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

Orland Park Police Department Announces “Click it or Ticket” Campaign

May 15, 2024May 15, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Park Police Department Announces “Click it or Ticket” Campaign The Orland Park Police Department is stepping up enforcement for the Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” campaign running now through Memorial Day weekend. “Click It or Ticket” leverages education and enforcement to save lives. Officers will be in marked and unmarked police cars enforcing…

Crime, Law, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Kennedy files lawsuit against Meta Facebook for election interference

May 14, 2024May 14, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kennedy files lawsuit against Meta Facebook for election interference Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.and American Values 2024 (AV24), a political action committee supporting Kennedy’s candidacy, today filed a First Amendment and election interference lawsuit against Meta after a biographical film, “Who Is Bobby Kennedy?”, was censored on Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit was…

Civil Rights, elections, Law, News, Politics

Ziyad Brand partners with SimSim to offer authentic Middle Eastern Recipes through App

May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ziyad Brand partners with SimSim to offer authentic Middle Eastern Recipes through App SimSim Middle Eastern App brings authentic, delicious recipes at your fingertips, and walks you through creating them with ease and great taste using Ziyad recipes as a resource. Downloadable from any App store Cicero, IL. — Ziyad Brand is partnering with the popular…

Business, Culture, food, Health, National, News, news release, NewsWire, Recipes, Travel

Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront

May 7, 2024May 7, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau just can’t be honest. Last week, I revealed that the Village removed the sign for the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall from the front of the building. Fred Owens was a beloved mayor who helped…

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

Meta Censors ‘Who Is Bobby Kennedy?’ Film, Social Media Giant Accused of Election Interference

May 7, 2024May 7, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Meta Censors ‘Who Is Bobby Kennedy?’ Film, Social Media Giant Accused of Election Interference A PAC supporting Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released on Saturday a 30-minute biographical film about the life of RFK Jr., his environmental activism, and why he’s running for President. “Who Is Bobby Kennedy?”, narrated by Woody Harrelson, has…

Books & Films, censorship, elections, Media Bias, News, Politics, Racism, Technology, Television

Senior freeze exemptions help prevent huge spikes in property tax bills

May 6, 2024May 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senior freeze exemptions help prevent huge spikes in property tax bills By Maria Pappas Many senior citizens on fixed incomes face the challenge of managing their property taxes. They may be eligible for a tax break known as the “Senior Freeze” Exemption. My website, cookcountytreasurer.com, explains the eligibility requirements and can walk you through the…

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

Senator Bernie Sanders to seek re-election to U.S. Senate

May 6, 2024May 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senator Bernie Sanders to seek re-election to U.S. Senate Senator Bernie Sanders announced Monday May 6, 2024 in Vermont that he will seek a fourth term to the U.S. Senate. His time in the Senate, along with his previous 16 years in the House of Representatives, makes him the longest-serving independent Member of Congress in…

elections, National, News, Politics

Desperate Democrats seeking to deny America voters presidential choice to block RFK Jr candidacy

May 6, 2024May 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Desperate Democrats seeking to deny America voters presidential choice to block RFK Jr candidacy Democratic National Committee invents new rule in attempt to invalidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nevada signatures one day before his Vice presidential announcement Just one week after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he had collected all of the signatures needed to get…

elections, National, News, Politics

Owens family questions removal of name from Village Administration Building

May 2, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Owens family questions removal of name from Village Administration Building The family of beloved and highly respected late former Orland Park Mayor Fred Owens has questioned why Mayor Keith Pekau has removed his name from the outdoor sign identifying the Village Administration Building, which was placed there in 1993 following his passing the year before….

Cook County, Culture, Features, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Tinley police charge Wheaton man with aggravated arson

May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tinley police charge Wheaton man with aggravated arson A Wheaton man on April 24 was charged with aggravated arson after he intentionally started a fire the week before at Menards, 6851 W. 159th St., Tinley Park. Police said Nathan Grant, 32, set fire to multiple air conditioning unit filters in the store just after 4…

Crime, Fire, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign

May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign In a pure act of pettiness, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau has removed the name of Frederick T. Owens from the signs in front of the Village Hall, for which the Village Hall has been named, without any public discussion or notice. In its place, Pekau…

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

Robert F. Kennedy should be allowed to participate in presidential debates

April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Robert F. Kennedy should be allowed to participate in presidential debates By Ray Hanania My most recently syndicated columns for this week, which are available to the public at www.RayHanania.com, address several issues. My latest column addresses why it is important for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be permitted to participate in any debate among…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes

WHY ENGLAND SLEPT releases “House of Pizza”

April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

WHY ENGLAND SLEPT releases “House of Pizza” “House of Pizza,” an eclectic 12-song mix of post-rock, new age, jazz and prog, has been independently released by WHY ENGLAND SLEPT, a musical recording project led by Salem, MA singer-songwriter (and UIC alumnus/former Chicagoan) Don Hammontree. Hammontree, the guitarist, vocalist and chief songwriter for the local band…

Books & Films, Entertainment, National, News, Theater

Leving team frees duped dad from paying child support for another man’s child

April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Leving team frees duped dad from paying child support for another man’s child The Leving legal team won an important case for a man who was ordered to pay child support for a little girl who was not even his biological child. The client and the mother were never married. The mother misled the client…

Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Radio

Fire damages Al Bahaar Restaurant in Orland Park

April 23, 2024April 23, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Fire damages Al Bahaar Restaurant in Orland Park Fire was discovered building inside the restaurant wall. Major damage averted, and no one was injured Orland Park, IL — The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a fire at the Al Bahaar Restaurant, 39 Orland Square Dr., on Monday evening, April 22, 2024. At first,…

Business, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, restaurants

Can’t hide the anti-Trump spin in the new “Civil War” movie

April 21, 2024April 21, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Can’t hide the anti-Trump spin in the new “Civil War” movie Although the director denies it, the new Civil War movie is a subtle but direct attack on former President Donald Trump, another effort by the media, this time entertainment, to destroy him By Ray Hanania Paid/Politics-Movie/Saturday April 20, 2024/Syndicated column. Sign up today If…

Blogger, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Government, Movies, National, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Review

Orland Park Village Board Bans Kratom, Tianeptine, Delta 8 THC and other Novel Synthetic and Psychoactive Drugs

April 21, 2024April 21, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Park Village Board Bans Kratom, Tianeptine, Delta 8 THC and other Novel Synthetic and Psychoactive Drugs Citing concerns about herbal substances that can produce opioid-and-stimulant-like effects, the Orland Park Village Board voted to unanimously ban kratom, tianeptine, and other novel synthetic and psychoactive drugs. This ban is in addition to a ban on synthetic…

Government, Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland

Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills

April 20, 2024April 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills By Maria Pappas Senior citizens can get a break on their property tax bills, but they need to apply when seeking savings for the first time. The popular tax break is known as the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. For homeowners already receiving the…

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