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

COVID surges among children, CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics report

August 8, 2021August 9, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

COVID surges among children, CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics report While some politicians are spreading misinformation about the spread of COVID exploiting children in order to sell fundraising tickets and distract taxpayers from their failed leadership, real doctors at the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics who actually know and are trained in…

Blogger, Commentary, coronavirus, Government, Health, News, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Thousands turnout to honor oldest aerospace trailblazer Wally Funk in Grapevine, Texas

August 8, 2021August 8, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Thousands turnout to honor oldest aerospace trailblazer Wally Funk in Grapevine, Texas Parade, Presentation and Ice Cream Social Commemorate Historic Tourism Space Flight. Wally Funk is the oldest person ever to rocket into space. Thousands lined up today to honor hometown hero Wally Funk during a parade down Historic Main Street and a presentation on…

Baby Boomers, Editors Pick, Features, General Topics, National, News, NewsWire, Seniors, Technology

Pet-Palooza scheduled for Sept. 25 in Orland Township

August 4, 2021August 4, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pet-Palooza scheduled for Sept. 25 in Orland Township Orland Township’s Pet-Palooza returns on September 25! Orland Township’s 9th Annual Pet-Palooza is scheduled for Saturday, September 25, from noon to 3 p.m. on the Orland Township grounds, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park! This is a rain or shine event. Supervisor Paul O’Grady and the Board…

Cook County, Features, Government, News, Orland Park

Orland Township hosts Back-to-School Health Fair for students

August 4, 2021August 9, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township hosts Back-to-School Health Fair for students The Back-to-School Health Fair is taking place on Saturday, August 14th Orland Township’s Back-to-School Health Fair is quickly approaching! Supervisor Paul O’Grady and the Board of Trustees are excited to help everyone get ready to go back to school. The fair, which will take place on Saturday,…

Government, Health, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Tired of athletes who use their celebrity for narrow political agendas

August 3, 2021August 4, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Tired of athletes who use their celebrity for narrow political agendas I am really tired of privileged athletes who use their celebrity as a platform to promote divisiveness, especially when they fuel the flames of racism. Raven Saunders crossing her arms in protest supposedly to support “the oppressed” is truly unprofessional and selfish By Ray…

Blogger, Commentary, Opinion, Racism, rayhanania, Sports

President Preckwinkle Cuts Ribbon on New and Improved Sand Ridge Campus

August 2, 2021August 3, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

President Preckwinkle Cuts Ribbon on New and Improved Sand Ridge Campus Investing approximately $1.6 million in enhancements to a cluster of amenities on one square mile of southeast Cook County, the Forest Preserves of Cook County celebrated a new, integrated vision of a campus for visitors to hike, bike, camp, birdwatch, swim, fish, play, learn…

Cook County, Entertainment, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Motown comes to Orland Township

August 2, 2021August 2, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Motown comes to Orland Township Sam Savage and Company helped seniors dance the night away to some Motown favorites. Some 362 seniors attended Orland Township’s Motown Dinner Dance on Thursday, July 29. The dance, held at Orland Chateau, is one of the many dinner dances for the Township that has seen a sudden increase in…

Baby Boomers, Entertainment, Features, Government, News, Orland Park, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Punta Cana vacation at the Paradisus Palma Real, a beautiful beach and breath of fresh air

August 1, 2021August 8, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Punta Cana vacation at the Paradisus Palma Real, a beautiful beach and breath of fresh air Taking a vacation break from the Coronavirus Pandemic while ensuring that you protect yourself. We did that at the Grand Reserve Paradisus Palma Real hotel in Punta Cana, a 10-day trip that was wonderful. You will enjoy it, too By…

Blogger, Commentary, Features, Health, Opinion, rayhanania, restaurants, Travel

Governor adds another county to drought disaster declaration

July 30, 2021November 9, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Governor adds another county to drought disaster declaration Winnebago County has been named in a drought disaster declaration by Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker, joining Boone, Cook, DeKalb, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties. The disaster declaration allows counties to access emergency loans following drought conditions Winnebago county has been added to the USDA Secretarial natural disaster…

Chicago, Cook County, DuPage, Environment, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Weather

Communities support Police at National Night Out Tuesday Aug. 3

July 30, 2021August 9, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Communities support Police at National Night Out Tuesday Aug. 3 By Ray Hanania Cities and villages throughout Chicagoland are hosting National Night Out events on Tuesday, August 3 to show support for Police and the difficult tasks they face in confronting criminals. Over the past two years, police have come under attack as a part…

Cook County, Crime, National, News, Orland Park, Police, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

White House push probes “Capitol riot,” but continues to ignore the post-Floyd riots

July 29, 2021August 9, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

White House push probes “Capitol riot,” but continues to ignore the post-Floyd riots Special Column Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Loot businesses, burn buildings, injure scores of people and that is your 1st Amendment Constitutional Right to protest. But protest government, and the Congress treats it as a high crime and misdemeanor. The hypocrisy of how Congress ignores…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Federal, Government, National, Opinion, Police, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Vacation or vaccine, escaping the COVID pandemic

July 28, 2021August 9, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Vacation or vaccine, escaping the COVID pandemic Escaping the COVID pandemic by going on an overseas vacation is a luxury that very few get to enjoy. But doing so was risky and you could find yourself in a serious jam, forced to quarantine for up to 14-days in hotel-provided room that you can’t leave with…

Blogger, Commentary, coronavirus, Features, General Topics, Opinion, rayhanania, Travel

Three Goodman plays in different ways in the week ahead

July 28, 2021July 28, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Three Goodman plays in different ways in the week ahead Experience School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls play (starts Friday, at Goodman Theatre), Memories of Overdevelopment (online, on Saturday) Zulema (in Chicago Parks, starting Aug. 5) In an unprecedented opportunity, audiences can experience Goodman Theatre productions in three ways in just one week—one in-person,…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, Theater

Matt Fraser appearing live at the MotorCity Casino Sound Board Theater in Detroit

July 28, 2021July 28, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Matt Fraser appearing live at the MotorCity Casino Sound Board Theater in Detroit America’s top psychic medium Matt Fraser, Star in the TV series on E! is now appearing LIVE at the MotorCity Casino Sound Board Theater in Detroit Michigan, on Sunday, August 15, 2021 at 7:30 pm EST. He is the first show available to attend at the MotorCity Casino in 2021! The…

Entertainment, Features, NewsWire

Censorship is a weapon of tyranny not freedom

July 27, 2021August 9, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Censorship is a weapon of tyranny not freedom By Ray Hanania Applauding Censorship is horrible. Censorship is a disease that undermines freedom from within. Oppressors who hide behind the cloak of Democracy use censorship as a means to control the public by limiting what the public sees. Censorship restricts what the public hears and says,…

Blogger, censorship, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Technology

Water Reclamation District offers rain barrels

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Water Reclamation District offers rain barrels Rain barrels help manage and control Rainer water run-off on your property and provides a way to water your lawn while reducing the costs of water service. New low pricing is available for MWRD rain barrels for Cook County residents: $21.96, seniors 65+ $10.98. Prices for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Blake Alexander entertains at Orland Township summer luncheon event

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Blake Alexander entertains at Orland Township summer luncheon event Over 170 attendees gather at Orland Chateau for a musical performance during the year’s first Summer Senior Luncheon on July 15, 2021. Senior Luncheons, one of Orland Township’s most popular reoccurring events, are finally back in full swing! On Thursday, July 15th, 176 community members poured…

Entertainment, Features, Government, Orland Park, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Coronavirus surges in Illinois as vaccinations slow across nation

July 26, 2021July 26, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Coronavirus surges in Illinois as vaccinations slow across nation Public Health Officials Announce 7,983 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease Over the Past Week. 73% of Illinois adults have received at least one vaccine dose and more than 58% are fully vaccinated. Nationally only 49 percent of Americans, or 139 million people have received the full vaccination,…

coronavirus, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Suburban Chicagoland