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

Illinois ranks in bottom five in study of Best and Worst states for veteran care

November 7, 2023November 7, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Illinois ranks in bottom five in study of Best and Worst states for veteran care As National Veterans Day is rapidly approaching – 11th November 2023 – many will be planning their celebrations to honor military veterans across the U.S. With Google searches for “2023 Veterans Day Parade” up 1,900%, in the past 90 days,…

Civil Rights, Federal, Illinois Legislature, National, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

What can America do with $14.3 billion?

November 6, 2023November 7, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

What can America do with $14.3 billion? By Ray Hanania In 2022, the Social Security Trust Fund had a $22 billion deficit, which shows you how little Congress cares about Seniors compared to how they care about some foreign countries. When the deficit was announced, no Republican or Democrat members of Congress rushed to resolve…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Employment, Health, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Seniors, Taxes, Veterans, Veterans Column

Senator Mike Porfirio hosts Veterans Appreciation Luncheon at Morton College, Monday Nov. 13, 2023

November 6, 2023November 8, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senator Mike Porfirio hosts Veterans Appreciation Luncheon at Morton College, Monday Nov. 13, 2023 State Senator Mike Porfirio will host a Veterans Appreciation luncheon at Morton College on Monday, November 13, 2023. Please RSVP to attend the luncheon at the college, 3801 S. Central Avenue, Cicero, Illinois, that begins at 11 AM. Porfirio has been…

Cook County, Events, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans

Gun control debate and failure to impose severe punishments on criminals fueling American violence

November 4, 2023November 9, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Gun control debate and failure to impose severe punishments on criminals fueling American violence By Ray Hanania There are three kinds of major gun-related violent crimes. One involves individuals who commit suicide. They accounted for more than half of the 35,000 fatalities in America so far in 2023. Another is domestic violence involving individuals who…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Culture, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Nursing Moms Support Group to Celebrate Halloween with Baby Costume Contest at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital

October 30, 2023October 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Nursing Moms Support Group to Celebrate Halloween with Baby Costume Contest at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital’s Nursing Mom’s Network is giving new moms who might be stuck at home this Halloween the chance to dress up with their babies and step out of the house at a Halloween party on October…

Health, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses

October 30, 2023October 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses An analysis of Cook County’s 1.8 million property tax bills for 2022 shows that school districts are chiefly responsible for hefty tax bills that are due Dec. 1, according to Treasurer Maria Pappas. The median residential tax bill in the north and northwest…

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

The Maine massacre & gun control, & the election of Rep. Johnson as House Speaker

October 29, 2023October 29, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Maine massacre & gun control, & the election of Rep. Johnson as House Speaker Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and columnist Ray Hanania discuss the massacre of 18 people by a gunman in Maine this past week and the politicization of “gun control” and the failure to impose harsh penalties for killers of all sorts….

Bill Lipinski, Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Government, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Issues and controversies that I just can’t seem to ignore

October 28, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Issues and controversies that I just can’t seem to ignore Award winning columnist Ray Hanania writes about migrants and illegal aliens, the failed policies of President Biden, handicapped parking violators, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau one of the region’s worst elected officials next only to Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, and the killing of civilians…

Blogger, Commentary, immigrant, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago and other cities should launch initiatives to help fathers

October 28, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago and other cities should launch initiatives to help fathers The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. is calling on the City of Chicago and cities all over America to create programs that are similar to Milwaukee’s Fatherhood Initiative. Attorney Jeffery Leving, founder and president of the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd….

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Radio

Flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, walk-in clinics

October 24, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, walk-in clinics Orland Township residents can now receive their seasonal flu shots and pneumonia vaccines at the Township offices on select Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. The clinics are walk-in, with no appointment necessary, and are open to anyone 3 years of age or older. Additionally, a drive-thru Saturday clinic…

Government, Health, News, Orland Township

Keep Halloween Spooky and Fire Free

October 23, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Keep Halloween Spooky and Fire Free Decorations were the first thing to ignite in roughly 800 reported home fires each year Halloween is a fun, spooky and exciting time for kids and adults as they scour for that perfect costume and people add spooky decorations to their homes. If you don’t keep fire safety in…

Culture, Events, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

New study reveals Thanksgiving as Illinois’ deadliest holiday for drivers

October 23, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

New study reveals Thanksgiving as Illinois’ deadliest holiday for drivers A new study has revealed which US holidays are the most dangerous for drivers in Illinois, based on reported road fatalities – and it turns out Thanksgiving is the deadliest. The research, compiled by Ohio personal injury lawyer John Fitch, analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety…

Events, Illinois Legislature, News, Police

No one injured in structure fire at 135th an Harlem, Al-Hayba Hookah Lounge

October 21, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

No one injured in structure fire at 135th an Harlem, Al-Hayba Hookah Lounge At 5:06 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, companies of the Orland Fire Protection District and Palos Heights Fire District dispatched in response to a possible structure fire at the Al-Hayba Hookah Lounge, 13500 S Harlem Ave (formerly the Ale House) on…

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

The Importance of Checking Your Furnace, Winter is Coming!

October 21, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Importance of Checking Your Furnace, Winter is Coming! The weather might be crisp and lovely right now, but Chicago’s fierce winter winds and snow are on their way. Before it gets colder, take this time to check your furnace and any other appliances that may have been damaged in the June 29 – July…

Cook County, Flooding, Government, Health, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed

October 21, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed Cook County property owners who don’t want to wait until their property tax bills arrive in the mail may now view, download and pay their Second Installment bill for the 2022 Tax Year online at cookcountytreasurer.com, Treasurer Maria Pappas announced…

Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Grasso responds to Pekau’s pathological lies and abuse of his village office

October 20, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Grasso responds to Pekau’s pathological lies and abuse of his village office Real Republican Gary Grasso responds to Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s vicious political lies and mischaracterizations. Pekau made his political attacks in his taxpayer funded position as Mayor of Orland Park, something Pekau does quite often. By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith…

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

Systems can create parental alienation, and add barriers to healthy families and father inclusion.

October 19, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Systems can create parental alienation, and add barriers to healthy families and father inclusion. These systems created for protection, should not become systems of harm. This is what I’ll be talking about on my weekly Chicagoland radio broadcast, the Dads’ Rights Legal Hour, 9-10 a.m. CDT Saturday, October 21 on Power 92.3 FM. I represented…

Business, Chicago, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire, Radio

Spyropoulos seeking election as Cook County Clerk

October 17, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Spyropoulos seeking election as Cook County Clerk For the past 13 years, you’ve known Mariyana Spyropoulos as a commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. But she began her career as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney before moving to private practice. There, she saw firsthand how vital it is for our courts to be…

Cook County, elections, Government, News