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

Culver’s Partners with Chicago Police Memorial Foundation to Make a Difference

January 10, 2019January 10, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Culver’s Partners with Chicago Police Memorial Foundation to Make a Difference Lyons, IL. (Grassroots Newswire) January 10, 2019– Since opening the doors of the first restaurant in 1984, Culver’s® has been committed to being an active member in its local community. On Monday,January 14 eight Chicago-land Culver’s locations will carry on that tradition by hosting…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, Government, News, Orland Park, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

April named Arab Heritage Month by new Illinois Law

January 10, 2019October 4, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

April named Arab Heritage Month by new Illinois Law Illinois Legislature passes law to designate April as Arab American Heritage Month. The bill was introduced by Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, and co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Landek and Representative Mike Zalewski. The bill restores respect for Illinois’ Arab American community which was disrespected…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Entertainment, Festival, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Opinion, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

Sweeping Plan to Lower Drug Prices Introduced in Senate and House

January 10, 2019January 10, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sweeping Plan to Lower Drug Prices Introduced in Senate and House Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) along with more than two dozen of their colleagues in the House and Senate introduced sweeping reforms Thursday that would dramatically reduce prescription drug prices in the United States. The plan…

Health, National, News

Madigan appoints Rep. Greg Harris as Majority Leader

January 10, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Madigan appoints Rep. Greg Harris as Majority Leader Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Thursday Jan. 10, 2019 announcing his appointment of state Rep. Greg Harris as the Illinois House majority leader: “At my request, Representative Greg Harris will serve as House majority leader. This is the first in a series…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News

Underwood supports family tax refunds during shutdown

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Underwood supports family tax refunds during shutdown Rep. Underwood Votes To Ensure Families Get Their Tax Refunds Without Delay and To Re-Open the Treasury Department and Other Key Agencies. Over 5 million Illinois Households Receive Tax Refunds Each Year Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) joined House Democrats Wednesday January 9, 2019 to pass the FY 2019 Department…

Business, Government, News, Taxes

Hockey news: Lagace goes to Vegas, Fucale joins Wolves

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hockey news: Lagace goes to Vegas, Fucale joins Wolves In Hockey News this week, the Chicago Wolves announced Wednesday that goaltender Max Lagace has been recalled from loan by the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, goaltender Zach Fucale has been reassigned to Chicago from Fort Wayne (ECHL) and center Matthew Weis has been loaned to Fort…

News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Legislative updates: reps sworn in to new terms

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Legislative updates: reps sworn in to new terms Illinois Representative Michael J. Madigan was elected to another term as Speaker of the Illinois House. Read releases from other legislators below including: Fran Hurley, Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, Sonya Harper, and Camille Y. Lilly. Hurley to Fight for First Responders, Property Tax Relief in…

elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Protestors block 30 cent gasoline tax hike

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Protestors block 30 cent gasoline tax hike Illinois taxpayers defeated the plan of downstate and Cook County Democrats to give the state of Illinois the highest gasoline tax in the country during the Illinois 100th General Assembly lame duck session. The Democrat mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel, showing how out-of-touch he was with taxpayers, had…

Chicago, Editors Pick, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics, Taxes

Westmont Native Selects U.S. Navy Ship

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Westmont, Illinois native selects U.S. Navy Ship MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Midshipman Thomas Donnelly, from Westmont, Illinois, participated in the 2018 winter Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) ship selection draft as a future member of the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community. More than 40 midshipmen from NROTC units around the country chose to serve…

News, Veterans

Pritzker announces schedule for inauguration, and new appointments

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pritzker announces schedule for inauguration, and new appointments Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker also announced plans to give his top cabinet members a 15 percent raise, and is rumored to be preparing to demand resignations of all appointees on state-held boards and commissions Today, the Pritzker-Stratton Inaugural Committee announced the schedule of weekend events leading up to the inauguration on…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics

Wolves Hockey Team lights up the ice

January 8, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Wolves Hockey Team lights up the ice Wolves light up the ice at the Allstate Arena in a game against the San Antonio Rampage. It’s phenomenal hockey and sports excitement from start to finish By Ray Hanania The American League hockey team the Chicago Wolves trounced the San Antonio Rampage this past week 3 to…

Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, Features, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Manteno Veteran’s Home takes precautions after a single Legionnaires’ disease case is identified

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Manteno Veteran’s Home takes precautions after a single Legionnaires’ disease case is identified Manteno – The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) was notified this morning regarding a confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease (legionellosis) in a resident of the Manteno Veterans’ Home. Upon being notified, the IDVA activated their contingency plans at the Home. After…

breaking news

Gelsosomo’s in Lemont offers great food and hilarious comedy shows

January 8, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Gelsosomo’s in Lemont offers great food and hilarious comedy shows There are not a lot of comedy clubs in Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs but two stand out you should visit, Riddles in Alsip and Gelsosomo’s in Lemont. Riddles offers the traditional award winning comedy experience while Gelsosomo’s offers a mix that includes music entertainment, great Italian food…

Blogger, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Features, food, General Topics, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Multi-Agency collaboration reduces backlog at the Illinois Human Rights Commission

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Multi-Agency collaboration reduces backlog at the Illinois Human Rights Commission The Illinois Human Rights Commission (HRC) is releasing its first Progress Report on transforming service delivery and addressing the backlog of cases pending before the HRC. The report comes in response to Executive Order 18-08, issued by Gov. Bruce Rauner in June, which required the…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News, news release, Politics, Releases

Danztheatre Ensemble presents “Getting Old Sucks”

January 7, 2019January 7, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Danztheatre Ensemble presents “Getting Old Sucks” Getting Old Sucks is a Danztheatre work exploring the universality of aging through individual experiences. Getting Old Sucks runs Fridays and Saturdays, 8pm, and Sundays, 3pm, February 22 through March 3, 2019 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church (1650 W. Foster Ave., Chicago). What does aging mean to you?: Getting Old Sucks,…

Entertainment, Features, News, Theater

Steppenwolf Theater announcers premier of “The Children”

January 7, 2019January 7, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Steppenwolf Theater announcers premier of “The Children” Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of The Children written by Lucy Kirkwood and helmed by celebrated Chicago director Jonathan Berry. The cast includes previously announced ensemble members Ora Jones (Rose) and Yasen Peyankov (Robin), with acclaimed actress Janet Ulrich Brooks (Hazel) rounding out the cast. Following…

Entertainment, Features, News, Theater

Orland Mayor endorses trustee slate led by Cindy Katsenes

January 6, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Mayor endorses trustee slate led by Cindy Katsenes Pettiness by the Orland Park Village board against Mayor Keith Pekau will have a huge impact on the outcome of the April 2 Trustee elections where two slates will face off. Pekau has endorsed a slate led by Cindy Katsenes while the board trustees are backing…

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

District 103 School Candidates launch Facebook Page

January 5, 2019January 6, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

District 103 School Candidates launch Facebook Page The candidates for School District 103 launched a new Facebook Page, Parents for Student Excellence, to promote their candidacies and to also promote issues and events related to the controversy-plagued School District 103. School District 103 serves 2,400 students living in Brookfield, Forest View, Lyons, McCook and Stickney….

Education, elections, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland