Author: Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning 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 Rotary offering scholarships to graduating seniors

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Rotary offering scholarships to graduating seniors The Rotary Club of Orland Park is offering scholarships to graduating seniors of area high schools, including students attending parochial schools, who reside within the Orland Park Rotary Club boundaries. The application is open and requires students to complete an online application, upload two reference letters and…

Education, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

EXCLUSIVE: Pekau has already decided to move ahead and eliminate the Village Manager form of government

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

EXCLUSIVE: Pekau has already decided to move ahead and eliminate the Village Manager form of government Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau may not wait to find out if the voters agree with him to vote out the Village Managerial Form of Government in the April 4 , 2023 election referendum. He’s already introduced the ordinance…

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

Why so much emphasis in Illinois on protecting criminals?

February 16, 2023April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 5 Comments

Why so much emphasis in Illinois on protecting criminals? Protecting criminals seems to be the priority of politicians in Cook County and in Illinois, and Springfield. And, why is Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau such a whining little baby. Pekau has spent his entire term in office personally attacking everyone and anyone, including me, and…

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

Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers

February 16, 2023February 16, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers Ziyad Brothers, a leading omni-channel provider of branded Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food and beverage products, reports sustained growth in consumer demand for 2023 and beyond. Consumer appeal for Mediterranean and Middle East food products continues to grow, reported Ziyad Brothers,…

Business, Culture, food, News, NewsWire

No-contact order protects child from reported abuse

February 16, 2023February 17, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

No-contact order protects child from reported abuse CHICAGO – Fathers’ Rights attorney Jeffery M. Leving secured a court victory for a father with a problem that many fathers have: Their children are living with their ex, and a man in the household is reportedly abusing the children. It could be the mother’s new boyfriend, new…

Chicago, Education, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire

Biden administration exposes how Iran is aiding Russia in Ukraine war

February 16, 2023February 16, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Biden administration exposes how Iran is aiding Russia in Ukraine war DASD (Middle East) Dana Stroul holds a press briefing on the Department of Defense’s participation in the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council Working Group meetings. By Ray Hanania Iran is directly providing weapons to support Russia in its war against the people of Ukraine, a top…

Government, News, rayhanania, Ukraine

Substance abuse in child custody cases to be topic of CLE at Leving firm

February 15, 2023February 15, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Substance abuse in child custody cases to be topic of CLE at Leving firm The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. will host the next presentation of the Arthur S. Kallow Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar Series on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. CST at 19 S. LaSalle St. in Chicago. This month’s…

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia

February 8, 2023February 8, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia G. Cuschieri To Write Screenplay For Wall Street Journal Bestselling Book “Flight of the Rondone” P.G. Cuschieri, of Joy Road Entertainment and writer/producer of the film Cut Throat City, has agreed to write the screen adaptation of Patrick Girondi’s acclaimed novel, “Flight…

Books & Films, Entertainment, Features, Health, Movies, News, NewsWire

Taxpayers have an extra month to pay First Installment of Tax Bills

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Taxpayers have an extra month to pay First Installment of Tax Bills In Cook County, first installment property tax bills are ordinarily mailed around February 1 and are due on March 1. This year, however, the first installment bills will not be mailed until late February or early March and will have an April 3…

Cook County, News, Orland Township, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

State hearings and transparency needed on Nicor gas cost hikes

February 5, 2023February 6, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

State hearings and transparency needed on Nicor gas cost hikes Nicor has dramatically increased the cost of its heating gas without anyone holding it accountable. The State Legislature needs to hold hearings on the increases and they also need to strengthen the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) funding it from state taxes the way the state…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Do more for senior citizens like we do for illegal aliens

February 3, 2023February 6, 2023 Ray Hanania 4 Comments

Do more for senior citizens like we do for illegal aliens By Ray Hanania They’re talking about how social security will run out of money by the year 2033. Run out of money? Social security recipients have been putting money into the system every year that they have been working, shaving to feed their families…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Taxes

District 230 students receive journalism awards

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

District 230 students receive journalism awards Consolidated High School District 230 newspaper students from Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew High Schools amassed several individual awards in five separate categories at the recent Southwest Suburban Conference High School Newspaper Conference hosted at Stagg High School. Eight students placed in five individual contests, with two 1st place ribbons,…

Cook County, Features, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Sheriff and District 230 honor students for public service hours

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sheriff and District 230 honor students for public service hours Officials in the Chicagoland Southwest Suburbs on Friday February 3, 2023 offered their congratulations to 90 Consolidated High School District 230 students at Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew High schools. Each student provided a minimum of 100 hours of voluntary, unpaid community service for a total…

Education, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicagoan who invested in research to save children releases new book

February 3, 2023February 6, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicagoan who invested in research to save children releases new book Patrick Girondi, who championed the fight to cure Thalassemia, a fatal blood disease that was found in his son, has published a book about the struggle called “Flight of the Rondone: High School dropout VS big Pharma, the fight to save my son’s life.”…

Books & Films, Features, Health, National, News, NewsWire

Foster, Durbin, Duckworth introduce resolution to name Fermilab Research Center after renowned physicist Dr. Helen Edwards

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Foster, Durbin, Duckworth introduce resolution to name Fermilab Research Center after renowned physicist Dr. Helen Edwards Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced on Friday February 3, 2023 that they introduced a bicameral resolution to rename Fermilab’s Integrated Engineering Research Center (IERC) after the…

Features, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Technology

Sheriff Dart Warns Public of Phone Scam

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sheriff Dart Warns Public of Phone Scam Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart is warning of a telephone scam where a caller identifying as a Sheriff’s Office employee tells victims they must pay a large fine for missing court or they will go to jail. The caller tells the victim to pay the fine using…

Baby Boomers, Crime, News, Police, Seniors, Technology

How to have a great Middle Eastern meal in Orland Park area

January 31, 2023February 3, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

How to have a great Middle Eastern meal in Orland Park area This a “How To” for Americans interested in experiencing the exotic and exciting flavors of Middle East and Arab foods. A lot of Americans ask me all the time how to enjoy a great Arab and Middle Eastern meal and I am happy…

Culture, Entertainment, Features, food, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Orland Township, rayhanania, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

D230 students win prestigious art awards

January 26, 2023January 26, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

D230 students win prestigious art awards Recently, 24 Consolidated High School District student artists competed against students from dozens of high schools in their Regional Scholastic Arts competitions. Sandburg Eagles entered 43 individual works (drawings, photography, digital images, and paintings) and five portfolios for the regional competition, which adjudicated nearly 84 portfolios and 2246 individual…

Education, Entertainment, Features, News, Photos, Suburban Chicagoland