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

Tollway contracts $83 million for professional engineering and road construction for December

December 21, 2018January 6, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tollway contracts $83 million for professional engineering and road construction for December Illinois Tollway awards more than $83 million in contracts for construction and professional engineering services in December. Nearly $6.3 billion invested since start of Move Illinois Program The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors today approved five construction contracts and three professional engineering service contracts…

Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Have we lost our family focus this holiday season?

December 21, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Have we lost our family focus this holiday season? Christmas isn’t about family any more. It’s about commerce, money and spending. And that’s too bad. It’s a holiday season that should be enjoyed by families with a focus on families, not on spending money By Ray Hanania Next week will be Christmas and I bet…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Festival, Opinion, rayhanania, Religion

Kevin Hart and the real problem with the Oscars

December 21, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kevin Hart and the real problem with the Oscars Comedian Kevin Hart made a comedy joke that lampooned Gays and he was quickly tossed from hosting this year’s Oscars. But the real controversy is the Oscars. Are they even relevant anymore? By Ray Hanania I wish the Oscars reacted to complaints as fast and as…

Blogger, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Illinois Tollway Authority passes balanced budget

December 20, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Tollway Authority passes balanced budget The Illinois Tollway Authority, which has come under attack by the Daily Herald, has done what many public agencies continue to fail to do and that is to live within their spending approving a balanced budget for the coming year. Despite this, critics continue to play politics and attack…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Media Bias, Opinion, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Sandoval, Schillerstrom, Gorman announce new jobs coming to Illinois

December 19, 2018January 6, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sandoval, Schillerstrom, Gorman announce new jobs coming to Illinois Access to training, apprenticeships and careers within skilled construction trades offered through the Tollway’s new ConstructionWorks program Earlier this week, Senator Sandoval was joined by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Representative Marcus Evans, Illinois Tollway Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and Executive Director Liz Gorman to…

Briefs, Business, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Tax Raisers ready for massive Gas Tax increase

December 19, 2018January 6, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tax Raisers ready for massive Gas Tax increase In an urgent press conference at the Illinois State building the Illinois Representatives Allen Skillicorn (R) and Jeanne Ives (R) warned of an impending fuel tax hike. According to Representative Skillicorn, “There is a horrible rumor going around Springfield. Actually this is the worst kept secret in…

breaking news, Chicago, Government, News, Taxes

Desperate news media turns to scams to profit

December 18, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Desperate news media turns to scams to profit Newspaper circulations are way down and TV audience numbers are even lower and dropping. The mainstream news media, which in the course of the past two years has transformed itself from a professional Fourth Estate to a Third Political Party, is facing a money crunch. So the…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Business, Commentary, General Topics, Media Bias, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Technology

Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil

December 18, 2018March 30, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil Protestors have been disrupting meetings of the Palos Township board for nearly 18 months as a part of a political strategy devised by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to undermine her anti-tax critics led by County Commissioner Sean Morrison. They are targeting Sharon Brannigan out of…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Features, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

Tollway launches Construction Works program in Northern Illinois

December 17, 2018December 17, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tollway launches Construction Works program in Northern Illinois Access to training, apprenticeships and careers within skilled construction trades offered through the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Joined by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, state transportation leaders Sen. Martin Sandoval and Rep. Marcus Evans, Illinois Tollway Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and Executive Director Liz Gorman announced today…

Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Suburban Chicagoland & The Future News newspaper advertisers

December 16, 2018January 15, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suburban Chicagoland & The Future News newspaper advertisers Your Advertisement will appear on ALL EXISTING WEB PAGES Past, present and future pages during the life of your ad campaign. That’s Significant! * * * * * * * * TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT OUR ADVERTISING AGENT FUTURE NEWS NEWS MEDIA BY CLICKING HERE Suburban Chicagoland News…

News

Second slate enters race for Orland Park Trustees

December 14, 2018December 14, 2018 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

People Over Politics Party announces Orland Park trustee slate, led by activists Cindy Katsenes and local author Bill Healy

elections, Government, News, news release, Orland Park, Politics

Gun Violence Deaths Reach Record Highs in 2017

December 14, 2018December 14, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Gun Violence Deaths Reach Record Highs in 2017 Congresswoman Robin Kelly, a Democrat, blames President Trump and lack of tougher gun control on the rising violence in Chicago and the suburbs, not on street gangs, criminals or failed policies of local officials like Mayor Rahm Emanuel Congresswoman Robin Kelly, vice chair of the House Gun…

Crime, Government, News, Police, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Illinois Tollway adds bad weather driving alerts to Twitter Feed

December 14, 2018December 14, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Tollway adds bad weather driving alerts to Twitter Feed The Illinois Tollway has added inclement weather driving condition alerts to their real-time Twitter feed to help drivers keep up with changing weather conditions. Tollway tweets now offer pavement conditions along with accident, lane closure and incident reports The Illinois Tollway now is using Twitter to…

News, Transportation

Bridgeview Police searching for suspect in Hann Funeral Home shooting

December 13, 2018December 13, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Bridgeview Police searching for suspect in Hann Funeral Home shooting A man attending a funeral in Bridgeview was shot on Wednesday night (Dec. 12, 2018) during a brawl that took place among members of rival street gangs. other he injured man and the shooter are at large. Polic ear asking for the public’s help to…

breaking news, Crime, News, Suburban Chicagoland

RTA approves $3.1 Billion 2019 Budget and $4.3 Billion Capital Program

December 13, 2018December 13, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

RTA approves $3.1 Billion 2019 Budget and $4.3 Billion Capital Program RTA Board Approves $3.1 Billion 2019 Regional Transit Operating Budget and $4.3 Billion 2019-2023 Regional Capital Program The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors today adopted the 2019 operating budgets for the RTA, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace Suburban Bus and…

General Topics, Government, News, news release, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

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