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

Jesse Jackson Sr. Endorses Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk 

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Jesse Jackson Sr. Endorses Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk 
Jesse Jackson Sr. Endorses Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk 

Jesse Jackson Sr. Endorses Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk  The candidacy of circuit court clerk challenger, Mariyana Spyropoulos, received the coveted endorsement of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. The founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition said he was pleased to endorse Spyropoulos for her steadfast commitment to justice, transparency and community…

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Chicago, Cook County, elections, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Four Arab Muslim women murdered in domestic violence crime Sunday

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Four Arab Muslim women murdered in domestic violence crime Sunday
Four Arab Muslim women murdered in domestic violence crime Sunday

Four Arab Muslim women murdered in domestic violence crime Sunday Police in Tinley Park, Illinois on Sunday night Jan. 21, 2024 identified four women who were murdered in their home in what is described as a “domestic violence” crime. The identities of the women were released Sunday night. A suspect has been taken into custody…

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Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes

Posted on By Ray Hanania 3 Comments on Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes
Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes

Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes Your Property Taxes column with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Illinois offers senior citizens a property tax relief program that works like a loan. The Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral program allows qualifying seniors to defer up…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Require that future presidents serve in the U.S. Military

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Require that future presidents serve in the U.S. Military

Require that future presidents serve in the U.S. Military Anyone who wants to run for President of the United States, and Vice President, should be required to have served in active duty American military service. Right now we have a bunch of draft dodgers who pander to military service who are telling us how to…

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, National, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

It can be embarrassing to be an American, sometimes

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It can be embarrassing to be an American, sometimes

It can be embarrassing to be an American, sometimes With poor leadership across the board, polarization across this country, and a hypocrisy when it comes to principles of the rule of law, and fairness, America is stumbling. And it is embarrassing to see this happen. We need to do something about this growing problem by…

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Blogger, Commentary, National, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Orland Fire District honored for readiness and efficiency with ISO1 recognition

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Orland Fire District honored for readiness and efficiency with ISO1 recognition

Orland Fire District honored for readiness and efficiency with ISO1 recognition Officials of the nation’s leading property & casualty insurance risk assessment, Verisk, presented officials of the Orland Fire Protection District with the organization’s highest honor, ISO 1. The ranking reflects an evaluation of more than a dozen aspects of the efficiency and effectiveness of…

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Fire, Health, National, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland

Supervisor Paul O’Grady’s 5th Annual Souper Bowl Challenge

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Supervisor Paul O’Grady’s 5th Annual Souper Bowl Challenge

Supervisor Paul O’Grady’s 5th Annual Souper Bowl Challenge Supervisor Paul O’Grady is excited bring back the Annual Souper Bowl Challenge at Orland Township! Warm up for the Super Bowl LVII by joining Orland Township at the 5th Annual Souper Bowl Challenge! Guests will have the opportunity to sample a variety of soups before casting their…

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Events, food, Government, News, Orland Township

Broad coalition pushes for additional police district on city’s Southwest Side

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Broad coalition pushes for additional police district on city’s Southwest Side
Broad coalition pushes for additional police district on city’s Southwest Side

Broad coalition pushes for additional police district on city’s Southwest Side A broad coalition of elected officials, community groups and local residents added their voices to the call to create an additional Chicago police district and new police beats on the city’s Southwest Side, at a press conference held Thursday morning at the Clearing Library,…

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Chicago, Crime, News, Police

I was raised by TV moms and dads in the 50s

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I was raised by TV moms and dads in the 50s

I was raised by TV moms and dads in the 50s Television in the 1950s and 1960s was far more positive in helping families to raise their children in a moral and respectful manner. But as society’s parental structure deteriorates television has deteriorated with it and probably today contributes to the growing turmoil plaguing our…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Humor, Opinion, rayhanania

“Migrant crisis” is political spin that disguises “homeless”

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“Migrant crisis” is political spin that disguises “homeless”

