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

Village of Frankfort welcomes five new Police Officers

January 15, 2025January 15, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Village of Frankfort welcomes five new Police Officers The Village of Frankfort is proud to celebrate the ceremonial swearing-in of five police officers—Dylan Beattie, Tyler Schuerg, Kyle Graff, Brett Miller, and Joel Wick—during the January 13, 2025, board meeting. Initially hired in April 2024, these officers have successfully completed their field training and are now…

Crime, Frankfort, Government, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Leving team reunited two little boys with their dad, after they were taken from him

January 10, 2025January 11, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Leving team reunited two little boys with their dad, after they were taken from him By: Laura Reichel The bond between a father and his children is fundamental to our society. However, in the case of a terrified father, his bond with his children was nearly severed after a tumultuous break up with the mother….

Arthur Kallow, Arthur S. Kallow, Crime, Fathers' Rights, Festival, Jeffery Leving, News, Veterans

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Urges Seniors to Take Advantage of Property Tax Deferral Program

January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Urges Seniors to Take Advantage of Property Tax Deferral Program Amid growing concerns that increases in property tax bills are pushing senior citizens to leave their homes, Cook County Treasurer María Pappas reminded senior homeowners today of a state program that allows them to defer paying their property taxes. The…

Baby Boomers, Cook County, Crime, Festival, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes, Veterans

Recent Ray Hanania columns you may have missed on Madoff, Kaegi and targeting criminals

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Recent Ray Hanania columns you may have missed on Madoff, Kaegi and targeting criminals How is it that members of Congress can far exceed the profit performance of the stock market when it comes to their own investments? Why did Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi artificially increase the assessments of suburban homes, thereby dramatically increasing…

breaking news, Comedy, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Entertainment, Federal, Festival, Government, Humor, Law, National, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Police, Politics, rayhanania, Regional Midwest, Religion, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Jimmy Carter was a great man who should be emulated

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Jimmy Carter was a great man who should be emulated By Jeffery M. Leving In January of 2000, I wrote to President Jimmy Carter to ask if he would mediate the Elian Gonzalez case. In case you were too young or just do not remember, Elian Gonzalez was a young boy from Cuba who was…

Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, elections, Humor, Jeffery Leving, Opinion, Politics

Top Winter Fire Hazards in America, According to New Study

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Top Winter Fire Hazards in America, According to New Study Fire numbers are lowest in December compared to the rest of the year, so January is a good time to start being more cautious. Cooking equipment ranked highly among the greatest fire hazards in winter. The clothes dryer ranked as the fourth most reported home equipment…

Crime, Festival, Fire, News, NewsWire, Releases, Veterans

Dad and children reunited for the holidays

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dad and children reunited for the holidays By Laura Reichel A father’s greatest joy is brought by his children, and his greatest fear is losing them. This is the same fear a terrified father experienced when, despite being granted an Order of Protection by the courts against his ex, his two children were left with…

Arthur Kallow, Arthur S. Kallow, Crime, Fathers' Rights, Festival, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Radio, Veterans

An Arab, Middle East recipe for Stuffed Grape Leaves

December 29, 2024December 29, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

An Arab, Middle East recipe for Stuffed Grape Leaves #Read @RayHanania I love #MiddleEastern #Arab food recipes in addition to politics. Here’s my how to make Stuffed #GrapeLeaves with diced #lamb #steak #wariqDuwali #OxTail and #rice Read Ray Hanania’s columns on politics, life in general and his love for Middle East and Arab food. In…

Culture, Features, food, News, rayhanania, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Leving team helped Dad defeat an order of protection, reuniting him with his children

December 27, 2024December 27, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Leving team helped Dad defeat an order of protection, reuniting him with his children By: Laura Reichel A caring father faced his worst nightmare when, after an acrimonious break up, he suddenly found himself banned from seeing his own children. Desperate, he reached out to the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, Ltd. for help. They…

Arthur Kallow, Arthur S. Kallow, Crime, Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Festival, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Radio, Veterans

State program allows senior citizens to defer payments on property tax bills

December 20, 2024December 20, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

