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

Arab Democrats to host virtual Candidate and Leadership forum March 25

March 24, 2021March 24, 2021 Ray Hanania

Arab Democrats to host virtual Candidate and Leadership forum March 25 The Arab Democratic Club will host its pre-election Forum for Democratic candidates running in the April 6 election and for elected public officials in a special celebration of Arab American Heritage month tat will be held on Thursday March 25, 2021. The forum will…

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

Bridgeview shooting raised fears of another mass killing

March 24, 2021March 24, 2021 Ray Hanania

Bridgeview shooting raised fears of another mass killing A shooting that took place in the parking lot of a Drivers License facility operated by the Illinois Secretary of State in Bridgeview raised immediate fears of yet another mass shooting. Fortunately, it was restricted to a personal grievance between two people. Unfortunately one of the individuals…

Blogger, breaking news, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, News, Opinion, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Township Republicans should reject the “Not Really” Republicans on April 6

March 22, 2021March 22, 2021 Ray Hanania

Orland Township Republicans should reject the “Not Really” Republicans on April 6 Orland Township Republican Committeewoman Elizabeth “Liz” Gorman slams Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau for endorsing controversial slate of fake Republicans in the April 6 election. The slate includes one candidate who had an outstanding arrest warrant and another who claims to be a…

Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

How do you not remember a DUI-drug court date?

March 20, 2021July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

How do you not remember a DUI-drug court date? Just what the people of Orland Township need, right? An official whose only response to not showing up for a court appearance that prompts an active arrest warrant, is Lora Kreczmer a candidate for Orland Township Trustee, forgot. She only turned herself in because it became…

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

Foster Votes to Pass Two Historic Immigration Bills

March 18, 2021March 18, 2021 Ray Hanania

Foster Votes to Pass Two Historic Immigration Bills Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) voted on Thursday to pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, two landmark pieces of legislation to modernize and reform our immigration system and secure permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for…

Federal, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Newman pushes amendments to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act

March 17, 2021March 17, 2021 Ray Hanania

Newman pushes amendments to the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act TWO CRITICAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY U.S. REP. NEWMAN PASS WITH THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT … Amendments proposed by Rep. Newman would support women survivors in small businesses and establish the first-ever grant program dedicated to support LGTBQ+ women U.S. Representative Marie Newman (IL-03) voted…

breaking news, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, women

Tasneem Abuzir can bring sanity and services back to Palos Township

March 16, 2021July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania

Tasneem Abuzir can bring sanity and services back to Palos Township By Ray Hanania When I think about a smart, reasoned and honest person running for public office for the first time, I think immediately of a young woman named Tasneem Abuzir. Abuzir is running for a spot on the Palos Township Board of Trustees…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Cicero firefighter released from hospital care in good health

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021 Ray Hanania

Cicero firefighter released from hospital care in good health A Cicero firefighter who was hospitalized after inhaling heated smoke while fighting a fire in the Town of Cicero Saturday was released from the hospital on Monday in good health, Cicero officlas said. Ted Polashek was ventilating a roof when he collapsed and was rushed to…

Briefs, Cook County, Fire, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

House fire at 13900 block of Springview, Orland Park: no injuries

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021 Ray Hanania

House fire at 13900 block of Springview, Orland Park: no injuries The Orland Fire District responded to a reported house fire on Sunday, March 14th at approximately 1:37 pm located in the 13900 block of Springview in Orland Park on Sunday, March 14, 2021. Orland Central Dispatch received multiple 911 calls of a reported house fire. …

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

Chicago Wolves power past Iowa Wild

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021 Ray Hanania

Chicago Wolves power past Iowa Wild The Chicago Wolves converted three of their four power-play chances to trigger a 6-2 victory over the Iowa Wild on Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena. Forwards Dominik Bokk, Tanner Jeannot and Phil Tomasino and defensemen David Warsofsky, Max Lajoie and Josh Healey scored for the Wolves (10-2-0-1), who became the American Hockey League leader with 21 points. Rookie…

Chicago, Cook County, Features, General Topics, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Cicero Firefighter hospitalized in serious condition while battling home fire

March 14, 2021March 14, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Cicero Firefighter hospitalized in serious condition while battling home fire A Cicero firefighter was hospitalized suffering from what is being described as a serious case of smoke inhalation while fighting a fire at a two-story home in the Town of Cicero Saturday afternoon. The home fire at 2112 61st Court was called in at 3:45 PM…

breaking news, Cook County, Fire, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Coronavirus, one year and too many deaths later

March 11, 2021July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania

Coronavirus, one year and too many deaths later A look back at our new way of life, and the lives that have been lost to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, one year after it was formally recognized as a real threat to human life. Well, at least some people think it is a real threat. Others,…

Blogger, Commentary, coronavirus, food, Government, Health, National, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

State’s Attorney files charges against five individuals alleging voter fraud

March 9, 2021November 9, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

State’s Attorney files charges against five individuals alleging voter fraud DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that his office has filed charges against five individuals accused of various charges related to election fraud in the 2020 general election. The charges are the result of investigations conducted by the State’s Attorney’s Office into thirty-two…

breaking news, Cook County, DuPage, elections, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Kreczmer turns herself in to Chicago Ridge Police

March 9, 2021March 7, 2025 Ray Hanania

Kreczmer turns herself in to Chicago Ridge Police Orland Township trustee candidate surrenders to the Chicago Ridge Police on an outstanding arrest warrant for an accident in which she was involved back in August 2017. Lora Kreczmer was charged with DUI-drugs, driving with a revoked drivers license, and failure to yield in an accident involving…

breaking news, Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, News, Orland Park, Police, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Township trustee candidate has outstanding arrest warrant

March 8, 2021March 7, 2025 Ray Hanania

Orland Township trustee candidate has outstanding arrest warrant A candidate challenging the incumbent officials in Orland Township has an outstanding arrest warrant for three charges stemming from an accident that took place in August 2017. Any police department, including the Orland Park Police, can arrest Lora M. Kreczmer who is a candidate running on the…

breaking news, Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, News, Orland Park, Police, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Cleveland Monsters overtake Chicago Wolves

March 7, 2021March 7, 2021 Ray Hanania

Cleveland Monsters overtake Chicago Wolves Dominik Bokk records first North American goal to pace Wolves Matiss Kivlenieks rejected 42 shots to backstop the Cleveland Monsters to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Saturday afternoon at the Wolves Training Facility. Rookie forward Dominik Bokk scored his first professional goal in North America to register…

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

Hastings announces for Secretary of State

March 3, 2021March 3, 2021 Ray Hanania

Hastings announces for Secretary of State State Senator Michael E. Hastings announces bid for Secretary of State. Hastings wins major endorsement from the Carpenters union, which represents 30,000 Illinois working families Illinois State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) announced Wednesday his intention to run for Secretary of State, pledging to serve working class families across…

elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, NewsWire, Politics

Orland Township partners with Jewel-Osco to provide vaccines for Seniors

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021 Ray Hanania

Orland Township partners with Jewel-Osco to provide vaccines for Seniors ‘Together We Vaxed’: Orland Township, in Partnership with Jewel-Osco. Township arranges COVID-19 Vaccine for Nearly 500 Local Seniors Seniors Arriving Monday and Tuesday at Victor J. Andrew High School to Receive First Dose of Vaccine; Second Dose Scheduled for March 22 and 23 Nearly 500 local…

Baby Boomers, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland