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

Adult entertainment growing with women, Pornhub says

February 23, 2018February 23, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Adult entertainment growing with women, Pornhub says Pornhub announces new ‘Popular with Women’ category featuring Videos women most often watch and favorite. As the number of women enjoying Adult Content increases, leading Adult Entertainment Platform unveils specific category that automatically curates content growing specific interests Demographics Pornhub, the premiere online destination for adult entertainment, today announced the official launch of…

Entertainment, Features, News, Videos

Liz Gorman named as new Illinois Tollway director

February 22, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Liz Gorman named as new Illinois Tollway director Former Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman was appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner Thursday (Feb. 22, 2018) as the new executive director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA), replacing Greg Bedalov who Rauner appointed in 2015. Bedalov will move to the Illinois Sports Facility…

breaking news, Government, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Car fire at Orland Park Mall damages nearby vehicles

February 22, 2018February 24, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Car fire at Orland Park Mall damages nearby vehicles A vehicle fire at Orland Square Mall caused damage to three other vehicles Wednesday night, Feb. 21, 2018. Orland Firefighters were called to the Orland Square Mall to the lower-level Sears parking lot at about 8:30 pm following a report of a vehicle on fire. Firefighters…

Crime, Fire, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Remembering Billy Graham and Christian Arabs

February 21, 2018December 25, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Remembering Billy Graham and Christian Arabs The Rev. William “Billy” Franklin Graham Jr. died this week at the age of 99. During his life, Graham once held the Palestinian Christians of Bethlehem in the highest esteem. And when my mother passed through one of his evangelical conventions one day, Graham held her hand high up…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Editors Pick, Opinion, Racism, rayhanania, Religion

Fioretti reaches out to suburban voters

February 20, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Fioretti reaches out to suburban voters Bob Fioretti, candidate for Cook County Board president, will hold a fundraiser and meet-and-greet with residents of the suburbs on Tuesday Feb. 27, 2018. The reception will be held from 7 pm until 9 pm at the Brookfield Ale House 8900 Fairview in Brookfield, Illinois. Fioretti was an outspoken…

elections, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Green Party blasts County Clerk David Orr for impeding Water Reclamation District election

February 20, 2018 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Green Party blasts County Clerk David Orr for impeding Water Reclamation District election COOK COUNTY’S SECRET PRIMARY ELECTION There’s an office on March 20th ballots with no candidates listed—and election authorities aren’t trying to inform anyone about it. [Correction: This release was distributed by the Illinois Green Party not the Illinois GOP Republican Party. It lacked…

elections, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

League of Women Voters hosts 4th Congressional Dist forum Feb. 26

February 20, 2018April 13, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

League of Women Voters hosts 4th Congressional Dist forum Feb. 26 The League of Women Voters will host a forum for voters in the Illinois 4th Congressional District Candidate featuring candidates in the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary election. All three candidates have been invited and two have so far confirmed, Richard Gonzalez and Sol Flores….

elections, Events, Government, News

Goodman Theater features Henrik Ibsen’s play, “An Enemy of the People”

February 19, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theater features Henrik Ibsen’s play, “An Enemy of the People” ROBERT FALLS DIRECTS A NEW ADAPTATION OF AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, HENRIK IBSEN’S TIMELESS MASTERPIECE, APPEARING MARCH 10 – APRIL 15 AT GOODMAN THEATRE ***PHILIP EARL JOHNSON AND SCOTT JAECK LEAD THE 14-MEMBER CAST ALONG WITH CHICAGO FAVORITES DAVID DARLOW, ALLEN GILMORE, LARRY NEUMANN, JR.,…

Entertainment, News, Theater

No injuries in fire that caused major damage to Red Robin in Orland Park

February 18, 2018February 23, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

No injuries in fire that caused major damage to Red Robin in Orland Park The Orland Fire Protection District responded to an automatic fire alarm at the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers restaurant at 15503 South La Grange Road in Orland Park on Saturday at approximately 4:30 pm. Advance information from witnesses reported a blazing roof…

breaking news, Business, Fire, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Snow isn’t only thing making the week rough

February 17, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Snow isn’t only thing making the week rough Chicagoland was slammed by a few days of compressed heavy snowfall. But clearing the nearly 18 inches of snow wasn’t the only problem we had. Politics in Illinois has made the experience even worse. Maybe we should have a GroundHog that predicts whether we will have good…

Blogger, Books & Films, Commentary, elections, Government, Media Bias, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, women

Lipinski-Newman Congressional fight has nation’s attention

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

Lipinski-Newman Congressional fight has nation’s attention Six term Congressman Dan Lipinski is no stranger to controversy. Appointed to succeed his father Bill, Dan Lipinski has faced criticism from Day One. He’s no media darling and his conservative Democratic beliefs often pit him against more liberal and “progressive” colleagues. This year’s election challenge from Marie Newman…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Where had the Willis Tower Globe gone?

February 14, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Where had the Willis Tower Globe gone? Christopher Glass & Aluminum, Inc. – Elmhurst, IL. is the new home of the iconic Willis Tower Globe. Company relocates to west Suburbs with the iconic globe sculpture. Acclaimed Chicagoland full-service glass, glazing, aluminum, architectural metals, custom steel and service company, Christopher Glass & Aluminum, Inc. (CGA), is…

Business, Chicago, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Lisa Hernandez fundraiser March 7

February 14, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lisa Hernandez fundraiser March 7 I’m locked in the primary battle of my political career. My opponent is spreading lies like a running faucet. Years of hard work for our community is under threat of being wiped out for good. We must take a stand and speak up for the residents of the 24th District….

Chicago, elections, Events, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Cloverfield “franchise” destroys a great original theme

February 14, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cloverfield “franchise” destroys a great original theme Some one should explain to J.J. Abrams that it isn’t enough to just put a word in a movie title to create a franchise that will excite the public. I loved the 2008 movie “Cloverfield.” But the two films int he so-called “Cloverfield franchise” don’t even come close…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, General Topics, Movies, Opinion, rayhanania, Television

Suburban Chicago event brings national experts on Russian influence, Washington ethics, media future

February 13, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suburban Chicago event brings national experts on Russian influence, Washington ethics, media future Unify Our Voices, a year-old grass-roots Chicago-area group, is sponsoring a 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 event featuring nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations dedicated to protecting American democracy by bolstering the government’s adherence to ethics, analyzing Russian influence in our country, and promoting an…

Events, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Town of Cicero honored for Financial Excellence, 7th year

February 13, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Town of Cicero honored for Financial Excellence, 7th Year On January 19th, 2018 the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) announced that a panel of independent reviewers has completed its examination of the Town’s Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) and has awarded the Town with the GFOA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting…

Business, Editors Pick, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Illinois Prisons accused of censoring prisoner news

February 13, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Prisons accused of censoring prisoner news Newsletter Publisher Files Censorship Suit Against Illinois Dept. of Corrections (IDOC). Prisoners denied newsletter providing vital legal information The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC), a non-profit organization based in Lake Worth, Florida, will file a federal lawsuit Tuesday (Feb. 13, 2018) against the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) that alleges…

Crime, News

Madigan dismisses aide accused of sexual harassment

February 12, 2018September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Madigan dismisses aide accused of sexual harassment By Ray Hanania [UPDATED Tuesday Feb. 13, 2018] Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced the dismissal of a longtime aide after charges he “made unwanted advances” and sent a woman “inappropriate text messages.” Madigan praised the woman for speaking out and instructed his attorney to “conduct a…

Chicago, Government, News, Politics