State program allows senior citizens to defer payments on property tax bills Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Amid increasing concerns that rapid increases in property tax bills will drive people from their homes, state officials are boosting a program that lets senior citizens defer paying their property tax…

Blogger, Comedy, Commentary, Cook County, Humor, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Seniors

Denied Insurance Claims: Where Car Owners are Being Rejected, Expert Suggests Solutions

December 20, 2024December 20, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Denied Insurance Claims: Where Car Owners are Being Rejected, Expert Suggests Solutions Insurance companies reject car owner claims: 5-15% of auto insurance claims are denied annually in the U.S.; California, Texas, and Florida lead the nation with the highest volume of denied claims; Common reasons for denial include insufficient or inaccurate information, policy lapses, and…

accident, Crime, Festival, Insurance, National, News, NewsWire, Transportation, Travel, Veterans

Illinois Gaming Board Agents Arrest Four Men for Video Gaming Café Burglary

December 20, 2024December 20, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Illinois Gaming Board Agents Arrest Four Men for Video Gaming Café Burglary The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office announces the arrest of 23-year-old Diego G. Lopez from Mount Prospect, 23-year-old Gamaliel Garcia, Jr., from Chicago, 22-year-old Elliott J. Myers from Chicago, and 23-year-old Adrian A. Zavala from Berwyn. The four…

Crime, Festival, Law, News, Police, Veterans

Traffic Shifts scheduled for Winter travel configuration on central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at the I-290/I-88 Interchange

December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Traffic Shifts scheduled for Winter travel configuration on central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at the I-290/I-88 Interchange Traffic shifts between the Cermak Toll Plaza and North Avenue will accommodate ongoing winter construction as weather permits DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway is preparing to shift traffic into winter configuration on Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at…

Crime, Festival, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Treasurer Pappas offers ‘snowbirds’ and other Cook County property owners the option to prepay taxes due in 2025

December 16, 2024December 16, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer Pappas offers ‘snowbirds’ and other Cook County property owners the option to prepay taxes due in 2025 Treasurer Maria Pappas is offering Cook County property owners the option to prepay their 2024 property taxes that will be due in 2025. Pappas’ office will mail taxpayers with an early copy of their First Installment tax…

Cook County, Crime, Festival, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Dad wins more parenting time in court, protecting his daughters and their future

December 13, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dad wins more parenting time in court, protecting his daughters and their future By: Laura Reichel A father’s presence can have a profound impact on his children’s lives. The time between a father and his children is crucial and necessary to strengthening and protecting their bonds with each other. However, there are times when the…

Arthur Kallow, Arthur S. Kallow, Chicago, Dads' Rights, Government, Jeffery Leving, Law, Radio

Gang member arrested in shooting of Cicero Police Officer Saturday

December 9, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Gang member arrested in shooting of Cicero Police Officer Saturday Second non-random assault still under investigation Cicero, IL — A 19-year-old known street gang member has been arrested and charged in the shooting and injuring of a Cicero Police Officer in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 7. Suspect Giovanni A. Saldivar, 19, has…

Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Town of Cicero

Andrew High School makes Unified Sports history…again

December 9, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Andrew High School makes Unified Sports history…again Batman and Robin, Bert and Ernie, Buzz, and Woody have nothing on an incredible pair of students at Victor J. Andrew High School. T-Bolt seniors Scott Oftedahl and Montrell Sippel were recently selected to represent Special Olympic Illinois at Lobby Day in Washington D.C. It’s a known fact…

Cook County, Crime, Education, Festival, News, Sports, Tinley Park

Pekau Allies Removed from Electoral Board by Cook County Judge

December 7, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pekau Allies Removed from Electoral Board by Cook County Judge Two of the most vicious and controversial members of the Orland Park Village Board, Cindy Katsenes and Bill Healy, were ordered removed by a Cook County Judge from serving on the Village Election Board named by Mayor Keith Pekau to oversee a faulty challenge to…

Civil Rights, Cook County, Crime, elections, Festival, Government, Law, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans