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

Sandoval attends ribbon-cutting for Pace paratransit headquarters

December 12, 2018December 12, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sandoval attends ribbon-cutting for Pace paratransit headquarters State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago), Chairman of the Illinois Senate’s Transportation Committee, joined several local officials last week to celebrate the completion of Pace’s new Chicago ADA Paratransit headquarters in conjunction with the United Nation’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Sandoval spoke at the event and took…

Government, News, news release, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

My ongoing love affair with soda pop

December 12, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

My ongoing love affair with soda pop Soda pop defines my buying habits. If the cost of soda pop is “comfortable,” I will spend all my money at a store. But, if a store charges too much for soda pop, I will banish that store and defend the honor of my sweet love. It’s unforgivable…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Features, food, General Topics, Humor, Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Mayor Emanuel’s disregard for the best interests of taxpayers

December 12, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Mayor Emanuel’s disregard for the best interests of taxpayers Mayor Rahm Emanuel, one of the worst mayors to ever sit in the Chicago mayor’s office, is making one last effort to slam taxpayers in suburban Chicagoland to pay for the financial shortfalls and deficits caused by his poor leadership. He wants to jack up the…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, General Topics, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Transportation

Carole Ruzich leads new slate in Orland Village elections

December 11, 2018December 11, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Carole Ruzich leads new slate in Orland Village elections Veteran Orland Park Village Trustee Carole Griffin Ruzich will lead an independent slate of candidates including Kelly O’Brien and Devin Hodge for three seats in the Orland Park village elections in April 2019. Over 1500 petition signatures for Orland Park Trustee, exceeding the 645 required to…

elections, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Releases

Lyons Police charge Lyft driver with Battery over alleged sexual assault

December 11, 2018December 11, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lyons Police charge Lyft driver with Battery over alleged sexual assault Lyons Police said they filed Battery charges Dec. 10, 2018 against a Lyft driver who allegedly sexually harassed a 17 year old female passenger in early October after the mother brother the girl in to report the incident to police. A 40 year old…

breaking news, Chicago, Crime, General Topics, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Rabbi & Comedian Barry Schechter & Aaron Friedman from the Bible Players of New York

December 5, 2018December 5, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Comedy night fundraiser for Veterans Dec. 24 Join Weinstein and Piser Funeral Home for a special comedy night “Is Comedy Dead” featuring Rabbi & Comedian Barry Schechter & Aaron Friedman from the Bible Players of New York Our 1st Annual Event: Why do Jews eat Chinese food on X-mas? It’s the only restaurant open. General Admission tickets $18.00; In advance or…

Baby Boomers, Briefs, Comedy, Editors Pick, Events, Features, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Bond set at $100,000 for Villa Park woman charged with Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse

December 5, 2018December 5, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Bond set at $100,000 for Villa Park woman charged with Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Mike Lay announced today that bond has been set for a Villa Park woman accused of sexually abusing two young boys age fourteen and sixteen. Stefanie Litton, 35 (d.o.b….

breaking news, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Four rescued in fire in Cicero late last night

December 5, 2018December 5, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Four rescued in fire in Cicero late last night Four residents including two children were rescued from a burning apartment building late on Tuesday night (Dec. 4, 2018) by the Town of Cicero Fire Department. A total of 18 people were displaced and assisted in finding emergency shelter. There were no injuries Cicero Firefighters extinguished…

breaking news, Fire, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Wallet Hub releases list of safest largest cities in America

December 3, 2018December 3, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Wallet Hub releases list of safest largest cities in America Illinois cities and suburbs barely make this year’s list, but among the safest are Aurora at 13 and Chicago at 133. The Wallet Hub study compares the largest cities in each state based on a range of criteria including number of law enforcement, assaults, hate…

Chicago, Crime, Features, General Topics, National, News, Police, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland, Travel

Illinois Tollway unveils unprecedented reform agenda

December 2, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Tollway unveils unprecedented reform agenda The Illinois Tollway Authority, a $1.4 billion government state agency, unveiled an unprecedented reform program to even the playing field and to brighten sunshine on the authority’s business actions. But instead of focusing on the news, the Arlington Heights Daily Herald and even Crains Chicago Business (are they even…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Editors Pick, General Topics, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Red Robin in Orland Park closed after Carbon Monoxide affects 24 customers

December 1, 2018December 1, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Red Robin in Orland Park closed after Carbon Monoxide affects 24 customers The Orland Fire Protection District treated 24 customers at the Red Robin Restaurant in Orland Park after they reported feeling sick on Friday Nov. 30, 2018. Four of the customers were taken to area hospitals after the OFPD determined that the cause was…

breaking news, Business, Editors Pick, General Topics, Health, News, Orland Park, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Suspect in Lyons killing arrested, bond court at 26th California tomorrow morning

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suspect in Lyons killing arrested, bond court at 26th California tomorrow morning Chicago Police working with the Lyons Police Department and investigators with the Major Case Assistance Task Force (MCAT) arrested Brian Cruz, a suspected charged with First Degree murder in the November 10 slaying of a Lyons resident Paresh Jhobalia. Chicago Police with information…

breaking news, Chicago, Crime, General Topics, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Traffic changes slated for Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

November 30, 2018March 17, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Traffic changes slated for Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) Traffic shifts are scheduled to begin in December for the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) between I-290 and York Road. Traffic scheduled to shift to prepare I-88 for winter, work ending on York Road Bridge over I-88 Work to move traffic into its winter configuration on the Reagan Memorial…

breaking news, Government, News, news release, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

School District 230 celebrates student achievements

November 30, 2018January 9, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

School District 230 celebrates student achievements Celebrating student success as they pursue their own paths! At the School Board meeting last night we honored a number of outstanding students for achieving excellence in their particular areas of interest. The variety of areas in which students are excelling is a testament to our passion to prepare students…

Education, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Daily Herald slams minorities and women in Tollway coverage

November 30, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Daily Herald slams minorities and women in Tollway coverage The Arlington Heights Daily Herald has been running a series of news reports that read more like opinion columns, slamming the Tollway Authority for changing its administrative staff, a change most people agree has been good. But do the attacks from the newspaper also have a tinge of…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, General Topics, Government, Media Bias, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Transportation

Crews Complete Restoration of ComEd Customers Affected by Blizzard

November 29, 2018November 29, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Crews Complete Restoration of ComEd Customers Affected by Blizzard ComEd prepared to answer this weekend’s winter weather Following Sunday’s severe snow and ice storm, which knocked out power to more than 340,000 customers across ComEd’s 11,000-square-mile service area, ComEd has now restored power to all customers initially impacted by the storm. In addition, crews will…

Chicago, Environment, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

New comedy club opens in Chicago’s Logan Square

November 29, 2018November 29, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

New comedy club opens in Chicago’s Logan Square On November 1st, 2018 Logan Square Improv opened its doors to the public. Logan Square Improv, or LSI, is the newest addition to the lineup of comedy theaters in Chicago, and the first of its kind in the Logan Square area. Co-founded by Chicago comedians, Andrew Lemna…

Briefs, Comedy, Entertainment, Features

Pekau calls out political criticism from Carroll over board issues

November 29, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pekau calls out political criticism from Carroll over board issues Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau asserts that critics are playing politics with issues at the Village Board meetings. Trustee Michael Carroll reportedly blamed Mayor Pekau for a poorly orchestrated anonymous robe-call that criticized the board for reversing its 2009 vote to ban gaming and approving up…

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