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 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

State Rep. Meyers-Martin Announces Community Vaccination Event in Richton Park

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 Ray Hanania

State Rep. Meyers-Martin Announces Community Vaccination Event in Richton Park Pfizer Part 1 – Advance Registration Required – Seniors will be Prioritized State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin, in partnership with the Village Presidents of Richton Park, Park Forest and Matteson, is pleased to announce a community vaccination event to be held this Thursday, April 8th between…

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

Congresswoman Robin Kelly Issues Statement on Rising Maternal Mortality Rate

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 Ray Hanania

Congresswoman Robin Kelly Issues Statement on Rising Maternal Mortality Rate Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, issued the following statement Tuesday (April 6, 2021) regarding newly released data showing that the U.S. maternal mortality rate increased in 2019. …

Chicago, Cook County, Federal, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, women

Newman convenes transit leaders as part of Biden’s American Jobs Plan

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 Ray Hanania

Newman convenes transit leaders as part of Biden’s American Jobs Plan Convening of Chicagoland transportation leaders comes as Congress moves forward with passing President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, a historic investment that will create millions of good jobs and rebuild our country’s infrastructure U.S. Representative Marie Newman (D-IL) on Tuesday convened Chicagoland area transit leaders…

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

Gorman slams Pekau’s “fake Republicans” in video ads

April 2, 2021March 30, 2022 Ray Hanania

Opinion: Gorman slams Pekau’s “fake Republicans” in video ads Orland Township Republican Chairperson Liz Gorman released a powerful series of videos slamming Orland Mayor Keith Pekau for backing a slate of “fake” Republicans. Pekau has isolated every elected official to the disadvantage of the needs of Orland taxpayers, but hopes to pull the wool over…

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

‘Working for You’: Orland Township hosts third, largest, COVID-19 vaccination event for residents

April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 Ray Hanania

‘Working for You’: Orland Township hosts third, largest, COVID-19 vaccination event for residents Monday, April 12 Event at Georgios Banquets Open to Township. Residents in Phase 1B and with Underlying Medical Conditions or Otherwise Eligible Under Phase 1C Building on the success of Orland Township’s two recent vaccination events for local seniors, Supervisor Paul O’Grady announced…

Baby Boomers, Cook County, coronavirus, Editors Pick, Features, Government, News, Orland Park, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Police unfairly targeted in new Illinois laws and politics in Palos

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

Opinion: Police unfairly targeted in new Illinois laws and politics in Palos Police are again being unfairly targeted in legislation that strips away their “qualified immunity” and exposes them to unjustified and frivolous lawsuits, while the legislators who are stripping them of protection continue to enjoy “qualified immunity” for their actions … and the Cook…

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

House Redistricting Committee Urges Public to Share Insight at Regional Hearings

March 29, 2021November 9, 2021 Ray Hanania

House Redistricting Committee Urges Public to Share Insight at Regional Hearings House Redistricting Committee Chair Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, is encouraging members of the public and advocates to participate in the process of creating new districts by sharing testimony at the committee’s upcoming regional hearings beginning this week. “People throughout Illinois have insight into their communities…

Cook County, DuPage, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

New restaurant and bar opens along Lake Michigan

March 29, 2021March 29, 2021 Ray Hanania

New restaurant and bar opens along Lake Michigan SPECTACULAR LAKEFRONT VIEWS AND LATIN-AMERICAN INSPIRED FARE CREATE THE PERFECT SYMPHONY AT LÍRICA, CHICAGO’S HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED NEW RESTAURANT AND BAR CONCEPT. The Buzzed-About New Waterfront Restaurant and Patio Will Pair World-Class Views of Glimmering Lake Michigan and Latin American-Inspired Cuisine to Delight Locals and City Explorers Alike. Look out…

Business, Entertainment, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland