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

Is Thanksgiving and Christmas about celebration, or just about the money?

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Is Thanksgiving and Christmas about celebration, or just about the money? Thanksgiving and Christmas have been forcibly morphed from family holidays into commercial focused profit generation and greed. It’s no longer about families, enjoyment or religion but rather about spending money. By Ray Hanania When I was growing up, a phrase I am sure younger…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Culture, Features, Opinion, rayhanania, Seniors

Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress

November 29, 2023November 29, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress Demonstrates his strong grassroots support and the hunger for real change Raymond Lopez officially filed his nominating petitions on Monday Nov. 27 to run for Congress in Illinois’ 4th District. With over 3,000 petition signatures submitted on the first day of filing, Lopez demonstrates the strength…

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

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms

November 28, 2023November 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today unveiled an innovative online tool that for the first time calculates year-to-year changes for each property tax bill and shows where tax dollars go. The search tool at cookcountytreasurer.com is available as…

Chicago, Cook County, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

2023 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set®Available on November 28

November 21, 2023November 21, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

2023 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set®Available on November 28 The 2023 United States Mint (Mint) Limited Edition Silver Proof Set will be available for purchase beginning on November 28 at noon EST. Production is limited to 50,000 sets, with orders limited to one set per household for the first 24 hours of…

Baby Boomers, Culture, News, NewsWire

Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month

November 18, 2023November 18, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named on Thursday Nov. 16, 2023 U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) its November 2023 Porker of the Month for trying to take away everyone’s credit card benefits. In 2010, Sen. Durbin led the effort to pass…

Economy, Federal, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Taxes

Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill

November 17, 2023November 21, 2023 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill By Ray Hanania US Rep. Thomas Massie (Republican Kentucky) continues to reintroduce a bill that would prevent the double taxation of Social Security payments to seniors and retirees, but not enough members of Congress will support it. In fact, opposition to…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Opinion, Seniors, Taxes

Sheriff Dart and Friends of the Chicago River Join Forces to

November 10, 2023November 10, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sheriff Dart and Friends of the Chicago River Join Forces to Clean-Up the Ford Heights Community and River The Cook County Sheriff’s Office co-hosted a volunteer community clean-up of the Deer Creek River in Ford Heights Village Thursday, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Friday Nov. 10, 2023. Approximately 30 volunteers from the Sheriff’s…

Cook County, Environment, Features, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Illinois Provides Important Resources for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families

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

Illinois Provides Important Resources for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Confidential hotline and customized training resources help prevent suicide Illinois Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged U.S. Service Members who dedicate their lives to protecting the nation’s independence and freedom today by reminding residents about the Illinois Governor’s Challenge Campaign. The initiative created the Veterans Crisis…

Illinois Legislature, News, Veterans, Veterans Column

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital

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

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will help military veterans and their families search for savings on their property tax bills during a Veterans’ Appreciation event Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital with Black Men United. Treasurer’s…

Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Stagg High School hosts massive Vocational Fair

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

Stagg High School hosts massive Vocational Fair Bricklayers, firefighters, carpenters, estheticians, and real estate agents were just a few of the 50-some occupations represented at the second annual Stagg High School Vocational Fair. Professionals spent the day on November 7, 2023 discussing their careers with interested students, as well as detailing their career paths and…

Education, News, Suburban Chicagoland

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