“Migrant crisis” is political spin that disguises “homeless” America’s immigration system is not only messed up, but the language we use to discuss it is also inaccurate and misleading. The word “migrant” is a political term that really means “homeless,” and homeless people should never be dropped off on a street corner, especially in the…

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Civil Rights, Commentary, immigrant, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Basic CPR/AED training can dramatically increase Cardiac Arrest survival

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Basic CPR/AED training can dramatically increase Cardiac Arrest survival

Basic CPR/AED training can dramatically increase Cardiac Arrest survival The Orland Fire Protection District has a 71 percent Cardiac Arrest “Save Rate,” one of the highest in the region. Training in CPR or AED use can increase the survival of a cardiac arrest patient significantly more The chances of survival for a cardiac arrest patient…

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Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland

Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss

Posted on By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss
Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss

Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss By Maria Pappas As my office prepares for the Annual Tax Sale, we’re doing all we can to help people avoid losing their homes because of unpaid property taxes. One of the biggest legislative reforms to the Illinois property tax system in decades…

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

Robert F. Kennedy calls to release all JFK files, making him great choice for president

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Robert F. Kennedy calls to release all JFK files, making him great choice for president

Robert F. Kennedy calls to release all JFK files, making him great choice for president American voters don’t have a great choice for president next year, so what can they do? Focus on an issue you support instead of on the faltering personalities. The other issue to consider is, who does the biased and racist…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors

Cook County Department of Public Health Urges Suburban Cook County to Take COVID Precautions During the Holiday Season

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Cook County Department of Public Health Urges Suburban Cook County to Take COVID Precautions During the Holiday Season
Cook County Department of Public Health Urges Suburban Cook County to Take COVID Precautions During the Holiday Season

Cook County Department of Public Health Urges Suburban Cook County to Take COVID Precautions During the Holiday Season COVID hospital admissions low, but increasing Although COVID-19 hospital admissions in suburban Cook County continue to be low, they have almost doubled since the beginning of November; and emergency room visits associated with COVID have been trending…

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coronavirus, Health, News

Two Venezuelan Migrants Charged with Retail Theft from Oak Brook Macy’s in Unrelated Incidents

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Two Venezuelan Migrants Charged with Retail Theft from Oak Brook Macy’s in Unrelated Incidents
Two Venezuelan Migrants Charged with Retail Theft from Oak Brook Macy’s in Unrelated Incidents

Two Venezuelan Migrants Charged with Retail Theft from Oak Brook Macy’s in Unrelated Incidents DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis announced today that Judge Joshua Dieden denied the State’s motion to detain pre-trial two Venezuelan men accused of stealing merchandise from the Oak Brook Macy’s department store…

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Crime, DuPage, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago police officer killed in Tinley Park traffic accident

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Chicago police officer killed in Tinley Park traffic accident

Chicago police officer killed in Tinley Park traffic accident An off-duty Chicago police officer was killed early Saturday morning after a traffic accident at the intersection of 179th Street and LaGrange Road in Tinley Park. Both drivers were transported to Silver Cross Hospital, where the officer was pronounced dead. The other driver was transferred to…

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News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Fire District prevents fire from consuming Orland Park home

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Orland Fire District prevents fire from consuming Orland Park home

Orland Fire District prevents fire from consuming Orland Park home The Orland Fire District responded at 11:34 pm on Friday evening, Dec. 8, 2023 to a reported structure fire at a home on in the 15200 block of Stradford Lane in Orland Park. Multiple 911 calls were received for the reported house fire.   Battalion…

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Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago men charged after armed robbery attempt at Tinley Park Jewel/Osco

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Chicago men charged after armed robbery attempt at Tinley Park Jewel/Osco
Chicago men charged after armed robbery attempt at Tinley Park Jewel/Osco

Chicago men charged after armed robbery attempt at Tinley Park Jewel/Osco Two Chicago men were charged Wednesday with attempted armed robbery after trying to rob a 72-year-old woman at gunpoint shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 at Jewel, 17117 S. Harlem Ave., Tinley Park. Police said Jarrell Shaw, 32, of the 8000 block of…

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Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park