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

Five Defendants Charged in Federal Investigation Targeting Fentanyl Sales in Chicago

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Five Defendants Charged in Federal Investigation Targeting Fentanyl Sales in Chicago

Five Defendants Charged in Federal Investigation Targeting Fentanyl Sales in Chicago A federal investigation into fentanyl sales in Chicago has resulted in drug or firearm charges against five individuals. An indictment unsealed this week in federal court in Chicago accuses four of the defendants of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in the city…

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Crime, News

Southland manufacturer receives state funding thanks to Hastings

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Southland manufacturer receives state funding thanks to Hastings

Southland manufacturer receives state funding thanks to Hastings State Senator Michael E. Hastings announced an Oak Forest manufacturer has been selected to participate in and receive state funding through the Made in Illinois Grant Program. “To keep up with big business, small-scale local manufacturers need support to help them thrive and achieve their goals,” said…

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Business, Frankfort, Government, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago Man Faces Felony after $400,000 in Stolen Merchandise Recovered

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Chicago Man Faces Felony after $400,000 in Stolen Merchandise Recovered

Chicago Man Faces Felony after $400,000 in Stolen Merchandise Recovered A 57-year-old Chicago man is facing a Class 1 Felony Theft charge after the Sheriff’s Police Organized Retail Crime Unit recovered approximately $400,000 in stolen fitness equipment and other goods taken during area cargo thefts, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Wednesday, June 11,…

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Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Law, News, NewsWire, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Podcast: Musk vs Trump and the impact of media distortion on news

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Podcast: Musk vs Trump and the impact of media distortion on news

Podcast: Musk vs Trump and the impact of media distortion on news Veteran political journalists and media analysts Thom Serafin and Ray Hanania discuss a wide range of issues on The Crisis Cast podcast including the rift between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, the transformation of newsmedia news reporting from objectivity to “perspective news,”…

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Commentary, Media Bias, National, News, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, Racism, rayhanania

Suburban Chicago Physician Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud

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Suburban Chicago Physician Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud

Suburban Chicago Physician Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud A suburban Chicago physician has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent and unnecessary services. Mona Ghosh owned and operated Progressive Women’s Healthcare, S.C., a medical office in Hoffman Estates, Ill., specializing…

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Crime, Federal, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Congresswoman and Illinois native Lucy McBath endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate during Gun Violence Prevention Month

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Congresswoman and Illinois native Lucy McBath endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate during Gun Violence Prevention Month

Congresswoman and Illinois native Lucy McBath endorse Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate during Gun Violence Prevention Month Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA) today announced her endorsement of Robin Kelly for U.S. Senate. Both gun violence prevention champions, McBath and Kelly have led the nation in enacting common sense gun safety measures, standing up to the gun…

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Crime, National, News, Politics

Orland Fire participates in Village Touch a Truck event June 12

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Orland Fire participates in Village Touch a Truck event June 12

Orland Fire participates in Village Touch a Truck event June 12 The Orland Fire Protection District will participate with the Village of Orland Park for their “Food Trucks & Touch a Truck” night to be held on Thursday, July 12, 2025. Children and families will be able to enjoy food at the event and also…

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Festival, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Southwest Regional Publishing wins top General Excellence award for nondaily newspapers

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Southwest Regional Publishing wins top General Excellence award for nondaily newspapers

Southwest Regional Publishing wins top General Excellence award for nondaily newspapers Southwest Regional Publishing earned first place for General Excellence among nondaily newspapers in its circulation class, the Illinois Press Association announced last week. Judges praised The Regional News for “excellent community coverage through a plethora of stories, photo stories of events and sports, as…

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Chicago, journalism, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Opinion: Edgar County Watchdogs continue to exaggerate and lie for political pals

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Opinion: Edgar County Watchdogs continue to exaggerate and lie for political pals

Opinion: Edgar County Watchdogs continue to exaggerate and lie for political pals The so-called “newspaper” the “Edgar County Watchdogs” (Illinois Leaks) continue to publish misleading and distorted information pimping for their political pals and cronies to attack anyone they disagree with. The website can’t get its facts right, and it twists and distorts FOIA information…

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Blogger, Commentary, Opinion, Orland Fire Protection District, Politics

Federal Jury in Chicago convicts man of robbing bank in Lake County, Ill.

