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

Hastings introduces legislation to strengthen cannabis safety and prevent child access

January 28, 2026January 28, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hastings introduces legislation to strengthen cannabis safety and prevent child access State Senator Michael E. Hastings introduced Senate Bill 2866, legislation designed to strengthen safety requirements for cannabis products and reduce the risk of accidental ingestion by children. “While cannabis is legal for adult use in Illinois, we must continue to take responsible steps to…

Health, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire

Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 48 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor

January 27, 2026January 27, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 48 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 48 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Tercalo E. Thomas enticed, persuaded, and used a prepubescent minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct, which…

Crime, Federal, Law, News, U.S. Attorney

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Endorses Richard Boykin for 7th Congressional District Seat

January 27, 2026January 27, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Endorses Richard Boykin for 7th Congressional District Seat Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is throwing her support behind former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin in his quest to become the next US Congressman in the 7th District. In her video announcement, Pappas points out that Boykin was one of her…

Chicago, elections, Federal, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Dad and Sons Reunited After Painful Separation

January 23, 2026January 23, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dad and Sons Reunited After Painful Separation By Laura Reichel An unwed father from Illinois had been happily raising his two young sons. Though separated from their mother, he maintained regular, meaningful parenting time with his boys and was deeply involved in their daily lives. Unfortunately, dad’s parenting time wasn’t court-ordered, so it was entirely at…

Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News

Cicero Man Charged in Fatal Stabbing

January 21, 2026January 21, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cicero Man Charged in Fatal Stabbing A 54-year-old Cicero man is facing a murder charge in connection with the fatal stabbing of another man, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today. Just before 4 a.m. on Jan. 19, Cook County Sheriff’s Police responded to the 5000 block of South Luna Avenue in unincorporated Stickney…

Cook County, Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

City Paid Tens of Millions in Overtime to Potentially Ineligible Employees, OIG Finds

January 21, 2026January 21, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

City Paid Tens of Millions in Overtime to Potentially Ineligible Employees, OIG Finds The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published an advisory sent to the Department of Human Resources (DHR) and the Department of Finance (DOF) alerting them that from 2020 through 2024, the City paid $26.5 million in overtime to…

Chicago, Government, News, NewsWire, Releases

Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau

January 21, 2026January 21, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau for Releasing Confidential Village Information On January 20, 2026, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Caroline Kate Moreland denied former Mayor Keith Pekau’s motion to dissolve the existing Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), allowing the Village’s lawsuit…

Crime, Government, Law, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Park Village Board Approves First-of-Its-Kind Amazon Retail Store at 159th Street and LaGrange Road

January 20, 2026January 20, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Village Board Approves First-of-Its-Kind Amazon Retail Store at 159th Street and LaGrange Road Orland Park Village Board Approves First-of-Its-Kind Amazon Retail Store at 159th Street and LaGrange At its January 19, 2026 meeting, the Orland Park Village Board approved a first-of-its-kind Amazon retail store at the southwest corner of 159th Street and LaGrange…

Business, construction, Editors Pick, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Leving Law Firm Matrimonial Law Seminar: Maximizing Client Success through Follow-Up and More

January 20, 2026January 20, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Leving Law Firm Matrimonial Law Seminar: Maximizing Client Success through Follow-Up and More By Laura Reichel CHICAGO — The nationally acclaimed Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, Ltd. will host the next presentation of the Arthur S. Kallow Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar Series on January 21st at 6:30 p.m. CST at 225 W. Wacker…

Arthur Kallow, Arthur S. Kallow, Chicago, Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire

Women Employed Issues “Damage Report” on One-Year Anniversary of Second Trump Administration, Vows Continued Fight for Working Women and Families

January 20, 2026January 20, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Women Employed Issues “Damage Report” on One-Year Anniversary of Second Trump Administration, Vows Continued Fight for Working Women and Families On the one-year anniversary of the second Trump administration, Women Employed (WE) released a “Damage Report” detailing the administration’s “swift and unrelenting actions” that constitute “direct attacks on workers’ rights, women’s freedoms, and the fundamental…

Business, Employment, News, women

Congressional Candidate, Donna Miller, Receives Endorsement from Elect Democratic Women

January 20, 2026January 20, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Congressional Candidate, Donna Miller, Receives Endorsement from Elect Democratic Women Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, who is running to represent the 2nd Congressional District, is proud to receive the endorsement of Elect Democratic Women. This political action committee is made up of current members of Congress who know the leadership qualities needed to serve the…

elections, Federal, Health, News, news release, NewsWire, Politics

Want to go paperless? eBilling lets you receive tax bills via email

January 17, 2026January 17, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Want to go paperless? eBilling lets you receive tax bills via email Cook County property owners can sign up for eBilling for themselves or family members to receive property tax bills through their computers or smart phones instead of the mail. The eBilling option offers the convenience of allowing spouses to each receive copies of…

Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Open House at District Office

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Open House at District Office On Tuesday, January 13th, Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted an open house at his district office. The event attracted over 50 attendees from throughout the district and connected residents to government, health, and community services. Joining Commissioner Aguilar and his office were staff from the…

Cook County, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Ranking Member Markey Slams Trump’s Reckless Policies Making Life Unaffordable for Small Agricultural Businesses

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ranking Member Markey Slams Trump’s Reckless Policies Making Life Unaffordable for Small Agricultural Businesses Ranking Member of Congress Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) condemned Donald Trump’s attacks on rural communities and heard from Massachusetts witnesses about the importance of supporting small agricultural businesses at a Small Business Committee hearing titled “Growing the Small Business Agricultural Economy.”…

Economy, Federal, National, News

Baseless Order of Protection Vacated, Father and Daughter Reunited

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Baseless Order of Protection Vacated, Father and Daughter Reunited By Laura Reichel No father should ever need to fight against a baseless Order of Protection to be in his child’s life. Yet for one devoted father, that’s exactly what happened when the bond he cherished most with his daughter was suddenly torn away. Dad became…

Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Jeffery Leving, News, NewsWire, Radio

Congressional Candidate Niki Conforti Calls for Healthcare Reform After 17 Republicans Vote to Extend ACA Subsidies

January 13, 2026January 13, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Congressional Candidate Niki Conforti Calls for Healthcare Reform After 17 Republicans Vote to Extend ACA Subsidies As Americans watch their healthcare costs go up, it is imperative for Congress to find a meaningful and lasting solution to the nation’s healthcare crisis. Restoring subsidies for Obamacare is not a solution. It perpetuates a broken system that…

Federal, General Topics, Health, News, NewsWire, Politics

Candidate Harrell joins regional Pastors to demand “freeze and rollback” of Cook County Property Taxes

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Candidate Harrell joins regional Pastors to demand “freeze and rollback” of Cook County Property Taxes Chicago, IL – John Harrell, a candidate for the 8th Illinois House District, joined a coalition of Pastors, mostly from the region’s south and West Sides and representing minority and low-income communities to demand that Cook County officials and the Illinois…

Cook County, elections, John Harrell, News, NewsWire, Politics, Taxes

Candidate Ruzevich shows unprecedented momentum in campaign for Congress

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Candidate Ruzevich shows unprecedented momentum in campaign for Congress Joseph “Joey” Ruzevich shows an unprecedented level of momentum for a first-time candidate in the final months of 2025. Following the official launch of Joey’s campaign in October of 2025, expectations for a newcomer challenging an incumbent were low. However, an organic & insatiable desire for…

elections, Federal, Government, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland