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

Giannoulias Issues First 100-Days Report Outlining Major Accomplishments

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Giannoulias Issues First 100-Days Report Outlining Major Accomplishments

Giannoulias Issues First 100-Days Report Outlining Major Accomplishments “Getting it Done” Report Features Achievements to Modernize the Office Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias released his First 100 Days report today, highlighting his administration’s accomplishments since taking office in January. The 16-page report reflects how the new Secretary has pursued an aggressive agenda to improve…

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Crime, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Hastings advances measure to fight crime, track stolen vehicles 

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Hastings advances measure to fight crime, track stolen vehicles 

Hastings advances measure to fight crime, track stolen vehicles  Illinois may soon have a law on the books to help law enforcement quickly track stolen vehicles, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.  Hastings (D-Frankfort) advanced House Bill 2245, which requires Cook County to establish a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of a…

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Chicago, Cook County, Crime, DuPage, Illinois Legislature, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Highway Commissioner Rubino to bring Household Hazardous Waste recycling event to Orland Park  

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Highway Commissioner Rubino to bring Household Hazardous Waste recycling event to Orland Park  

Highway Commissioner Rubino to bring Household Hazardous Waste recycling event to Orland Park   Highway Department partners for event to collect household hazardous waste and make it easy for homeowners to recycle The Highway Department along with the Village of Orland Park and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will host a one-day residential Household Hazardous…

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Environment, Events, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Township, Suburban Chicagoland

Families of Fallen Chicago Police Officers and Fire Fighters to Receive Support From Culver’s 

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Families of Fallen Chicago Police Officers and Fire Fighters to Receive Support From Culver’s 
Families of Fallen Chicago Police Officers and Fire Fighters to Receive Support From Culver’s 

Families of Fallen Chicago Police Officers and Fire Fighters to Receive Support From Culver’s Nine area Culver’s restaurant to participate in “Fallen Hero’s Share Day” fundraiser on April 25, 2023 to honor memories of three Police Officers and Firefighters killed in line of duty Nine area Culver’s restaurants will donate a percentage of sales to…

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Chicago, Cook County, Fire, News, NewsWire, Police, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Leving: Father wins case to raise his daughters

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Leving: Father wins case to raise his daughters

Leving: Father wins case to raise his daughters The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. won a case for a father who was happily and successfully raising his two teenage daughters – until the girls’ mother reappeared and abruptly took the girls away. Jeffery Leving will talk about the case on his weekly radio…

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Chicago, Civil Rights, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Radio, Suburban Chicagoland

Cicero to host Arts & Crafts Fair in May, vendor applications  are now available

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Cicero to host Arts & Crafts Fair in May, vendor applications  are now available

Cicero to host Arts & Crafts Fair in May, vendor applications  are now available Cicero accepting applications through May 5 for arts and craft fair vendors. The fair will be held during two weekends on May 19 and 20, and May 26 and 27 Click here to download the Application Town President Larry Dominick announced this…

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Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Park Mayor Pekau’s lies cost him the election, again

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Orland Park Mayor Pekau’s lies cost him the election, again
Orland Park Mayor Pekau’s lies cost him the election, again

Orland Park Mayor Pekau’s lies cost him the election, again Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is a pathological liar when it comes to politics and his achievements. Worse is that Pekau uses taxpayer resources as a platform to fund his lies, making false statements from the podium of the Village of Orland Park board meetings….