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Federal Jury in Chicago convicts man of robbing bank in Lake County, Ill.

Federal Jury in Chicago convicts man of robbing bank in Lake County, Ill. Francisco Martinez entered a First Midwest Bank branch in Round Lake, Ill., on Dec. 20, 2021, and handed the teller a folded piece of paper that read, “40k, 30 seconds, no tricks, go now.”  Martinez then raised his shirt, showing what appeared…

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Crime, Federal, Law, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Fire Protection District hosts Open House June 28

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Orland Fire Protection District hosts Open House June 28

Orland Fire Protection District hosts Open House June 28 The Orland Fire Protection District will host its annual Open House on Saturday, June 28, beginning at 11 am at the Fire District Training Center, 10728 W 163rd St, Orland Park. The event features live demonstrations of situations firefighters often face, from fighting fires to rescues…

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Education, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park

Gay Community endorses Robin Kelly for the U.S. Senate

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Gay Community endorses Robin Kelly for the U.S. Senate

Gay Community endorses Robin Kelly for the U.S. Senate Nearly 70 leaders in the state’s LGBTQIA+ community today announced their endorsement of Robin Kelly for United States Senate. A champion of the LGBTQIA+ community, Kelly is committed to advancing legislation in Congress that ensures all Illinoisans receive the same rights no matter who they are…

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Civil Rights, elections, Federal, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

Level Up your Reading Game with the Oak Lawn Public Library

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Level Up your Reading Game with the Oak Lawn Public Library

Level Up your Reading Game with the Oak Lawn Public Library The Oak Lawn Public Library began its youth and adult summer reading programs on Sunday, June 1 under iRead’s “Level Up at Your Library” theme. Patrons can sign up at olpl.beanstack.org to earn prizes by logging their reading through Friday, August 1 and partake…

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Education, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Subject Arrested in Connection with Fatal Orland Park Traffic Crash

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Subject Arrested in Connection with Fatal Orland Park Traffic Crash

Subject Arrested in Connection with Fatal Orland Park Traffic Crash The Orland Park Police Department Thursday, June 5, 2025, announced the arrest of Robert Barajar of Tinley Park in connection with the fatal collision that occurred in the early morning hours of May 31, 2025, at 15900 S. Harlem Avenue, Orland Park. At approximately 3:13…

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Crime, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Police, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Dad’s victory protected son’s academic future

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Dad’s victory protected son’s academic future By Laura Reichel A concerned father found himself in a stressful situation after he discovered that his ex didn’t enroll their son back in school. Worried about his son’s future, dad called the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. for help. They fought for dad and his son…

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

Cook County’s Annual Tax Sale to be Postponed for Seven Months

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Cook County’s Annual Tax Sale to be Postponed for Seven Months

Cook County’s Annual Tax Sale to be Postponed for Seven Months Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas plans to postpone the Annual Tax Sale for seven months, during which time she hopes to work with legislators on comprehensive property tax foreclosure reform measures. At Pappas’s urging, the Illinois General Assembly last week passed legislation that allows…

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Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez blindly defends Israel at expense of truth

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Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez blindly defends Israel at expense of truth

Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez blindly defends Israel at expense of truth Once a champion of the victims of racism, defending Arab American and Muslim store owners against the discriminatory policies of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez has since flipped, replacing morality with political exploitation, blindly defending Israel’s government violence in Gaza to…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania

Roseland Ceasefire Holds First Fundraiser to Kickoff National Anti-Violence Prevention Month

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Roseland Ceasefire Holds First Fundraiser to Kickoff National Anti-Violence Prevention Month

Roseland Ceasefire Holds First Fundraiser to Kickoff National Anti-Violence Prevention Month Even though this weekend saw the murder of one person and 15 others wounded, gun violence is down overall. Just last week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was touting the good news this year’s Memorial Day weekend saw in gun violence reduction. According to Chicago…

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Chicago, Crime, Culture, News, Police, Racism