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

Burbank native joins multinational exercise in Baltic Sea region

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Burbank native joins multinational exercise in Baltic Sea region By Theodore Quintana Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class , Navy Office of Community Outreach Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Anderson, a native of Burbank, Illinois, is participating in the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise with 18 other nations. “During BALTOPS, I am going to be doing a…

News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

I don’t need a day to remember my father

June 18, 2019July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

I don’t need a day to remember my father George John Hanania was a great guy and a phenomenal father, for the 16 years that I knew him. My dad fled the Holy Land in 1926 to get away from the hatred that consumed both Arabs and Jews. An older brother Joseph drowned in the…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Features, Opinion, rayhanania, Veterans

Moraine Valley to host alumni night at Chicago Fire game

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Moraine Valley to host alumni night at Chicago Fire game Moraine Valley Community College alumni can win up to four tickets to see the Chicago Fire home game Saturday, July 27 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. The game versus DC United starts at 7:30 p.m. The alumni event will be held in the Heineken Terrace,…

Education, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Ready Set Grill — Safety tips for great grilling

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ready Set Grill — Safety tips for great grilling SERVPRO cleanup and restoration specialists in the Summit area offer tips to homeowners for a sizzling and safe summer grilling season According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), July is the peak month for grilling fires, followed by June, May, and August.1 Annually,…

Entertainment, Environment, Features, News

New Cubs inspired musical “Miracle” rolls out weekly events and special offiers

June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

New Cubs inspired musical “Miracle” rolls out weekly events and special offiers From participating in Chicago Cubs Trivia Night to scoring a Family Four Pack deal, sports and theatre fans of all ages can now enjoy unique weekly programming at this hit production. MIRACLE, the hit Chicago musical set against the backdrop of the Chicago…

Comedy, Entertainment, Features, News, Sports, Theater

The solution to climate change grows on trees

June 18, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

The solution to climate change grows on trees By John Keppler Americans are tired of half measures on climate change. Seven in ten Americans want utility companies to overhaul their operations and generate 100 percent of the nation’s electricity from renewables in the near future. That’s ambitious. Renewable energy accounts for just 17 percent of…

Blogger, Commentary, Environment, General Topics, National, Opinion, rayhanania, Technology, Weather

Podcast: A preview of the upcoming battle for the 3rd Congressional District

June 17, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Podcast: A preview of the upcoming battle for the 3rd Congressional District Another battle in the 3rd Congressional District: Dan Lipinski, Marie Newman, Rush Darwish. Season 1, Episode 17, June 17, 2019 Award-winning former Chicago City Hall reporter, and syndicated political columnist Ray Hanania offers a preview of the upcoming battle brewing in the…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, elections, Federal, National, Opinion, Orland Park, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

2nd Candidate to challenge Lipinski in March 2020

June 17, 2019June 18, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

2nd Candidate to challenge Lipinski in March 2020 Rush Darwish declares run for US Congress IL-3 at packed rally in Palos Hills, focuses on grassroots support and taking down Trump At a Saturday, June 15 rally at Moraine Valley Community College to launch his congressional campaign for the 3rd District of Illinois, small business owner…

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

Republican legislators criticize Pritzker Gas Tax

June 13, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Republican legislators criticize Pritzker Gas Tax Governor Pritzker’s doubling of the Illinois Gasoline Tax causes damage to Illinois economy coalition of Republican legislators argue in an Op-Ed commentary By Republican State Representatives Transportation is a vital part of the Illinois economy. When it comes to Interstate highways, Illinois has the third most Interstates in the…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes

Lipinski pushes to add Poland to US Visa Waiver program

June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lipinski pushes to add Poland to US Visa Waiver program Lipinski Praises Step Forward Towards Admitting Poland to the Visa Waiver Program as Polish President Visits U.S. House to review Polish Visa Waicver legislation introduced by U.S. Congressman Dan Lipinski. Chicago and its suburbs have one of the largest concentrations of Polish Americans Under current…

Chicago, Federal, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Hold communities accountable and stop blaming the police

June 12, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hold communities accountable and stop blaming the police Chicago continues to be ravaged by street gang gun-related violence. Mayor Lightfoot has vowed to address the problem. But only focusing on the Chicago Police is not the answer. More emphasis needs to be placed on the residents living in the communities where the violence occurs to…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Crime, Government, Opinion, Police, Politics, rayhanania

State cautions residents about Blue-Green Algae threat in lakes

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

State cautions residents about Blue-Green Algae threat in lakes Illinois Officials Caution Residents Recreating in Illinois Lakes or Rivers to be Aware of Blue-Green Algae As temperatures begin to rise, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Public Health are reminding residents to be cautious if they are planning activities on Illinois lakes and…

Environment, Government, Health, News

Palos Police arrest five protestors at Township meeting

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Palos Police arrest five protestors at Township meeting Five protestors who are part of a group criticizing popular Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan for comments she made in 2017 about immigration reform, were arrested and charged by Palos Police. The group claims they were abiding by the laws when they were arrested, but Township officials…

breaking news, Chicago, Crime, Government, News, Politics, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Moraine Valley Fire Academy graduate earns state medal of valor

June 10, 2019June 10, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Moraine Valley Fire Academy graduate earns state medal of valor Learning that a 2014 graduate of Moraine Valley Community College’s Fire Academy was honored by the state for an act of bravery did not come as a surprise to Andy Hufnagl, Emergency Medical Technician and Fire Science Technology coordinator at Moraine Valley. “Bryan Lowery was…

Education, Government, News

Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass to Kick-Off Alternating Currents Festival Weekend

June 10, 2019June 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass to Kick-Off Alternating Currents Festival Weekend Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) is excited to announce the third year of Alternating Currents festival August 22-25, 2019, now expanded to four days. The festival kicks off with headliner Keller William’s Grateful Grass, with Max Weinberg’s Jukebox opening on Thursday, August 22 at the Adler…

Entertainment, Events, Features, Festival, News, Regional Midwest

Aurora hosts Blues Festival June 14 and 15

June 10, 2019June 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Aurora hosts Blues Festival June 14 and 15 TAJ MAHAL, ROBERT RANDOLPH HEADLINE 23rd BLUES ON THE FOX FESTIVAL, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, JUNE 14 & 15 AT AURORA’S RIVEREDGE PARK AURORA, IL, June 10, 2019 – Downtown Aurora’s 23rd Annual Blues on the Fox Festival boasts a killer line-up of longtime favorites and fresh new…

Baby Boomers, Entertainment, Features, Festival, General Topics, News

Despite rally Wolves lose Calder Cup Championship in 5 games

June 9, 2019June 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Despite rally Wolves lose Calder Cup Championship in 5 games By Ray Hanania The Chicago Wolves made fans in Chicagoland proud. They entered the Calder Cup Championship Finals 11 years after winning the prized Hocky honor in 2008 after defeating the San Diego Gulls in Conference Finals. The Wolves are a powerful and entertaining hockey…

National, News, Sports

Wolves lose 3rd game in Calder Cup Finals

June 7, 2019June 7, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Wolves lose 3rd game in Calder Cup Finals Despite leading Game 4 of the Calder Cup Championship Hockey Finals, the Wolves were pushed back by the Charlotte Checkers Thursday losing the game 5 to 3. The Wolves are behind now with one game to the Chckers 3 and need to take the remaining three games…

Chicago, Entertainment, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland