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

Former Congresswoman Marie Newman endorses Joseph “Joey” Ruzevich for Congress in the Illinois 6th Congressional District

December 19, 2025December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Former Congresswoman Marie Newman endorses Joseph “Joey” Ruzevich for Congress in the Illinois 6th Congressional District Former Congresswoman of IL-3, Marie Newman, has formally endorsed Joseph “Joey” Ruzevich, Democratic candidate for Illinois’ 6th Congressional District. Marie Newman also confirmed her attendance as the keynote speaker at Joey Ruzevich’s fundraising dinner on Friday, December 19, 2025,…

Bridgeview, elections, Federal, News, news release, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Disabled Dad United with Daughter for First Christmas Together

December 19, 2025December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Disabled Dad United with Daughter for First Christmas Together By Laura Reichel The time a father shares with his children is a precious gift. Yet, for too many fathers, that gift is taken away — leaving them isolated from their children. In one of the most moving victories the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving…

Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire

Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau for Releasing Confidential Village Information

December 17, 2025December 17, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau for Releasing Confidential Village Information On December 12, 2025, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Caroline Kate Moreland denied former Mayor Keith Pekau’s motion to dismiss, allowing the Village’s lawsuit to proceed. The court determined that the Village’s allegations regarding the improper retention and use of…

Crime, Law, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Hastings law modernizes missing persons investigations starting Jan. 1

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hastings law modernizes missing persons investigations starting Jan. 1 According to the Department of Justice’s National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Illinois has 461 open missing persons cases. Starting Jan. 1, law enforcement will take a new approach to these cases, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Michael E. Hastings. “I teamed…

Crime, Frankfort, Government, Illinois Legislature, Law, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, Releases, Senator Michael Hastings

Walter Adamczyk statement proposes Honoring Illinois Veterans with “Real Service”

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Walter Adamczyk statement proposes Honoring Illinois Veterans with “Real Service” Veterans should receive free Illinois Driver’s Licenses and/or Illinois State ID “The honorable men and women who served our great nation deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and efficiency,” Adamczyk said in a press release Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. “As Illinois Secretary of State,…

elections, News, Republican, Veterans, Veterans Column

Attorney Jeffery M. Leving to Discuss Fathers’ Rights on CBS Chicago Ch. 2

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Attorney Jeffery M. Leving to Discuss Fathers’ Rights on CBS Chicago Ch. 2 CHICAGO, IL, December 15, 2025 – Famed fathers’ rights advocate and family law attorney Jeffery M. Leving will appear on CBS Chicago (Ch. 2) Tuesday, December 16th at 10:00 PM CST with host Jane Clauss. Attorney Leving will discuss the importance of…

Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire, Television

John Harrell hosts taxpayer review workshops for residents, urges extension of appeals period and tax hike limits

December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

John Harrell hosts taxpayer review workshops for residents, urges extension of appeals period and tax hike limits 8th Legislative District candidate Harrell calls for extension of property tax payment deadline, new laws to make it more difficult for homeowners to lose their properties because of property tax debts, and to limit how much property taxes…

Chicago, elections, Government, News, news release, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Leving Team’s Victory Saved Dad’s Two Boys from Danger

December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Leving Team’s Victory Saved Dad’s Two Boys from Danger By Laura Reichel A devoted father was deeply terrified about the safety of his two young sons. The children’s mother was reported to be struggling with serious mental health problems, and dad feared she could endanger his children. He wanted nothing more than to protect them…

Dads' Rights, Fathers' Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News

Kat Abughazaleh Raises $1 Million in Q4, Continuing Record-Breaking Grassroots Momentum in IL-09

December 11, 2025December 11, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kat Abughazaleh Raises $1 Million in Q4, Continuing Record-Breaking Grassroots Momentum in IL-09 Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh announced today that her campaign has raised over $1,000,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025, continuing a surge of grassroots support that has made her one of the strongest insurgent candidates in the country. As of December 10,…

elections, Federal, News, NewsWire, Regional Midwest

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments

December 11, 2025December 11, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments By Maria Pappas Property owners unable to pay their tax bills in full by the Dec. 15 due date should look at our free online financial planning tool that helps you make smaller, more manageable payments over time. It’s called the Payment Plan…

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

Orland Park Statement on Settlement of William Sanchez vs. Village of Orland Park, et al., Lawsuit

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Statement on Settlement of William Sanchez vs. Village of Orland Park, et al., Lawsuit Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau for Releasing Confidential Village Information William Sanchez vs. Village of Orland Park, et al. The Village of Orland Park has reached a settlement agreement with William Sanchez to fully…

Government, News, Orland Park, Police, Politics

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas column explores options to help pay property taxes by Dec. 15

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas column explores options to help pay property taxes by Dec. 15 If you can’t pay your taxes by the December 15 due date, there’s a 13-month payment plan available! Register now at CookCountyTreasurer.com. Second-Installment Cook County property taxes are due Dec. 15, for nearly 1.8 million Cook County properties. That…

Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

WalletHub releases Credit Card Debt study, shows $16 billion increase

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

WalletHub releases Credit Card Debt study, shows $16 billion increase The Federal Reserve released its latest Consumer Credit report today at 3 p.m. WalletHub’s inflation-adjusted analysis of the data reveals that consumers added $16 billion in credit card debt during the third quarter of 2025. Key highlights from WalletHub’s new Credit Card Debt Study are…

Economy, National, News

Orland Park Police Department releases Thanksgiving enforcement numbers

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Police Department releases Thanksgiving enforcement numbers Orland Park Police release data in Thanksgiving holiday enforcement campaign to keep motorists and residents safe. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 2, the Orland Park Police Department participated in the statewide “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization to reduce crashes and…

accident, Crime, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Police

DuPage County Board member Lynn LaPlante endorses Ruzevich for Illinois 6th Congress District in March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

DuPage County Board member Lynn LaPlante endorses Ruzevich for Illinois 6th Congress District in March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary Elected official Lynn LaPlante, Dupage County Board Member, announced her endorsement for Joseph “Joey” Ruzevich for the Illinois 6th congressional district. Lynn believes “Joey is a part of the new generation of leadership ready and…

elections, Federal, News, Politics

Village of Orland Park Announces New Utility Billing System

November 30, 2025November 30, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Village of Orland Park Announces New Utility Billing System The Village of Orland Park is introducing a new utility billing system designed to enhance the customer experience and improve day-to-day operations. The new system will provide customers with more flexibility in managing their utility account and streamline the overall payment process. As part of this…

Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes

November 30, 2025November 30, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes By Maria Pappas Record-high increases in property tax bills have angered many Cook County property owners. My office has released an analysis of the nearly 1.8 million tax bills. It showed that in Chicago the median tax bill jumped 16.7%,…

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

Illinois Tollway prepared to clear roads and assist drivers during Thanksgiving weekend storm

November 28, 2025November 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Tollway prepared to clear roads and assist drivers during Thanksgiving weekend storm Motorists asked to slow down and increase their distance from other vehicles The Illinois Tollway is reminding drivers to slow down and allow extra time for their Thanksgiving holiday travels and weekend trips as a winter storm moves through Northern Illinois, with…

Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Weather