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

Voters by state with most influence in Presidential & Senate elections

October 26, 2020October 26, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Voters by state with most influence in Presidential & Senate elections With the 2020 election a little over a week away and voters’ influence varying from state to state, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2020’s States with the Most & Least Powerful Voters, as well as accompanying videos. WalletHub compared the…

elections, Federal, Government, News, Politics

Biden seen as being better for Middle East according to Arab News/YouGov poll sees

October 25, 2020October 25, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Biden seen as being better for Middle East according to Arab News/YouGov poll sees Biden seen as better for the Middle East, but most Arabs want him to shun Obama era policies: Arab News/YouGov poll. Majority of respondents believe both Presidential candidates would be bad for the region. Trump scores higher on Iran policies, but not on Jerusalem…

elections, Features, National, news release, Politics

California 50th and Illinois 3rd Congressional battles explored on Arab Radio

October 20, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

California 50th and Illinois 3rd Congressional battles explored on Arab Radio The Ray Hanania Show on WNZK AM 690 Radio on the US Arab Radio Network and simulcast live on the Arab News Newspaper Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/TheArabNews will feature two guests who Will examine the role of Arab American voters in the President Battle…

Chicago, Cook County, Editors Pick, elections, Federal, Government, National, News, Orland Park, Podcast, Politics, Radio, rayhanania, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Four Cook County Judges you should watch out for

October 19, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Four Cook County Judges you should watch out for The politics of judicial retentions: Why you should look hard at all of the judges running for re-election, ignore the politicians and the legal bar associations and instead remember those names who surface during the year and vote against their retention. One of the judges…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, News, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Nothing Fair about the so-called “Fair Tax”

October 18, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Nothing Fair about the so-called “Fair Tax” When you have to label something as “Fair,” it usually means that it is lacking that quality. There is nothing “fair” about the Fair Tax. Have you ever known government to end a “temporary” tax, or return tax money that has been collected for special time-length projects like…

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

Trump’s COVID-19 infection makes re-election uncertain

October 18, 2020October 18, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Trump’s COVID-19 infection makes re-election uncertain President Trump’s illness with coronavirus exposes an election soft spot that could cost him the Nov. 3, 2020 General election. Trump was treated by the newest antibiotic treatments that are not available to the general public. And, when he did get COVID-19, he didn’t turn to using hydroxychloroquine which he…

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

Orland Township and Secretary of State cut ribbon on new service facility

October 17, 2020October 17, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Township and Secretary of State cut ribbon on new service facility Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White officially opened the new Secretary of State Service facility that was pushed out of Orland Park Village Hall by Mayor Keith Pekau. The move by O’Grady and White keeps the important…

Cook County, Events, Features, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast: Factors in the Trump-Biden election battle

October 15, 2020October 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast: Factors in the Trump-Biden election battle Veteran former Chicago City Hall reporter and columnist Ray Hanania looks at the factors that will decide the presidential election battle between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden in his podcast at “Ray Hanania on Politics.” Season 2 Episode 8 Oct….

Chicago, elections, Federal, Government, News, Opinion, Podcast, Political Pundit, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Illinois Health officials announce highest one-day COVID-19 totals – 4,015 new cases

October 15, 2020October 15, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois Health officials announce highest one-day COVID-19 totals – 4,015 new cases Orland Park, one of many of Illinois’ pandemic-challenged communities, sees spike in Coronavirus infections but takes no action to address the continued COVID-19 infection rate as infections grow throughout the state. At leads the State is trying to take action The Illinois Department…

Business, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, News, news release, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Is Judge Demacopoulos seeking revenge against her critics?

October 15, 2020October 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Is Judge Demacopoulos seeking revenge against her critics? Anna Helen Demacopoulos, a Cook County Judge seeking retention criticized for having the highest number of rulings reversed, is allegedly lobbying against support of nonprofit voter education efforts regarding judicial retention. Issue trying to get revenge against her critics? By Ray Hanania Anna Helen Demacopoulos, a Cook…

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

Arab American Democratic Club to host online rally

October 13, 2020October 29, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Arab American Democratic Club to host online rally Arab American Democrats will fete Democratic candidates running in the Nov. 3, 2020 General election at an online Zoom Conference that will be held Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 beginning at 11 AM. The conference includes elected officials, government officials of all parties, local community journalists and leaders…

Chicago, Cook County, Editors Pick, elections, Events, Government, National, News, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Regional Midwest, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Iranian Resistance leader discusses Iran sanctions and November election on “The Ray Hanania Show” on live Radio Wednesday

October 13, 2020October 13, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Iranian Resistance leader discusses Iran sanctions and November election on “The Ray Hanania Show” on live Radio Wednesday Member of Iran’s Parliament in Exile will assess the impact of the November 3 Presidential election on the campaign to replace Iran’s religious dictatorship with Democratic institutions on The Ray Hanania Show on Live Detroit Radio Wednesday,…

Briefs, Editors Pick, elections, Features, Government, News, Podcast, Politics, Radio

New Research and Studies Unit exploring Middle East issues launched by Arab News Newspaper

October 13, 2020October 13, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

New Research and Studies Unit exploring Middle East issues launched by Arab News Newspaper New department will commission papers and host expert debates and policy briefings by high-level officials The Arab News, the Middle East’s leading English-language daily, has announced the establishment of a new Research and Studies Unit (RSU) that will provide information on…

Business, Editors Pick, news release, rayhanania, Releases

Neighbor’s fast response at early stages of stove-top fire prevented major damage to home

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Neighbor’s fast response at early stages of stove-top fire prevented major damage to home A neighbor who saw smoke coming from an Orland Hills home arrived at the scene with a fire extinguisher to find a stove-top burning and helped suppress the fire that could have gotten out of control and caused more damage. The…

Cook County, Features, Fire, General Topics, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Photos, Suburban Chicagoland

Supporters for Trump and Biden discuss the presidential election on live Arab Radio Friday

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Supporters for Trump and Biden discuss the presidential election on live Arab Radio Friday Champions for President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will provide their perspectives on The Ray Hanania Radio Show on the US Arab Radio Network on WNZK AM 690 radio in Detroit. Guests include pro-Trump advocate Mrinalini Kumari and…

Editors Pick, elections, Features, Federal, Government, National, News, Podcast, Politics, Radio, rayhanania

Largest spike in COVID-19 cases yet in Orland Park

October 6, 2020October 11, 2020 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Largest spike in COVID-19 cases yet in Orland Park The Village of Orland Park, whose mayor continues to seemingly scoff at the use of face masks while advocating more public events and festivals, has experienced its largest monthly increase in COVID-19 infections to date. The total number of infections as of Oct. 5 is 1,398,…

Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, National, News, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago columnist to host “Special Election Coverage” on Arab radio in Detroit

October 5, 2020October 6, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Chicago columnist to host “Special Election Coverage” on Arab radio in Detroit Middle East’s leading English language newspaper The Arab News will launch a weekly radio show on Detroit’s US Arab Radio Network to explore issues in the Nov. 3, 2020 General Election. The show will be hosted by the newspaper’s US Special Correspondent Ray…

Chicago, elections, Features, Government, News, Political Pundit, Politics, Radio, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

No injuries in Fire that destroyed Orland Park home

October 5, 2020October 6, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

No injuries in Fire that destroyed Orland Park home An Orland Park residential home sustained serious damage during a fire Sunday evening on Oct. 4, 2020. No one was injured. Attached are photos of the fire from the Orland Fire Protection District The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a 911 Fire Emergency call at around…

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