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Police, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Stagg High school Charger receives 1st place in translation competition

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Stagg High school Charger receives 1st place in translation competition

Stagg High school Charger receives 1st place in translation competition Amos Alonzo Stagg High School senior Iza Lepkowski received first place in the Polish-English division of the 2022-23 Illinois High School Translation Competition hosted by the European Union Center at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Forty-three students from 24 schools in Illinois participated in the…

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Culture, Education, News, Suburban Chicagoland

New and extremist Chicago political Machine takes over

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New and extremist Chicago political Machine takes over

New and extremist Chicago political Machine takes over Years ago it was Leftists who used to complain about the Chicago Political Machine, asserting that it was impossible to get a fair shake because the Machine had resources to lobby and bully voters with exaggerations and lies. Today, that old Machine has been replaced by an…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Crime, elections, Opinion, Politics, Racism

Orland Park Sting FC announces Spring sessions

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Orland Park Sting FC announces Spring sessions

Orland Park Sting FC announces Spring sessions Orland Park Sting FC is VERY EXCITED to announce that we will be hosting a Spring Session of our LIL STINGERZ and STING UNIVERSITY Programs! Program information can be found below. Registration is NOW OPEN for the SPRING Session of our LIL STINGERZ Program – Registration Closes April…

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News, Orland Park, Orland Township, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Seniors being abandoned by extremist politics on both sides

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Seniors being abandoned by extremist politics on both sides

Seniors being abandoned by extremist politics on both sides By Ray Hanania Buried in a lot of the news over the past few weeks was the announcement that Social Security recipients will see a 20 percent cut in monthly payments by 2034, predicting the Social Security Trust Fund will “run out” by 2035. That’s only…

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

Illegal placement of election signs should be prosecuted

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Illegal placement of election signs should be prosecuted

Illegal placement of election signs should be prosecuted By Ray Hanania The laws are clear in nearly every municipality regarding the placement of political campaign signs. You can’t place them anywhere you want. And yet, that is exactly what happens. Politicians deep into political power grab mode often are the biggest offenders, like in Orland…

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

Pekau’s attacks: A personal letter from Columnist Ray Hanania

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Pekau’s attacks: A personal letter from Columnist Ray Hanania

Pekau’s attacks: A personal letter from Columnist Ray Hanania By Ray Hanania I have covered Chicagoland politics since 1975, when I was honorably discharged from active duty service in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. I served 12 years in the Illinois Air National Guard and believed strongly in military service. I followed…

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Fire, Opinion, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Police, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Brandon Johnson owes thousands in unpaid bills

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Brandon Johnson owes thousands in unpaid bills
Brandon Johnson owes thousands in unpaid bills

Brandon Johnson owes thousands in unpaid bills Johnson’s Financial Mismanagement Under Fire After Water Bills Scandal. Ethics Concerns Also Rise After Revelations That Candidate Was Fined Almost $18K For Election Law Violations, Sued For Unpaid Credit Card Debt Brandon Johnson’s long term refusal to pay his city water bill is opening up new questions about…

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Chicago, Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, News, Police, Politics, Taxes

Palos Park board’s personal attacks continue on social media

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Palos Park board’s personal attacks continue on social media

Palos Park board’s personal attacks continue on social media By Ray Hanania When a group of residents went to the Feb. 27 Palos Park Board meeting to express their views on the expansion of a parking lot for Wu’s House at 123rd and LaGrange Road, several of the trustees personally attacked them. It was a…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Realtors twisting facts on Home Rule referendum

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Realtors twisting facts on Home Rule referendum

Realtors twisting facts on Home Rule referendum By Ray Hanania If you live in many of the Southwest suburbs, you might be receiving election mailers from the powerful realtors association urging voters to vote NO on referenda that would give local communities Home Rule powers. The realtors don’t like it because Home Rule gives local…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Paul Vallas is clear choice for mayor over Brandon Johnson

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Paul Vallas is clear choice for mayor over Brandon Johnson

Paul Vallas is clear choice for mayor over Brandon Johnson By Ray Hanania As much as he tries, Brandon Johnson can’t get away from comments that he made about the most important issues facing Chicagoans, his support to “defund” the Chicago Police and comments he made defending looters, criminals who destroyed and robbed hundreds of…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Dad wins in court to get child enrolled in school

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Dad wins in court to get child enrolled in school

Dad wins in court to get child enrolled in school One of a father’s most important responsibilities is to protect his children, says Chicago-based family law attorney Jeffery M. Leving, founder and president of the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. “Fathers come to us because they are greatly concerned that their children are…

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