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

School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees

October 2, 2024October 2, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees Students from across Consolidated High School 230 are adding their voices to Board of Education committee meetings. Specifically, three students from each school have been selected to serve on each of the three Board of Education Committees – Education, Student Support & Development, and Building…

Education, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns

October 1, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns Mayor Keith Pekau used his eNewsletter to defend School District 230 President Lynn Zeder who attacked a school colleague for raising concerns about the impact Pekau’s 3 new TIFs will have on schools and property taxes By Ray Hanania Mayor…

Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way

September 29, 2024December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way By Ray Hanania Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, 14651 S La Grange Road, has a fantastic menu with a great tasting Korean Chinese fusion food menu. But it goes one step further offering a fun way to enjoy it allowing…

Blogger, Commentary, Features, food, Orland Park, rayhanania, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

Dad wins in court to protect daughter from dangerous household

September 28, 2024September 28, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Dad wins in court to protect daughter from dangerous household By Laura Reichel One of the most important responsibilities a father has is protecting his children. It’s a powerful instinct. This week’s victory involves a father who took this responsibility very seriously when he and his daughter were presented with severe adversity. Chicago matrimonial attorney…

Jeffery Leving, Law, News

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board

September 27, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board Opinion: District 230 President Lynn Zeder was aware of plans involving three TIF districts that will siphon hundreds of millions in property taxes from the district’s three high schools, but she has been publicly silent about it. Instead of addressing these TIFs, which…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Inherit the Wind performance extended through Oct. 20 at The Goodman Theatre

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Inherit the Wind performance extended through Oct. 20 at The Goodman Theatre It’s Opening Night and the verdict from Chicago audience is in: Inherit the Wind extended through Oct. 20 The jury of its peers finds Inherit the Wind at Goodman Theatre worthy of a one-week extension, adding six more performances of Henry Godinez’s major revival of Jerome Lawrence and Robert…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, News, NewsWire, Theater

Conforti Calls Out Congressman Sean Casten for Standing Against Women, Repeatedly

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Conforti calls out Casten for standing against women, repeatedly Sean Casten votes NO on law to deport illegal aliens who engage in sex offense, especially against women, Casten regularly votes against women, putting them in harm’s way, candidate rival Niki Conforti alleges This week, Congressman Sean Casten voted ‘No’ on H.R. 7909, the “Violence Against…

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

District 230 Board of Education appoints new member

September 20, 2024September 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

District 230 Board of Education appoints new member The Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education appointed Orland Park resident Chris Kasmer to serve out a vacant term of office until April 2025. Kasmer serves as president of Carpenters Local 1027 and is in his 14th year as a trustee to the Chicago Transit…

Education, News, NewsWire, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Bridgeview police arrest suspect in 2023 and 2024 Jewelry store heists

September 20, 2024September 20, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Bridgeview police arrest suspect in 2023 and 2024 Jewelry store heists On July 13 2023, the Jawahir Jewelry store (8454 S. Harlem ) was the victim of an armed robbery. On January 09 2024, the Jerusalem Jewelry store (9070 S. Harlem) was also robbed. Both of these store suffered substantial losses. Both of these occurrences…

Crime, Government, Law, News, NewsWire, Police, Releases

Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party

September 20, 2024September 20, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party By Maria Pappas Some Cook County homeowners are bombarded with ads and solicitations from vendors offering help to obtain refunds on their property taxes. My office has about $93 million available in potential refunds for property tax overpayments…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Leving Firm Matrimonial Law Seminar: Utilizing practice management software

September 18, 2024September 18, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Leving Firm Matrimonial Law Seminar: Utilizing practice management software The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. will host the next presentation of the Arthur S. Kallow Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar Series on September 19th at 6:30 p.m. CDT at 19 S. LaSalle St. in Chicago. Experienced matrimonial Managing Attorney Jeffrey Paustian will be the…

Jeffery Leving, Law, News

Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park

September 16, 2024September 16, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park On June 6, 2024, the Orland Park Police Department responded to a call of an aggravated vehicular hijacking at the Mercedes-Benz of Orland located at 8430 W. 159th St. The victim, a vehicle transporter, was preparing to load a black 2021 Mercedes-Benz onto…

Cook County, Crime, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Judge grants struggling father relief from ‘unconscionable’ pre-nuptial agreement

September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Judge grants struggling father relief from ‘unconscionable’ pre-nuptial agreement By: Laura Reichel Prenuptial agreements are meant to lay out how individuals entering a marriage will divide their assets in case of divorce. While the main goal is to protect an individual’s assets in case of divorce, there are times when they are used to take…

Jeffery Leving, Law, News

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities By Maria Pappas State lawmakers have made it easier for people with disabilities to continue receiving property tax relief on an annual basis. Cook County homeowners who receive the Persons with Disabilities Exemption no longer have to reapply for the benefit every year….

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

September 4, 2024April 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers By Ray Hanania 09-04-24 The dangers of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s secretive TIF district proposals I am not surprised Orland Park Trustee Cindy Katsenes, a local realtor with Village Realty, attacked me personally at the Village Board…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations

September 4, 2024September 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations The Orland Fire Protection District will host its annual Open House on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 11 AM until 2 PM featuring live demonstrations in fighting fires and engaging in life-saving rescues. The Open House is one of…

Cook County, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

New school year challenges also provide a chance for parents and children to start fresh

September 4, 2024September 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

New school year challenges also provide a chance for parents and children to start fresh By Jeffery M. Leving SM The start of the new school year comes with anxiety for too many parents and children, so it’s essential to take preemptive action to address the things that cause stress and seize opportunities. Like the…

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted By Ray Hanania Former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody had a bad habit of lying about how he would act on controversial policies from the prevailing wage to the one-cent per-ounce tax on soda pop. Published in The…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes