Author: Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning 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

Welch bill aims to guarantee Need-Based Higher Education grants for four years

June 25, 2018June 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Welch bill aims to guarantee Need-Based Higher Education grants for four years To encourage more Illinois students to attend in-state colleges and universities, state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, was the chief sponsor of legislation that stabilizes Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants and makes it easier for students to receive the grant for all four…

Education, General Topics, Government, Illinois Legislature

Oak Lawn Library offers variety of summer programs

June 22, 2018June 22, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Oak Lawn Library offers variety of summer programs “Over There” Exhibit Now Open Oak Lawn Public Library Local History is hosting an exhibit from the National Archives, which includes numerous photographs and World War I artifacts, and tells the story of the American experience in Europe. The exhibit, entitled “Over There: Americas Abroad in World…

Events, Features, Suburban Chicagoland

National Weather Service issues severe flood warnings near Des Plaines River

June 21, 2018June 21, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

National Weather Service issues severe flood warnings near Des Plaines River Issued by the National Weather Service For Cook County, Illinois RIVER FLOOD WARNING FROM 5:17AM CDT FRI UNTIL 7AM CDT MON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING FOR THE DES PLAINES RIVER NEAR DES PLAINES. FROM LATE TONIGHT TO…

breaking news, Weather

Lilly, Harmon host district forum on budget and state legislation

June 21, 2018June 21, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lilly, Harmon host district forum on budget and state legislation State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, partnered with state Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, to discuss the balanced budget signed into law earlier this month and new bills passed during the spring legislative session at their end of session town hall last week. “This was…

Features, Government, Illinois Legislature, Suburban Chicagoland

Welch’s Law Aimed to Help Consumers Freeze their Credit and Prevent Identify Theft

June 20, 2018June 20, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Welch’s Law Aimed to Help Consumers Freeze their Credit and Prevent Identify Theft State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is highlighting a new law that protects consumers from data breaches and identity theft by making it easier for fraud victims to obtain a credit freeze. “Some 5 million Illinoisans found their personal information compromised following…

Government, Illinois Legislature

San Francisco Mint marks 50 years with special coin available July 23

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

San Francisco Mint marks 50 years with special coin available July 23 The United States Mint (Mint) will begin accepting orders for the 2018 San Francisco Mint Silver Reverse Proof Set (product code 18XC) on July 23 at noon EDT. The Mint is issuing this set to mark the 50th anniversary of proof coin production at…

Baby Boomers, Features, Government, National

New treasurer appointed to Lyons School District

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lyons Township Trustees of Schools Appoints New Treasurer On June 11, 2018, the Lyons Township School of Trustees appointed Kenneth T. Getty for the Lyons Township School Treasurer position beginning July 1, 2018. The Lyons Township Trustees of Schools have been recruiting and interviewing for the position since Dr. Susan Birkenmaier announced her resignation, effective…

Education, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Bremen High School Dist. 228 Students Take Gold at Illinois Special Olympics

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Bremen High School Dist. 228 Students Take Gold at Illinois Special Olympics Eight Bremen High School District 228 students competed in the Illinois Special Olympics at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal this past weekend. Bremen High School District 228 students took home four gold medals, four silver medals, and one sixth-place finish. Students participated in…

Education, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Former Federal Prosecutor to lead independent probe of legislator conduct

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Former Federal Prosecutor to lead independent probe of legislator conduct Former Federal Prosecutor and Executive Inspector General Maggie Hickey to Lead Independent Investigation of the Illinois House of Representatives and charges of workpalce harassment and legislative conduct House Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced today that Maggie Hickey, a former federal prosecutor and former inspector general for…

Government, Illinois Legislature, Politics

Children under 18 can get free meals through state program

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Children under 18 can get free meals through state program The Illinois State Board of Education promotes the “Summer Food Service Program” (SFSP) to provide healthy meals and snacks to Children. Families can find sites by texting “Foodil” to 877-877 The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) will provide healthy meals and snacks this summer to…

Education, Illinois Legislature, News

Amtrak offers lactation suites for nursing mothers

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Amtrak offers lactation suites for nursing mothers Amtrak Opens Mamava Lactation Suite at Chicago Union Station; New option for moms at Midwest’s busiest rail hub Amtrak is proud to introduce a lactation suite to accommodate nursing mothers at its Chicago Union Station on Monday, June 18. This is one of five major Amtrak stations to have…

General Topics, National, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation, Travel

Alert neighbor reports fire in neighbor’s garage saving home

June 16, 2018June 16, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Alert neighbor reports fire in neighbor’s garage saving home An alert neighbor called 911 to report smoke and fire outside a neighbor’s home on Jillian Road in Orland Park on Friday (June 15, 2018) evening. The neighbor called 911 at 6 pm reporting seeing smoke and a small fire outside the neighbor’s house. The Orland…

Fire, General Topics, News, Orland Park, Photos

Quad Cities plans fireworks and celebrations for this year’s 4th of July

June 16, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Quad Cities plans fireworks and celebrations for this year’s 4th of July Quad Cities – It’s going to be a Red, White, and Blue long weekend in the Quad Cities. There is a plethora of activities to put you in the patriotic mood. Celebrate America’s birthday on the Mississippi riverfront Tuesday, July 3, 2018, during…

Events, Features, Festival

Beauty pageants without swimsuits, weather without beautiful women

June 15, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Beauty pageants without swimsuits, weather without beautiful women Beauty pageants are just that, about beauty. It doesn’t mean other people are ugly. It means that there are some who are more beautiful. The others only become ugly when we stigmatize the beautiful as being “obscene” and we start to implement politically correct ideas to make…

Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, General Topics, Opinion, rayhanania, Television, women

Lipinski hosts 3 events, Town Hall Meeting, Veterans Fair and Senior Fairs

June 15, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lipinski hosts 3 events, Town Hall Meeting, Veterans Fair and Senior Fairs Over the next few weeks, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting, a Veterans Fair, and two Senior Fairs in the Third Congressional District. At the Town Hall Meeting, area residents will be able to hear from Rep. Lipinski…

Government, News, Politics

UAW volunteers help Sauk Village President overcome barriers

June 15, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

UAW volunteers help Sauk Village President overcome barriers The United Auto Works Ford Community Service Ramp Building Team and Bloom Township Disabled Services joined forces in Sauk Village at the home of Susan and Gerald Cook to build an access ramp for Gerald. Gerald Cook suffered a brain aneurysm which left him wheelchair bound. Prior…

Features, Government, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Highspeed rail association questions Chicago-O’Hare transit plans

June 14, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Highspeed rail association questions Chicago-O’Hare transit plans The Midwest High Speed Rail Association issue the following statement regarding Chicago plans to build a high speed rail connecting Chicago’s Loop with O’Hare Airport: Today, the City of Chicago announced that it has chosen Elon Musk’s Boring Company to construct and maintain an express link between downtown…

Business, Chicago, Government, News, news release, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation, Travel

$17 million invested in Sauk Village announced

June 14, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

$17 million invested in Sauk Village announced Mayor Derrick Burgess is very pleased to hear that SET Enterprises in Sauk Village announced that they will be the very first in North America to have a Laser blanking line. SET provides stamped parts for Ford Motor Company and has been in business in Sauk Village for…

Business, news release, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland