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

Newman supports Statehood bill for Washington D.C. 700,000 residents

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 Ray Hanania

Newman supports Statehood bill for Washington D.C. 700,000 residents H.R. 51 will admit Washington D.C. as the 51st state and ensure that 700,000 D.C. residents have fair representation in the U.S. government. U.S. Representative Marie Newman (D-IL) voted on Thursday (April 22, 2021) to pass H.R. 51, the Washington D.C. Admission Act, which would make…

Federal, Government, National, NewsWire, Politics

Fire damages bathroom and attic in Orland Park home, no injuries

April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 Ray Hanania

Fire damages bathroom and attic in Orland Park home, no injuries The Orland Fire Protection District responded to a fire that damaged a bathroom and an attic in an Orland Park Home at the 7300 block of 157th Street on Wednesday April 21, 2021 at 6:44 AM. There were no injuries. Companies arrived on scene…

breaking news, Cook County, Fire, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas reminds taxpayers: Pay First Installment Cook County property taxes through May 3 with no late fee

April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 Ray Hanania

Pappas reminds taxpayers: Pay First Installment Cook County property taxes through May 3 with no late fee Property taxes were due Tuesday, March 2, 2021, but there is no late fee for those paying their bill through Monday, May 3, 2021, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today. The Cook County Board of Commissioners in…

Business, Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Chicago Wolves host food drive Saturday April 24

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021 Ray Hanania

Chicago Wolves host food drive Saturday April 24 Donate non-perishable goods at Allstate Arena to help Common Pantry GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS – The Chicago Wolves are hosting a Food Drive from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. All of the canned goods and other non-perishable items the Wolves collect…

Chicago, Cook County, Events, food, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas names Manuel Venegas as her new Press Secretary

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021 Ray Hanania

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas names Manuel Venegas as her new Press Secretary Manuel Venegas was named press secretary today of the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Venegas joined the office in 2018 as Outreach Coordinator for the Hispanic community and since August 2018, has served as Director of Outreach and Media Relations. “Manuel…

Cook County, Government, NewsWire

Battle for Secretary of State already brewing in Illinois

April 17, 2021July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania

Battle for Secretary of State already brewing in Illinois Alexi Giannoulias is the lead candidate in the brewing race to succeed Illinois Secretary of State Jessie White who is retiring. Although the Democratic Party Primary election is not until March 2022, time goes by quickly and the race will quickly become crowded. As the Republican…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

No injuries, minor damage at Life Time Fitness fire in Orland Park

April 17, 2021April 17, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

No injuries, minor damage at Life Time Fitness fire in Orland Park The Orland Fire District responded to Life Time Fitness, 16333 LaGrange Road at 7:18 pm for an automatic fire alarm from the property on Friday evening April 16, 2021. Upon arrival, evacuation was in progress. Fire crews entered the building to investigate the…

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

Hundreds of Activities Part of New NerdFest 2021

April 15, 2021April 15, 2021 Ray Hanania

Hundreds of Activities Part of New NerdFest 2021 With your ticket to NerdFest 2021, you’ll have access to hundreds of activities happening at this new festival on August 27-29 in the Quad Cities. Celebrating and supporting all the different nerd, geek, and fandom cultures, NerdFest 2021 takes place in the Quad Cities (IL/IA) bi-state regional…

Entertainment, Events, Features, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Technology

Newman introduces bill to support women-owned small businesses

April 15, 2021April 15, 2021 Ray Hanania

Newman introduces bill to support women-owned small businesses To further provide relief to women entrepreneurs, the legislation introduced today would extend the waiver of the matching fund requirement for Women Business Centers U.S. Representative Marie Newman (IL-03) introduced legislation Thursday (April 15, 2021) to support women-owned small businesses by extending the waiver for the matching…

Business, Cook County, Federal, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, women

New affordable homes to be built for veterans in Yorkville

April 13, 2021April 13, 2021 Ray Hanania

New affordable homes to be built for veterans in Yorkville Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity has a new initiative to build 116 affordable homes for veterans on 50 acres in Yorkville, Illinois. Operation Home America will provide affordable homeownership opportunities for military veterans and their families, 34% of whom are struggling to live on 30-80% of median…

Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans

Orland Township, in Partnership with Jewel-Osco, Holds Third Vaccine Event

April 13, 2021April 13, 2021 Ray Hanania

Orland Township, in Partnership with Jewel-Osco, Holds Third Vaccine Event “Together We Vaxed:” more than 2,000 residents receive COVID-19 vaccine Orland Township, in partnership with Jewel Osco pharmacy, recently held its third and largest vaccine distribution event, administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to more than 2,000 residents, according to the office of Orland Township Supervisor…

Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, News, Orland Park

“A Dangerous Freedom” confronts Everyman with dangers of murderous killers

April 13, 2021April 13, 2021 Ray Hanania

“A Dangerous Freedom” confronts Everyman with dangers of murderous killers Average man, Dylan Reilly, stands up to vicious criminals in exciting and dramatic action-thriller A Dangerous Freedom, an action-packed thriller-novel by longtime journalist and author, John Ruane, is now available on Amazon.com, publisher Post Hill Press announced today. A Dangerous Freedom introduces Dylan Reilly, the…

Books & Films, Chicago, Entertainment, Features, News, NewsWire, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

Quinn & Guerrero-Cuellar Service Office Hosts Soundproof Window Replacement Meeting

April 13, 2021April 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Quinn & Guerrero-Cuellar Service Office Hosts Soundproof Window Replacement Meeting Local community organizations co-host event to help Midway community members find replacements for problematic, foul-smelling windows Ald. Marty Quinn and Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar, along with other community leaders, held a meeting Monday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. to provide homeowners with details on how to test…

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

Families Invited to Add Veterans’ Names to Orland Park’s Memorial Wall

April 12, 2021April 12, 2021 Ray Hanania

Families Invited to Add Veterans’ Names to Orland Park’s Memorial Wall Those Wishing to Add Veteran’s Name to Orland Park Memorial Wall Must do so by May 1 The Village of Orland Park hosts ceremonies each Memorial Day and Veterans Day and invites area families to add their veterans’ names to the Village’s granite walls…

Briefs, Cook County, Features, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans

Stop blaming police for killing of 13-year-old out on the street in middle of the night

April 9, 2021July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Stop blaming police for killing of 13-year-old out on the street in middle of the night Every time a child is killed by a street gang or even by police, the first thing society and the mainstream news media does is to blame the police. But the police are not to blame when a 13-year-old…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, General Topics, Government, Media Bias, Opinion, Police, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Italian Americans accuse Chicago Park District of illegally removing Columbus statue

April 8, 2021April 8, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Italian Americans accuse Chicago Park District of illegally removing Columbus statue Chicago’s Italian American community remembers 130-year-old mass lynching After a Freedom of Information Act request to the Chicago Park District (CPD) about the Christopher Columbus statues removed this past summer, attorneys for The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) found a plethora of…

Chicago, Cook County, General Topics, News, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau won re-election but lost campaign to build his own Machine

April 7, 2021July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania

Opinion: Pekau won re-election but lost campaign to build his own Machine By Ray Hanania After a bruising political election, Orland Park’s Mayor Keith Pekau managed to defeat his challenger, former Mayor Dan Mclaughlin. I guess it pays to have a $150,000 a year salary and $600,000 in income over four years for a part-time…

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

Pat Dowell Announces Candidacy for Illinois Secretary of State

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pat Dowell Announces Candidacy for Illinois Secretary of State Pat Dowell, Alderman and Committeeman of Chicago’s Third Ward, announced her candidacy for Illinois Secretary of State this week. “As a committed public servant, helping and serving people has always been my top priority,” said Dowell. “My singular goal of this office is to provide the residents…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation