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

First Responder Mental Health Legislation Clears Senate

April 11, 2024April 11, 2024 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

First Responder Mental Health Legislation Clears Senate The Illinois Senate passed legislation today proposed by Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart that eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for first responders seeking mental health treatment. “We ask first responders to be constantly exposed to traumatic and dangerous situations to protect us,” Sheriff Dart said. “This legislation is a…

Cook County, Fire, Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Police, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Fire Protection District hosts Coffee & Conversation for seniors on lifesaving strategies for seniors

April 10, 2024April 10, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Fire Protection District hosts Coffee & Conversation for seniors on lifesaving strategies for Seniors Fire District invites Seniors to discuss surviving hearts and strokes. Orland Fire Protection District Chief Michael Schofield hosts his “Coffee & Conversation” meeting Wed April 17 on lifesaving strategies Orland Fire Protection District Chief Michael Schofield invites the public to attend…

Baby Boomers, Fire, Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Issues Statement on January 6

April 7, 2024April 7, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Issues Statement on January 6 Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today issued a statement to clarify his views on the events of January 6, 2021. Kennedy said: “January 6 is one of the most polarizing topics on the political landscape. I am listening to people of diverse viewpoints on…

Civil Rights, elections, Government, News, Politics

Joravsky and Hanania analyze today’s Chicago City Council with the past on podcast

April 6, 2024April 7, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Joravsky and Hanania analyze today’s Chicago City Council with the past on podcast Chicago Reader journalist and podcaster Ben Joravsky, who has covered Chicago City politics since 1981, interviews former Chicago City Hall reporter and columnist Ray Hanania on his special “Oh, What a Week” podcast which is available on most major podcast platforms. Hanania…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Culture, Government, Humor, journalism, Media Bias, News, Podcast, Politics, Radio, Suburban Chicagoland

Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park The Orland Park Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect in a vehicular hijacking that occurred on the evening of April 3, 2024. Shawn Flores, a 44-year-old Midlothian resident, faces charges following his apprehension on April 4. The incident began when a male victim was forcibly…

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

Federal lawsuit aims to protect kids from Social media

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Federal lawsuit aims to protect kids from Social media By Jeffery M. Leving SM Despite several attempts at passing legislation to protect kids on social media, I fear lawmakers have not been able to get much of anything passed. Now, 33 states have banded together with the same objective — protecting kids — and are…

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply?

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply? By Maria Pappas Homeowners can reduce their property tax bills by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by taking advantage of the Homeowner Exemption. Exemptions are tax breaks. To qualify for the Homeowner Exemption, first-time applicants must have occupied the…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

View the solar eclipse from Cahokia Mounds on April 8

April 4, 2024April 4, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

View the solar eclipse from Cahokia Mounds on April 8 Visitors are invited to view the April 8 solar eclipse from Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville. Although the site is not in the path of totality, a spectacular partial solar eclipse will be visible beginning at 12:43 p.m. and continuing for just over…

Culture, Education, Entertainment, Illinois Legislature, News

The UNLUCKIEST lottery numbers in America, revealed in new study

April 4, 2024April 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

The UNLUCKIEST lottery numbers in America, revealed in new study The number 47 is drawn the least across all lotteries, with an average frequency of just 138 . The numbers 46 and 43 are second and third, respectively. The luckiest lottery number is 28, with a frequency of 201.4 New research has discovered the lottery numbers…

Business, Entertainment, Features, General Topics, Government, Illinois Legislature, News

Chicago aldermen embrace selfish politics over public need

April 4, 2024April 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago aldermen embrace selfish politics over public need Nine Chicago aldermen are hoping to undermine Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson using emotional distractions and are failing to address real issues like cracking down on increasing crime. They are demanding Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) should be stripped of power because he was at a rally where an American flag…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Crime, Culture, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes

New study shines light on need for gun storage laws

April 3, 2024April 3, 2024 Ray Hanania 5 Comments

New study shines light on need for gun storage laws By Jeffery M. Leving SM A new study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions analyzing 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates what many have feared, that America’s gun violence epidemic has gotten worse. In total, 4,752 young lives were…

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Watching the solar eclipse during a different era as a child

April 3, 2024April 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Watching the solar eclipse during a different era as a child The first time I saw a Solar Eclipse was at O’Hare Airport in July 1963, in an era of science fiction, nuclear bombs and outer space aliens. I’m not sure the excitement is the same as today as then. By Ray Hanania Free/General/Tuesday April…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Environment, Opinion, rayhanania

What does it tell you when pharmaceutical ads dominate

March 30, 2024March 30, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

What does it tell you when pharmaceutical ads dominate By Ray Hanania The COVID pandemic gave license to politicians and businesses to pursue their own needs and priorities over the needs of the public. It’s all political BS, of course, when people claim the economy is great. It’s not, unless you are making a fortune….

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Opinion, rayhanania

Leving court victory keeps Dad from losing son

March 29, 2024March 29, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Leving court victory keeps Dad from losing son CHICAGO- Dad feared he was at risk for losing his 11-year-old son. Despite his difficult divorce, he has remained an attentive and dedicated father to his child. However, Dad was shocked and horrified to discover that his ex planned to cut him out of his son’s life….

Jeffery Leving, Law, News

Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes

March 27, 2024March 27, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes By Maria Pappas Homeowners have taught me a few things about property taxes while I have served as Cook County Treasurer. One lesson is that the property tax system is complicated. Many people unfamiliar with the process have told me that they wished there…

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

Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias

March 25, 2024March 25, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias By Ray Hanania (Originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group newpapers): True to his colors, Orland Park’s beleaguered Mayor Keith Pekau is turning to racism and community division to base his re-election campaign. In a recent letter to “supporters,” Pekau launched his campaign using the racist slogan,…

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

Leving Firm fights to keep father and children together

March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Leving Firm fights to keep father and children together Dad’s two children, a 12-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, had been kept from him following the death of their mother. Reportedly, Dad and the mother were never married, but they had an informal agreement where Dad would have his children on alternate weekends, and he…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Alderman Quinn breaks ground on new Starbucks location

March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Alderman Quinn breaks ground on new Starbucks location Retailer to be built on 40-year vacant land. Nearly 10 Years in the Making, Quinn Adds. Starbucks to Growing Cicero Avenue Corridor Chicago Alderman Marty Quinn (13) on Friday, March 22, 2024, stood with Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development, representatives…

Business, Chicago, construction, Government, News, restaurants