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

YouGov Poll shows Robert F. Kennedy Jr Presidential candidacy surging

September 27, 2023September 27, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

YouGov Poll shows Robert F. Kennedy Jr Presidential candidacy surging Poll: Majority of Americans Support RFK Jr. Running as an Independent; Democratic National Committee working to undermine democracy by blocking independent candidates.Kennedy gets 17% vs Biden and Trump, draws equally from both. The Democratic Party has rigged its primary against Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., but…

Civil Rights, elections, National, News, Politics

Court orders wife to stop selling marital assets

September 25, 2023September 25, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Court orders wife to stop selling marital assets The father of a 7-year-old girl was rightfully upset when the child’s mother sold a very rare and expensive antique car that the couple acquired while married without his knowledge or consent and without sharing the proceeds. Attorney Jeffery Leving, founder and president of the Law Offices…

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire

Car crashes into Orland Park post Office

September 22, 2023September 22, 2023 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Car crashes into Orland Park post Office At approximately 1:49 PM on Thursday, September 21st, 2023, The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a report that a car had crashed into the building at 9500 W. 144th Place, identified as the Orland Park Post Office. On arrival crews found a vehicle that had driven…

accident, Cook County, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland

Hastings urges residents to apply for energy bill assistance program

September 18, 2023September 18, 2023 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Hastings urges residents to apply for energy bill assistance program State Senator Michael E. Hastings is urging all eligible residents to apply for the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help them pay high utility bills. Applications will be accepted starting Oct. 2 through Aug. 15, 2024. “Families should not be forced to choose…

Frankfort, Government, Illinois Legislature, Mokena, News, NewsWire, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund

September 15, 2023September 15, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Many Cook County homeowners are losing thousands of dollars in savings because they are not taking advantage of property tax breaks. My office recently helped an older couple on Chicago’s North Side receive…

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

Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels

September 13, 2023September 13, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Hastings pleased to see more than $700,000 in grants awarded to local hotels Nine hotels in the 19th District are set to receive more than $700,000 in Back to Business grants, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings. “Our hospitality industry helps generate revenue and contribute to the economic and social development of our communities,”…

Business, construction, Cook County, Frankfort, Government, Illinois Legislature, Mokena, News, NewsWire, Regional Midwest, restaurants, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland, Will County

Ray Lopez leads and champions rights of Chicago residents

September 13, 2023September 13, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Ray Lopez leads and champions rights of Chicago residents Statement on Mayor Johnson’s Next Steps with the City’s Migrant Crisis Today, I and many of my City Council colleagues attended a briefing about the ever-growing border crisis that has reached a boiling point in our neighborhoods. Mayor Johnson and I share the belief that avoiding…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Federal, Government, immigrant, News, Politics

Big franchise restaurants have turned a “tip” into corporate welfare

September 9, 2023September 23, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Big franchise restaurants have turned a “tip” into corporate welfare By Ray Hanania A tip is supposed to be an expression of how much a customer appreciates the efforts of employees of a business, usually the wait staff at restaurants. You expect someone you are paying to provide the best possible service to actually provide…

Blogger, Commentary, Employment, Opinion, restaurants

SeatGeek features competition between Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club Leon on Saturday Sept. 9

September 8, 2023September 8, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

SeatGeek features competition between Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club Leon on Saturday Sept. 9 PRIMETIME Sports proudly announced today that Tour Rebaño’s international friendly between Liga MX giant Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club León is sold out. The game will take place on Saturday, September 9th at 6:00 p.m. at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Chivas…

News, news release, NewsWire, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Veteran Diana Howard courageously confronts abusive Orland Park Mayor

September 6, 2023September 6, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Veteran Diana Howard courageously confronts abusive Orland Park Mayor By Ray Hanania Most people have come to know Orland Park Village Board meetings as a distasteful bully pulpit where Mayor Keith Pekau belittles his critics, lies and portrays himself as the victim of a vast conspiracy. Pekau claims everyone who criticizes his government actions defames…

Blogger, censorship, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans, Veterans Column, women

Dads’ Rights Victory: In battle of aunts, our client gains time with orphaned niece

September 3, 2023September 3, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dads’ Rights Victory: In battle of aunts, our client gains time with orphaned niece By Jeffery M. Leving A 3-year-old girl tragically became an orphan when both of her parents died. She has aunts who are still living – and we had to fight for one of them to see her own niece. I’ll talk…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Mayor Chris Getty and Village officials celebrate opening of Strive Fitness

September 1, 2023September 8, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Mayor Chris Getty and Village officials celebrate opening of Strive Fitness Village representatives, led by Mayor Chris Getty, met at 7905 Ogden Avenue on Friday Sept. 1 for the grand opening of Strive Fitness. Strive is a family-owned and operated fitness company that operates out of 3 studio locations including Riverside, La Grange Park, and…

Business, Employment, Events, Features, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Village of Lyons

Orland Fire Protection District receives the nation’s highest accreditation honor

September 1, 2023September 1, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire Protection District receives the nation’s highest accreditation honor The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) Wednesday was awarded “International Accredited Agency” status, the highest possible rating for effectiveness as a firefighting agency, presented by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE). The “Accredited Agency” status…

Fire, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions

August 31, 2023August 31, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Cook County owes refunds to thousands of property owners because of past overpayments and missed exemptions. Many homeowners who could use the extra money to pay bills, buy groceries and meet other needs have…

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

Ali Center announces 2023 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipients

August 30, 2023August 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ali Center announces 2023 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipients Awardees include KIND Bars CEO, Innocence Project co-founder, LMPD Offiers, HollyRod Foundation The 10th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will take place Saturday, November 4, and boasts another esteemed panel of honorees. The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards are the Center’s largest annual fundraiser and incorporate two…

Chicago, Civil Rights, News, NewsWire

Fathers’ Rights Court victory: After hard-fought trial, judge gives custody of children to dad

August 30, 2023August 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Fathers’ Rights Court victory: After hard-fought trial, judge gives custody of children to dad In a case that involved the heartbreak of a mother’s illness and death, we fought and won in court to bring grief-stricken children back to their father. I’ll talk about this case on my weekly Chicago radio show, the Dads’ Rights…

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

Chicago Aldermen set to reestablish limits to Welcoming City Ordinance

August 28, 2023August 28, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Chicago Aldermen set to reestablish limits to Welcoming City Ordinance Following an uptick in illegal activities at migrant shelters and police districts throughout the city, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) and several others want to return “commonsense restrictions” addressing public safety back into the city’s Welcoming City ordinance. Under the Lightfoot administration, all public safety carveouts…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Crime, immigrant, News

Commissioner Monica Gordon Announces Advisory Council to Address Violence Prevention

August 27, 2023August 27, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Commissioner Monica Gordon Announces Advisory Council to Address Violence Prevention Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon is convening an Inaugural Violence Prevention Advisory Council in an effort to address the issue from every direction. The 5th District Commissioner says she sees the prevention of violence in our communities as the single most important issue facing Cook County…

Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland