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

Bartlett Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

October 12, 2022October 12, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Bartlett Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography A 49-year-old Bartlett man has been charged with possession of child pornography after investigators found he viewed numerous pornographic images and videos of children under the age of 13 on multiple social media apps, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today. The Cook County Sheriff’s Police…

Cook County, Crime, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Casten family thanks public for condolences over daughter’s untimely death

October 7, 2022April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Casten family thanks public for condolences over daughter’s untimely death The Casten family has released the following statement on Friday Oct. 7, 2022: “This past June (13, 2022), our daughter, Gwen Casten, died of a sudden cardiac arrythmia. In layman’s terms, she was fine, and then her heart stopped. “We don’t know what caused the…

Cook County, elections, Government, Health, National, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Live theater in suburbs offers alternatives to Chicago’s risky visits

October 6, 2022October 6, 2022 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Live theater in suburbs offers alternatives to Chicago’s risky visits As gun violence increases in Chicago, more and more suburbanites are reconsidering visits to the crime plagued city and turning to alternative options for business, school and entertainment in the surrounding suburbs. Although the Chicago Theater offers some great performances, the exposure before and after…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Culture, DuPage, Entertainment, News, Opinion, rayhanania, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Judge speaks on role of fathers

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Judge speaks on role of fathers A Will County judge delivered a powerful message on the importance of fathers in the upbringing of children at a statewide conference on Saturday. “I know, based on my own personal experience, how important it was to have my father in my life,” said Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre, speaking at…

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

Illinois is not safe under Pritzker

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Illinois is not safe under Pritzker Democrats and the leftwing media are doing everything they can to push back on the Safe-T Act and the damage it causes to the safety of law abiding citizens. The truth is, the law turns safety concerns upside down making the priority concerns for the criminals more than for…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Opinion, Police, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

D230 students named Advanced Placement Scholars

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

D230 students named Advanced Placement Scholars Seven hundred eight Consolidated High School District 230 students were recently named Advanced Placement Scholars in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program Exams. AP Scholars may receive college credit, advanced placement or both for their success on the exams. Students at Sandburg, Stagg and…

Education, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Orland Township, Suburban Chicagoland

Highway Commissioner Rubino Receives Grant Funds

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Highway Commissioner Rubino receives Grant Funds Orland Township Highway Department Commissioner Antonio Rubino receives funds for road assessments The Orland Township Highway Department has received grant funds from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). The funds will allow for road assessments and pavement management implementation of the unincorporated areas in Orland Township. The evaluation…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News, Orland Township, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Dr. Barbara Ann Bunville officially Announces candidacy for Alderperson of the 6th Ward

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Dr. Barbara Ann Bunville officially Announces candidacy for Alderperson of the 6th Ward Dr. Barbara Ann Bunville officially announced her candidacy for Alderperson of the 6th Ward, Sunday, October 2, 2022, on the Southside of Chicago, at the famous Josephine’s Southern Cooking Restaurant at 436 E. 79th St., a staple in the 6th Ward. Dr. Bunville says that she…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Crime, elections, News, Police, Politics

Cook County Clerk Yarbrough seeks to recruit veterans as election judges

October 4, 2022October 4, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Clerk Yarbrough seeks to recruit veterans as election judges Facing a critical shortage of election poll workers, Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough announced Tuesday that her office is launching a campaign to recruit military veterans to serve as Election Judges in the upcoming November Gubernatorial Election. The Clerk’s Office, which administers elections…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, News, Suburban Chicagoland

St. Xavier to host Chicago Immigrant Orchestra performance Oct. 7

October 3, 2022October 3, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

St. Xavier to host Chicago Immigrant Orchestra performance Oct. 7 Also performing with Chicago Immigrant Orchestra is East Loop at the Southwest Suburban university Chicago Immigrant Orchestra performance at St. Xavier College Oct. 7, 2022 Pre-concert Interactive Demo at 5:30pm! The performance is at St Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd Street in Oak Lawn Tickets…

Culture, Entertainment, Features, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Dan Calandriello Calls for County Leadership to Address Public Safety

October 3, 2022October 3, 2022 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Dan Calandriello Calls for County Leadership to Address Public Safety Candidate Calandriello has the actual experience as a former Prosecutor to protect our families With recent dialogue regarding public safety and the SAFE-T Act, Cook County Board of Commissioner candidate Dan Calandriello calls on the Cook County Board to take steps to address Public Safety…

Cook County, Crime, elections, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Ali Center announces Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipients

October 2, 2022October 2, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ali Center announces Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award recipients Dr. Anthony Fauci, World Central Kitchen, Alice Houston, and NBA Star Malcom Brogdon headline slate of nine awardees . National CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller to host the event The ninth annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will take place Saturday, November 5, and boasts another esteemed panel…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Cook County, Events, News, NewsWire, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Beverly Arts Centers hosts play on Ann Landers Oct. 6 – 9

October 2, 2022October 2, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Beverly Arts Centers hosts play on Ann Landers Oct. 6 – 9 Beverly Arts Center’s electrifying 2022/2023 theatre season, BOLD VOICES, opens Thursday, October 6th with the hit play, The Lady With All the Answers. Ann Landers was many things: columnist, icon, even 1978’s “most influential woman in the US’“. This intimate play takes audiences…

Chicago, Culture, Entertainment, Events, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Art-Ober at District 230 begins with Chalkfest!

September 30, 2022September 30, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Art-Ober at District 230 begins with Chalkfest! Consolidated High School District 230 Sandburg High School once again kicks off Art-ober with Chalkfest, a large chalk mural that all students from all art classes contribute to in some way. Guest artist Adam Fabianski joined the Eagle student artists for the 10th year to design, layout and…

Culture, Education, Entertainment, Features, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Rockford Faith Leaders Reject County Board Resolution, Standing by the Pretrial Fairness Act

September 30, 2022September 30, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Some Rockford faith leaders embrace the Safe-T Act and oppose County Board Resolution Earlier this evening, Thursday Sept. 29, 2022, the Winnebago County Board passed a resolution calling on the Illinois legislature to repeal the SAFE-T Act. The resolution focused on the Pretrial Fairness provisions of the law, which will end the state’s use of…

Crime, Government, Illinois Legislature, News

Polish scholar Maciej Olchawa addresses Poland and the Ukraine War Oct. 2

September 30, 2022September 30, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Polish scholar Maciej Olchawa addresses Poland and the Ukraine War Oct. 2 As Artist-in-Residence at Loyola University Chicago, THE LIRA ENSEMBLE is delighted to help spread the word that Polish and American donors have established a new fund at the KOSCIUSZKO FOUNDATION to sponsor scholars from Poland to come to Loyola each year, to teach…

Chicago, Cook County, Culture, Events, News, Politics, Ukraine

Pritzker proves you don’t need toilets in a glass house

September 28, 2022October 7, 2022 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Pritzker proves you don’t need toilets in a glass house Illinois Governor JB Pritzker attacked his critics recently and called for people to resign from office, especially those that challenge his lobbyist cronies. But he doesn’t hesitate to manipulate real estate to reduce the amount of state property taxes he owes on his multi-million properties….

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, Law, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic and Judy’s Pizza Help Domestic Violence Victims Connect to Free Legal Aid

September 28, 2022September 28, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic and Judy’s Pizza Help Domestic Violence Victims Connect to Free Legal Aid Free virtual cooking demonstration will provide domestic violence victims the opportunity to ask questions to attorneys anonymously in the chat. North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic (NSLAC) invites anyone with questions about domestic violence to join a free cooking…

Events, News, Suburban Chicagoland