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

Stagg High School Receives National Recognition

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Stagg High School Receives National Recognition Stagg High School has been honored with the SupportMusic Merit Award from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The SupportMusic Merit Award recognizes individual schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the SupportMusic…

Education, Entertainment, News, Orland Park, Regional Midwest

Willis, Welch bill to make hospital closure tougher passes House

April 10, 2019April 10, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Willis, Welch bill to make hospital closure tougher passes House State Reps. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, and Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, are continuing their push to keep Westlake Hospital open by passing legislation that makes it harder for wealthy health management companies to purchase local hospitals and then close down to pad profits. “Hospitals need every…

Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau thinks its all about him

April 8, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Pekau thinks its all about him Now that the Orland Park election for trustee is over, Mayor Keith Pekau could start working to make Orland Park better with the three qualified trustees he helped to get elected, Cindy Katsenes, William Healy and Michael Milani. Instead, he just can’t seem to get past the fact that…

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

Kim Foxx should resign as States Attorney

April 5, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kim Foxx should resign as States Attorney Jussie Smollett’s despicable conduct exploiting racism and anti-Gay hate to further his sagging career and to profit financially doesn’t even come close to the more serious issue the controversy has raised involving the failure of the Cook County Prosecutor Kim Foxx to do her job to protect the…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Entertainment, Government, Opinion, Police, Racism, rayhanania

Lyons School District 103 tosses failed board for new leaders

April 3, 2019May 8, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lyons School District 103 tosses failed board for new leaders Olivia Quintero, Jorge Torres, Vito Campanile, and Winifred Rodriguez ran under the banner of Parents for Student Excellence slate decisively defeated the controversy-plagued slate lead by Lyons School District 103 board member Joanne Schaeffer, newly appointed trustee Thomas Weiner, former trustee Connie Esparza, and Jacqueline…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, elections, Government, Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Tyler Wong named Chicago Wolves 2018-19 AHL Man of the Year

April 3, 2019April 3, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tyler Wong named Chicago Wolves 2018-19 AHL Man of the Year GLENVIEW, Ill. – The Chicago Wolves are proud to announce that Tyler Wong has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Chicago community during the 2018-19 season. The 23-year-old forward…

Features, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Former Chicago City Hall reporter hosts politics podcast

April 3, 2019April 3, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Former Chicago City Hall reporter hosts politics podcast Ray Hanania, a former Chicago City Hall reporter, and political columnist during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, has launched a new podcast available for free on most podcat systems. Called “Ray Hanania on Politics,” the podcast is recorded several times each week and addresses mainstream American politics…

Chicago, Features, General Topics, News, Podcast, Politics

Glencoe Native Serves at Fleet Weather Center San Diego

April 3, 2019April 3, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Glencoe Native Serves at Fleet Weather Center San Diego By Bryan Dunn Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Navy Office of Community Outreach SAN DIEGO – Most Americans rely on weather forecasts to plan their daily routine. The U.S. Navy is no different. With numerous ships, submarines and airplanes deployed in the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s area…

Briefs, News, news release, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Countryside Navy Recruit teaching students

April 2, 2019August 6, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Photo: Countryside Navy Recruit teaching students Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Cory Van Beveren, from Countryside, Ill., assigned to USS Constitution, teaches students at New Hanover High School how to tie knots during Wilmington Navy Week. Wilmington is one of the selected cities to host a 2019 Navy Week, a week dedicated to raising U.S. Navy…

Editors Pick, Features, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column

Restaurant Review: Oozi Corner Mediterranean Restaurant Bridgeview

April 1, 2019December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Restaurant Review: Oozi Corner Mediterranean Restaurant Bridgeview By Ray Hanania Oozi Corner Restaurant is a new eatery located at 91st and Harlem with a large dining area and a creative menu of some of the best Middle Eastern and Arab food available in the Chicagoland area. Oozi or Ouzi is a Jordanian dish consisting of…

Business, Features, food, News, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Review

Opinion: The Landmark, hysteria and the “Ted Bojanowski syndrome”

April 1, 2019December 1, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: The Landmark, hysteria and the “Ted Bojanowski syndrome” Namecaller and political activist Ted Bojanowski doesn’t let the facts get in the way of the truth, viciously attacking public officials who care about the safety and education of the school children at Lyons District 103in the politically motivated Landmark Newspaper. Here’s my response to Bojanowski’s…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, elections, Government, Opinion, rayhanania, Review

Pekau is way off base in starting fight with Gorman

March 28, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau is way off base in starting fight with Gorman The mudslinging battle to elect three trustees in Orland Park has taken another ugly turn over the issue of vicious but anonymous robocalls as Mayor Keith Pekau widens his list of enemies by taking shots this time at Liz Gorman, the centrist populist who made…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Wolves Hockey Playoff tickets on sale starting Thursday

March 27, 2019June 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Wolves Hockey Playoff tickets on sale starting Thursday The Chicago Wolves can clinch their 20th postseason berth in their 25-year history Friday night, but Wolves fans only have to wait until 11 a.m. Thursday to secure individual tickets for the Calder Cup playoffs. To purchase a playoff package — which provides the same seat…

Briefs, Chicago, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Why I support Toni Preckwinkle for Chicago Mayor

March 27, 2019March 30, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Why I support Toni Preckwinkle for Chicago Mayor In politics, it’s rarely about who is great but rather about who is better. And in the race for Chicago Mayor between Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and former prosecutor Lori Lightfoot, the “better” candidate is Preckwinkle. Although I have some issues with her past policies,…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Voters should reject failed leadership in Lyons School District 103

March 25, 2019November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Voters should reject failed leadership in Lyons School District 103 In a heated election contest in the west suburban Lyons School District 103 where controversy, scandal and excessive spending dominate the board majority’s focus, voters need to take an active role in sweeping out the failed leadership and electing new trustees to restore the educational…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, General Topics, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Village of Lyons

First-Place Wolves roll in San Antonio

March 24, 2019March 24, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

First-Place Wolves roll in San Antonio Chicago Wolves goaltender Oscar Dansk earned his second shutout of the campaign on Saturday night in a 5-0 victory over the San Antonio Rampage at AT&T Center. Forwards Tye McGinn, Keegan Kolesar, Matthew Weis and Tomas Hyka and rookie defenseman Nic Hague all scored for Chicago (39-19-5-3) while Dansk…

Entertainment, Features, News, Sports

April proclaimed Arab American Heritage month by Cook County Board

March 24, 2019March 24, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

April proclaimed Arab American Heritage month by Cook County Board Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison introduces a proclamation honoring April as Arab American Heritage Month at the board meeting March 20, 2019, in coordination with the passage of a State of Illinois Law designating April as Arab American Heritage month. The Cook County Board on…

Features, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Religion

Gov. Pritzker Celebrates Women’s History Month

March 21, 2019March 21, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Gov. Pritzker Celebrates Women’s History Month Governor JB Pritzker hosted a Women’s History Month Celebration this morning at the state capitol, honoring the work of women leaders across the state. The following are the governor’s remarks as prepared for delivery: I’m thrilled to be here with you on this special day. I especially want to…

Government, News, women