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

Cullerton urges Veterans to use free statewide legal hotline

November 29, 2017November 29, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cullerton urges Veterans to use free statewide legal hotline Tom Cullerton urges military veterans and service persons to take advantage of free statewide legal hotline VILLA PARK- To better serve Illinois heroes, the state has formed the first-ever statewide legal assistance hotline and coordinated network of legal support services for military personnel, veterans and their…

Government, News, Veterans

Two garage fires in Orland Park

November 25, 2017November 25, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Two garage fires in Orland Park Crews responded to 9-1-1 emergency call involving a report of a possible garage fire at the 9000 block of 147th Street in Orland Park on Friday night at 6:56pm (Nov 24, 2017). Upon arrival Orland Fire Protection District firefighters found two detached garages on fire with exposure to the adjacent…

breaking news, News, Photos

All you can eat Brazilian steak houses

November 25, 2017December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

All you can eat Brazilian steak houses One of my favorite restaurants is the Brazilian steakhouse where waiters serve the Churrascaria food selections on skewers one slice at a time with a huge salad bar in the background. Texas de Brazil is at the top of the list but I have enjoyed them all including…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, Opinion, Orland Park, Photos, rayhanania, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Arab Americans celebrate Thanksgiving

November 23, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Arab Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Remembering back to the 1960s when Arab Americans had hope for freedom and racism in America was focused elsewhere. Thanksgiving was a feast in Arab American homes in the 1960s and 1970s before politics, hatred, racism and Israeli violence created a refugee crisis By Ray Hanania Thanksgiving is a special holiday…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Features, food, Opinion, rayhanania

Remembering Mayor Washington this Thanksgiving

November 23, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Remembering Mayor Washington this Thanksgiving Mayor Harold Washington was one of the more affable of Chicago’s mayors. He had a great sense of humor and was driven by a desire to balance the imbalance in Chicago’s society, bringing all of the city’s races and ethnic groups together, treating them equally. It’s something we no longer…

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

Cicero officials, businesses and residents raise money for hurricane relief

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cicero officials, businesses and residents raise money for hurricane relief Cicero Town Dominick, Town of Cicero Board, and the Disaster Relief Committee members, expressed their gratitude to local businesses, schools, churches, and the residents of the Town of Cicero who supported the Puerto Rico and Mexico Disaster Relief Fundraiser Event that held November 17 and…

Government, News

Orland Fire District to recognize CERT Graduates Tuesday Nov. 28

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire District to recognize CERT Graduates Tuesday Nov. 28 A new class of community residents who are trained in basic emergency response procedures will be recognized by the Orland Fire Protection District at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, November 28. The graduates are everyday citizens who participate in the Fire District’s nationally recognized…

Editors Pick, Events, News, Orland Park, Photos

Orland Park police in action, nabbing a suspect at Mall

November 18, 2017March 17, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Park police in action, nabbing a suspect at Mall Aaron411u.com caught this on tape tonight as I was driving … Orland Police nab a suspect fleeing the Orland Park Mall today, at the circle drive on the north side of the mall Click here to view the video or use the widget below: The…

breaking news, Editors Pick, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Rauner’s bash-and-burn TV Ads slander Illinois

November 16, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Rauner’s bash-and-burn TV Ads slander Illinois Illinois Gov Bruce Rauner thinks his ads bashing House Speaker Michael J. Madigan are clever, tapping support from three neighboring Republican governors. But the Ads really symbolize Rauner’s own self-hatred of the state he leads By Ray Hanania Anyone with a lot of money can clog our TV viewing…

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

Illinois Congressman Foster opposes unfair GOP Tax plan

November 16, 2017November 16, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Congressman Foster opposes unfair GOP Tax plan Congressman Bill Foster (D-11 District Illinois) issued the following statement on passage of GOP Tax Plan I opposed the Republican tax plan because it will raise taxes on middle class families in Illinois, slash Medicare by 25 billion dollars next year, and pass on trillions of additional…

Government, News, Politics

Cicero Chaplain returns after volunteering to help residents in Puerto Rico

November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cicero Chaplain returns after volunteering to help residents in Puerto Rico Cicero Chaplain Ismail Vargas returned from a week long volunteer trip to Puerto Rico where he worked with communities there to help cleanup and restore properties for residents following the devastation caused by hurricane Maria. Cicero officials donated funds to help cover the costs…

National, News

Lincolnshire Republican Sukovic announces bid to run for 59th State Rep District

November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lincolnshire Republican Sukovic announces bid to run for 59th State Rep District Marko Sukovic, a Stevenson High School alum and graduating senior from the University of Illinois, has announced he is circulating petitions to run for state representative in Illinois’ 59th District. Sukovic has worked his way through college and has been a tireless…

elections, news release, Releases

Chicago releases its 2018 Special Events Schedule

November 15, 2017September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago releases its 2018 Special Events Schedule Year of Creative Youth January–December 2018 Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events have designated 2018 as the “Year of Creative Youth.” The $2 million investment by the City of Chicago will include a Creative Youth Festival across the Millennium Park Campus, performance…

Entertainment, Events, Festival, Government, News, restaurants

Tinley Park educates teens against drinking

November 15, 2017September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tinley Park educates teens against drinking Tinley Park Says It LOUDly and Proudly: “Know the NO”. Ambitious student & parents campaign aims to reduce incidence of underage drinking “Know the NO” is the theme of an ambitious year-long campaign aimed at students and parents in the Tinley Park community to reduce the incidence of underage drinking….

Education, General Topics, Health, News

New TV Sitcom “The Mayor” gives politics a funny edge

November 13, 2017November 13, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

New TV Sitcom “The Mayor” gives politics a funny edge Bernard David Jones brings his comedic acting chops – perfected during his time spent at CollegeHumor – to primetime TV in one of Fall TV’s new comedy series The Mayor (TUESDAYs (9:30|8:30c) on ABC). The new ABC comedy revolves around young rapper ‘Courtney Rose’ (Brandon Michael…

Books & Films, Comedy, Entertainment, Humor, News, Television

Christmas holidays shoved down our throats

November 9, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Christmas holidays shoved down our throats It’s not even three weeks till Thanksgiving and stores are already pushing and promoting Christmas. Don’t you think it’s just too soon? Maybe we should enjoy the Fall and also Thanksgiving before we start focusing on the Christmas holidays. By Ray Hanania You don’t have to be Christian to…

Blogger, Commentary, Festival, Opinion, rayhanania

Tulsi Gabbard video argues DNC rigged presidential primary, damaged Party

November 7, 2017November 7, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tulsi Gabbard video argues DNC rigged presidential primary, damaged Party Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) released a video last night again calling for major reform to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in response to an account written by Donna Brazile, the interim DNC chair who stepped in after Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was removed. Brazile’s account describes a rigged Democratic presidential nomination process. Earlier in the…

breaking news, Editors Pick, Government, National, News, Politics, Releases

Illinois Democrats push bill to combat sexual harassment

November 7, 2017November 7, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Democrats push bill to combat sexual harassment House Democrats Advance Measures to Combat Harassment, Commit to Continuing Effort to Change Culture As part of an ongoing effort to change the culture at the State Capitol and beyond, Speaker Michael J. Madigan and House Democrats are advancing a series of measures to further crack down…

breaking news, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland