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

What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park

June 8, 2024December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park One of Chicagoland’s best Middle East Arabian restaurants offers a special exotic entertainment show every Wednesday, complementing their great food menu with the mesmerizing dance of Belly Dancer Tina every Wednesday from 7 PM until 9 PM. Enjoy a great show along…

Blogger, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, food, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

Hanania columns on Biden’s border plan, Israel’s PAC influence on Congress, and Trump’s conviction

June 7, 2024June 7, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hanania columns on Biden’s border plan, Israel’s PAC influence on Congress, and Trump’s conviction Award winning former Chicago City Hall political reporter and now columnist writes seven columns each week on a wide range of topics from Chicagoland, Illinois and American politics, slice-of-life observations, humor to analysis of developments in the Middle East. The columns…

National, News, Politics, rayhanania

Court orders divorced mother to allow son to visit dad’s critically injured relative

June 7, 2024June 7, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Court orders divorced mother to allow son to visit dad’s critically injured relative By: Laura Reichel A caring father of a 6-year-old boy shared custody of his child with his ex-wife. One day, Dad received news that a close family member had been hospitalized after a serious accident and was hanging on for his very life….

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions

June 1, 2024June 2, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions By Maria Pappas I do not determine your property taxes. My job as county treasurer is to bill, collect and distribute that money to pay for local government services. Local governments typically rely on property taxes to fund payrolls and other day-to-day expenses….

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

School District 230 T-Bolts score tops on National German Exam

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

School District 230 T-Bolts score tops on National German Exam Victor J. Andrew had a total of 40 students across the German 1, 2 and 3 courses participate in the National German Exam given by the American Association of Teachers of German. Students scored very well, five of whom received Bronze and Silver medals for…

Education, Features, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Local Author Showcase at Oak Lawn Public Library June 12

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Local Author Showcase at Oak Lawn Public Library June 12 Oak Lawn Public Library, located at 9427 S. Raymond Ave., is kicking off its adult and teen summer reading season with a Local Author Showcase featuring a book fair and 30 authors Wednesday, June 12 from 6-8 p.m. The event is free. A third of the…

Books & Films, Events, Features, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Newly released novel by author Charlene Wexler explores Chicago’s South Shore in the 50s and 60s

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Newly released novel by author Charlene Wexler explores Chicago’s South Shore in the 50s and 60s “Farewell to South Shore” by award winningauthor Charlene Wexler takes readers on a nostalgic trip through Chicago’s South Shore and beyond — A Perfect Summer Beach Read This summer, readers can transport themselves to mid-century Chicago, where Sherrie Paul…

Books & Films, Chicago, Culture, Editors Pick, Features, News, NewsWire, Orland Park

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information By Maria Pappas My website, cookcountytreasurer.com, offers people an easy way to correct, change or update name and address information about where property tax bills are mailed. The best option is to electronically request the change online. You may request a change in…

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

Cantu Murder Update: Victim’s girlfriend plotted her boyfriend’s murder, Bridgeview Police charge

May 18, 2024May 18, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cantu Murder Update: Victim’s girlfriend plotted her boyfriend’s murder, Bridgeview Police charge Agnieszka Rydzewski, 33, (8-10-1990) the girlfriend of Arturo Cantu, 39, who was murdered on Wednesday morning while leaving for work, was charged Saturday evening with “Solicitation to Commit Murder.” Rydzewski was a coworker with the accused killer, Anthony Calderon, at a local McDonalds….

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

Local law enforcement agencies should tap into state witness protection fund to help bring victim families closure

May 18, 2024May 18, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Local law enforcement agencies should tap into state witness protection fund to help bring victim families closure By Jeffery M. Leving SM With a reported homicide closure rate of about 20% in Chicago, far too many families are waiting for justice for their loved ones and closure for their families. While there are several reasons…

Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, Crime, Guest Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion, Police

Hanania syndicated columns: expose ASPCA spending, effort to block RFK from presidential debate and more

May 18, 2024May 18, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hanania syndicated columns: expose ASPCA spending, effort to block RFK from presidential debate and more Ray Hanania’s syndicated columns this week included a detailed look at how the ASPCA spends the money it solicits in high profile but painful advertising on its company executives. Only about $7.75 of the monthly $19 solicited in the Ads…

Books & Films, Chicago, Commentary, Crime, elections, Government, Humor, National, News, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Bedford Park suspect arrested, charged by Bridgeview Police in remote car-start killing

May 18, 2024May 18, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Bedford Park suspect arrested, charged by Bridgeview Police in remote car-start killing A 20-year-old Bedford Park man was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder late Friday evening in the shooting death of a Bridgeview man who was walking to his car, which he remote started. Arturo Cantu, 39, was shot twice as he left…

Cook County, Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Technology, Transportation

Treasurer Pappas honors business, community leaders during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration

May 17, 2024May 17, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Treasurer Pappas honors business, community leaders during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognized 14 business and community leaders with Certificates of Excellence during an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration. The event took place at 3 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the Cook County Treasurer’s…

Civil Rights, Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Town of Cicero limits sales of alcohol to 12 Midnight

May 16, 2024May 16, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Town of Cicero limits sales of alcohol to 12 Midnight Beginning January 1, 2025, bars and restaurants that are currently licensed to sell alcohol, individually or packaged will be forced to end those sales as of 12 midnight in the Town of Cicero, a suburban Chicago community of about 110,000 people including 30,000 undocumented residents….

Business, Crime, Government, Law, News, news release, NewsWire, Police, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Town of Cicero

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