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

Wolves create six new Project Thrive Zoom sessions

April 28, 2021April 28, 2021 Ray Hanania

Wolves create six new Project Thrive Zoom sessions Super Bowl champion Chukky Okobi leads first session May 6 The Chicago Wolves, together with #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement founder Eric Kussin, continue to change the conversation about mental health in Chicago through Project Thrive. After launching Project Thrive with six successful Zoom sessions from February…

Chicago, Cook County, Health, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

Democratic Party Chair Robin Kelly Names Abby Witt New Executive Director

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 Ray Hanania

Democratic Party Chair Robin Kelly Names Abby Witt New Executive Director Kelly Says Witt Will Lead Effort to Build New & Inclusive Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) The Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) today named Abby Witt as its new Executive Director. An Evanston native, Witt has spent nearly two decades working with progressive campaigns…

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

Wolves rocket to victory against Grand Rapids Griffins

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 Ray Hanania

Wolves rocket to victory against Grand Rapids Griffins Richard and Novak score two goals apiece in Chicago’s 5-1 win Anthony Richard and Tommy Novak scored two goals apiece as the Chicago Wolves sprinted to an early lead and rolled to a 5-1 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday night at Van Andel Arena….

Chicago, Cook County, Entertainment, News, Sports, Taxes

Politics of race distorts Adam Toledo killing

April 26, 2021April 26, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Politics of race distorts Adam Toledo killing The death of an innocent victim is what separates a street gangbanger from being vilified and jailed or being turned into a hero. The Street gang problem in Chicago is so great and unresolved that the public’s reaction swings from sanity to insanity, turning racism into politics. By…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Opinion

Illinois will lose one congressional seat under new Census

April 26, 2021April 26, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Illinois will lose one congressional seat under new Census 2020 Census Apportionment results were delivered to President Biden on Monday detailing changes in the nation’s population. The results show five Western states will each gain a congressional seat while Illinois and six other Eastern states will each lose one congressional seat based on population changes The U.S….

Chicago, Cook County, Federal, Government, National, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Park Police recognize Distracted Driving Awareness Month with a reminder for motorists: Drop It and Drive

April 24, 2021April 24, 2021 Ray Hanania

Orland Park Police recognize Distracted Driving Awareness Month with a reminder for motorists: Drop It and Drive April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month across the nation, and the Orland Park Police Department is urging drivers to drop their phones and focus on the road with a not-so-subtle reminder: “Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the…

Cook County, Government, NewsWire, Orland Park, Police

Journalists and elected officials celebrate Arab American Heritage Month

April 22, 2021July 16, 2022 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Journalists and elected officials celebrate Arab American Heritage Month The Arab American Democratic Club hosted a forum of journalists and elected officials and community leaders on Thursday April 22, 2021 to discuss both Ramadan and Arab American Heritage Month (April). The panel included a video message offering both Ramadan Kareem messages and a celebratory salute…

Business, Chicago, Cook County, Editors Pick, elections, Features, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Orland Township Honors Volunteers

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 Ray Hanania

Orland Township Honors Volunteers In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Week, Orland Township hosted a dinner to celebrate the contributions its many volunteers, according to the office of Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady. Supervisor O’Grady thanked the volunteers for their many contributions that contributed to the mission of Orland Township over the past year. “Volunteers are the…

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

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