, Festival, General Topics, News, Opinion, Orland Park, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland, Travel

Safety for a church but not for shoppers at the mall

December 29, 2019December 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Safety for a church but not for shoppers at the mall Former Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman has called on the Village of Orland Park to take a careful look at the issue of safety at the Orland Square Mall. But Mayor Pekau’s administration doesn’t think that’s important, even after making a mountain out of…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, General Topics, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Police, Politics

Missing that simpler life

December 29, 2019December 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Missing that simpler life Technology hasn’t made life easier. It has made it more difficult. Technology and social media have encouraged extremism, anger, hate and emotion. Everyone is a columnist these days because now everyone can type and express an opinion on Twitter, Facebook and on the racist social media site Reddit. I’ve seen Forensic…

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Blogger, Commentary, General Topics, Opinion

Trump impeachment is pure politics, a political circus

December 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Trump impeachment is pure politics, a political circus President Trump is the victim of “Democratic Entitlement,” the sickness in America’s politics that is driven by an arrogance and self-indulgence. Trump is not the typical politician and his critics are using that to fuel their partisan attacks. But the criticism, and the impeachment, will only strengthen…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Politics

Marie Newman and Interfaith Coalition condemn Art Jones’ 3rd District congressional candidacy

December 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Marie Newman and Interfaith Coalition condemn Art Jones’ 3rd District congressional candidacy Congressional candidate Marie Newman, who is running for Congress in the March 17, 2020 Democratic Primary election, condemned the entrance of Neo-Nazi Art Jones into the March 17, 2020 Republican primary at a press conference on Thursday Dec. 12, 2019. Marie Newman, Democratic…

elections, Government, News, Politics

Congresswoman Kelly Votes to Lower Drug Prices for Illinois Families

December 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Congresswoman Kelly Votes to Lower Drug Prices for Illinois Families Congresswoman Robin Kelly, a member of the Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, released this statement Thursday Dec. 12, 2019 regarding the passage of the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3): “Too many…

Business, Health, Illinois Legislature, News

Liz Gorman urges Orland Park officials to address Safety Issues at Mall

December 12, 2019December 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Liz Gorman urges Orland Park officials to address Safety Issues at Mall Former Tollway Executive Director & Commissioner Liz Gorman urges Orland Park Village officials to address Safety Issues at the Orland Square Mall in the wake of the killing of a St. Michael’s teacher and injuring of another teacher. Gorman said that the tragedy…

Business, Crime, Editors Pick, General Topics, Government, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

House Speaker Mike Madigan to keynote Arab American Democratic Club candidates brunch

December 11, 2019December 11, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

House Speaker Mike Madigan to keynote Arab American Democratic Club candidates brunch The Arab American Democratic Club, Illinois’ largest and most responsive Democratic Arab political organization, is prod to host Illinois Speaker Michael J. Madigan as its keynote speaker at its annual Feb. 16, 2020 Candidates Forum and Brunch. Get info at www.AADCIL.com The Arab…

elections, Events, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Alorica fires Wisconsin workers and hires 9,000 workers in the Philipines

December 11, 2019February 26, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Alorica fires Wisconsin workers and hires 9,000 workers in the Philipines Press release: Alorica to Close Green Bay Call Center and Lay Off 143 Wisconsin Workers After Announcing 9,000 New Hires in the Philippines. Call center layoffs of American workers replaced by foreign hires Washington, D.C. – Customer service outsourcing vendor Alorica announced this week…

Business, National, News, Releases, Technology

Man body slammed by Chicago Police deserved it

December 9, 2019December 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Man body slammed by Chicago Police deserved it Too often the media and public focus on the actions of police rather than on the actions of criminals. Recently, a man who allegedly was drinking spit in the face of a police officer who tried to detain him. He licked the officer’s face and spit in…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Crime, Health, Opinion, Police

Town of Cicero commemorates sacrifice of veteran who died at Pearl Harbor

December 9, 2019December 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Town of Cicero commemorates sacrifice of veteran who died at Pearl Harbor The Town of Cicero placed a Wreath at the Memorial Stone set up to honor the service of Cicero resident Joseph Philip Steffan, 32, who died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 while serving on the U.S.S. Arizona,…

Features, Government, National, News, Obituary, Veterans, Veterans Column