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

Orland Township Announces 2021 Senior American Idol Winner!

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township Announces 2021 Senior American Idol Winner! Edward Swanson took home the trophy on Thursday, Oct. 21. Thirteen talented seniors showcased their vocal skills before a live audience as they competed for the title of 2021 Orland Township Senior American Idol. The event, sponsored by Evergreen Senior Living and Bickford Senior Living, took place on…

Baby Boomers, Cook County, Entertainment, News, Orland Township, Suburban Chicagoland

Baumgartner, Aucoin selected for AHL Hall of Fame

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Baumgartner, Aucoin selected for AHL Hall of Fame Former Wolves Nolan Baumgartner, Keith Aucoin earned league’s highest honor The American Hockey League announced Tuesday the four people who have been selected for induction into the AHL’s Hall of Fame as the Class of 2022. Former Wolves defenseman Nolan Baumgartner, who captained the 2012 Midwest Division…

Chicago, Cook County, Entertainment, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago Wolves beat Milwaukee again

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Wolves beat Milwaukee again Chicago rolls to 6-0 lead to knock off Admirals for second night in a row The Chicago Wolves reeled off three goals in a 93-second stretch during the first period to set the tone for a 6-1 triumph over the Milwaukee Admirals Saturday night at Allstate Arena. Forwards David Gust,…

Chicago, Cook County, Entertainment, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Makiniemi, Chicago Wolves stymie Milwaukee

October 23, 2021October 23, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Makiniemi, Chicago Wolves stymie Milwaukee Rookie goaltender rejects 41 shots in North American debut In his North American debut, 22-year-old Finland native Eetu Makiniemi stopped 41 shots to lead the Chicago Wolves to a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals Friday night at Panther Arena. Forwards David Cotton and C.J. Smith and defenseman Jalen Chatfield…

Chicago, Cook County, Entertainment, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Colorful ‘Lizzy’ Romp Teaches Kids to Live in the Now

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Colorful ‘Lizzy’ Romp Teaches Kids to Live in the Now “A lively, innovative story of friendship that encourages readers to think creatively.” – Kirkus Reviews Young readers have watched and learned as the impressionable young Lizzy, of the It’s Just So… children’s book series, adapted to a new school, became a big sister and danced with…

Books & Films, Features

Curaleaf Workers are Showing their Strength and Worth!

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Curaleaf Workers are Showing their Strength and Worth! Cannabis workers from Curaleaf are joining Local 881 to change the booming cannabis industry! On October 20, 2021 cannabis workers at the Curaleaf dispensary in Worth won their Union representation election and will join Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, the Union for Cannabis…

Business, Chicago, Cook County, National, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Recall biased Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan

October 20, 2021October 22, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Recall biased Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan By Ray Hanania Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan is a politically controlled judge who does the bidding of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Horan has a serious conflict of interest in the case involving the City of Chicago’s political fight with the Fraternal Order of Police over the issue…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Government, News, Opinion, Police, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Ald. Quinn Paves Way for New Starbucks in 13th Ward

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ald. Quinn Paves Way for New Starbucks in 13th Ward Quinn Leads Extensive Investment in Cicero Avenue Corridor on City’s Southwest Side At the request of Ald. Marty Quinn, the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Housing & Real Estate recently approved a measure that paves the way for construction of a new Starbucks at 6413…

Business, Chicago, Government, News

The fight against extremism in Illinois

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

The fight against extremism in Illinois Extremism is the real challenging facing America and Illinois. The fanatics on the Far Right and the Far Left are the real threat. The Far Left has the advantage now, though. But it’s important for voters to look towards the “center” and find the commonsense moderates. The mainstream news…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Media Bias, National, News, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Paramount Theater opens new Iive theater venue in Aurora

October 19, 2021October 19, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Paramount Theater opens new live theater venue in Aurora Paramount Theatre will cut the ribbon on another live theater venue in Aurora’s downtown entertainment district, the newly remodeled Copley Theatre, where it will launch its all-new Bold Series, a four-show subscription series ready to bring a new type of live entertainment to the second largest…

Cook County, Entertainment, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Orland Park Police Remind All to Plan for a Sober Ride This Halloween

October 19, 2021October 19, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Park Police Remind All to Plan for a Sober Ride This Halloween Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving Halloween is a beloved holiday tradition in America, with millions of people, young and old, working on their best costumes and gearing up for a night of candy and festivities. The evening also comes with parties and…

Cook County, Crime, Government, News, Orland Park, Police

Congress cares more about foreign interests than American interests

October 18, 2021October 19, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Congress cares more about foreign interests than American interests When President Biden introduced an infrastructure bill to help the American people and a budget to keep government operating and underwrite social programs, Congress found itself divided, not just on the Republican-Democrat partisan divide but among Democrats, too. Far Left Democrats sought to use their muscle…

Blogger, Commentary, Federal, Government, National, Opinion, Politics

Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit

October 17, 2021October 17, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit Big tech companies either exist to develop great technology, or to just profit off of their unreliable profits. Western Digital has made its priority profits, pulling the rug out from hundreds of millions of dollars of MyCloud hard drives sold to consumers over the years in an…

Technology, WordPress

Activist speaks for Chicagoland condemning Emanuel appointment as Japan ambassador

October 15, 2021October 15, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Activist speaks for Chicagoland condemning Emanuel appointment as Japan ambassador Wednesday, October 20, 2021, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will go before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for a confirmation hearing to become ambassador to Japan. Ironically, that’s exactly seven years to the day that Laquan McDonald was murdered. Last month, activist and media strategist Delmarie…

Chicago, Cook County, Features, National, News, Politics

Police searching for Hammond homicide suspects after vehicle chase, crash in Tinley Park

October 15, 2021October 15, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Police searching for Hammond homicide suspects after vehicle chase, crash in Tinley Park Tinley Park police responded Thursday night (Oct. 14, 2021) to the area of Ridgeland Avenue and 183rd Street to assist the Illinois State Police and the Posen Police Department in locating a vehicle occupied by suspects wanted in connection with an earlier…

Cook County, Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Dad rescues daughter from mother’s violent boyfriend

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dad rescues daughter from mother’s violent boyfriend A scared dad sought help to rescue his 8-year-old daughter from the mother’s reported violent ex-convict boyfriend. Dad had been told that the mother was living just over the Illinois border, with the reported dangerous ex-convict, and dad was worried that the mother would take his daughter from…

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

New book “Dancing with Death” and James Bond “getting his girl”

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

New book “Dancing with Death” and James Bond “getting his girl” It was encouraging to hear that No Time to Die – the most recent James Bond 007 movie extravaganza – broke all previous box office records after being postponed several times when the Covid viral epidemic closed thousands of cinemas. The aim of the…

Books & Films, Entertainment, Features, NewsWire, Television, Theater

Westmont native serves as a member of U.S. Navy’s “Silent Service”

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Westmont native serves as a member of U.S. Navy’s “Silent Service” By Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach A Westmont, Illinois, native is stationed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, homeport to all East Coast ballistic-missile and guided-missile submarines. Lt. Cmdr. Emil Marcinskas, a 2003 Westmont High School graduate, joined the Navy 10 years…

Cook County, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans