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

Madigan slams Republican leadership for hypocrisy and failing to lead

September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Madigan slams Republican leadership for hypocrisy and failing to lead House Speaker Michael J. Madigan names House Majority Leader Greg Harris to handle all aspects of ComEd investigation, and criticizes Republicans for playing politics. Madigan released the following statement Wednesday “When I learned that Minority Leader Jim Durkin and two Republican members requested the House of Representatives establish…

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

Orland Park COVID-19 cases doubled in past 60 days

September 2, 2020October 6, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Orland Park COVID-19 cases doubled in past 60 days Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is nurturing an environment which is dismissing the threat of the Coronavirus COVID-19 and reports from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Pekau, who apparently has a resistance to wearing a face mask, has argued that the rise in COVID-19…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, Opinion, Orland Park, Police, Politics, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Federal charges filed against 74 in Portland protest violence

September 1, 2020September 6, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Federal charges filed against 74 in Portland protest violence 74 suspects charged with Federal crimes committed during Portland Black Lives Matter protests, looting, arson and physical assault by the U.S. Justice Department Charges include assaulting federal officers, arson, failing to obey lawful orders, and damaging federal property U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that…

Business, Crime, Federal, National, News, Police

3rd District Congressional Democrat Marie Newman feted by Arab Americans

August 31, 2020August 31, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

3rd District Congressional Democrat Marie Newman feted by Arab Americans Arab and Muslim Americans will organize a rally Sept. 4, Friday for Marie Newman who is the democratic nominee for U.S. Congress in the 3rd Congressional District. The event is hosted by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and the American Palestinian Club By Ray Hanania…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, Events, Features, Federal, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Zogby Poll shows Biden holds small but weak lead over Trump

August 31, 2020August 31, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Zogby Poll shows Biden holds small but weak lead over Trump New John Zogby Strategies/EMI Research Solutions Poll. Click here to get moe information A new poll of 1007 likely voters taken two days after the Republican National Convention reveals that former Vice President Joe Biden now leads President Donald Trump 48% to 42%, with…

elections, Features, General Topics, National, News, Politics, Technology

America needs balanced discussion on racial injustice, not a political one

August 27, 2020August 29, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

America needs balanced discussion on racial injustice, not a political one The screams of the one-sided, Black Lives Matter protestors are defining a distorted national debate on racial injustice. They want a debate driven only by the fact that they are Black and you are White. Hispanics, by the way, are tossed into the “White”…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Government, Opinion, Politics, Racism, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

Survey urges hotels use technology, reduce cleaning, enforce face masks, social distancing

August 27, 2020August 27, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Survey urges hotels use technology, reduce cleaning, enforce face masks, social distancing Click HERE to download a one pager on the survey. A new national survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) conducted by Morning Consult shows that a number of improvements to health and sanitation protocol at U.S. hotels would have considerable…

Business, Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Entertainment, General Topics, Health, National, News, Regional Midwest, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Technology

Foreign scammers rely on your neighbors to harass you

August 26, 2020August 26, 2020 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Foreign scammers rely on your neighbors to harass you U.S. Attorney General William Barr should resign from office for failing to defend the rights of scam victims. Barr approved a “consent decree” that let off the hook Americans who helped foreign criminals scam hundreds of millions of dollars from elderly Americans through false IRS telephone…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Federal, Government, National, News, Opinion, Police, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Annual SouthSide pitch extended to Sept. 2

August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Annual SouthSide pitch extended to Sept. 2 Calling all South Side business owners! This is your last chance to apply for this year’s small business competition, South Side Pitch. Are you interested in a chance to compete for a top prize of $8,000? Would you like to expose your business to potential customers throughout Chicago? If…

Business, Entertainment, Features, news release, Suburban Chicagoland, Television

We need to defend the Police against “cancel culture” corruption

August 21, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

We need to defend the Police against “cancel culture” corruption Police officers have put their lives on the line to defend us. Now it’s time for us to defend the Police. Phony morality protestors exploiting the death of a convicted felon in Minneapolis try to justify protests that spin out of control into looting, violence…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Government, National, Opinion, Police, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

President Dominick announces Amazon to open two fulfillment centers in Cicero

August 19, 2020August 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

President Dominick announces Amazon to open two fulfillment centers in Cicero New warehouse will reduce tax burden on Cicero residents by generating business real estate tax revenues and create hundreds of new job opportunities for Cicero residents The Town of Cicero has been selected as the newest location in the expansion of the mega-retailer Amazon…

Business, Cook County, Government, News, news release, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Park’s Centennial Park Aquatic Center Earns Top Safety Rating

August 19, 2020August 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park’s Centennial Park Aquatic Center Earns Top Safety Rating StarGuard Elite Rates Orland Park Staff 5 Stars Throughout the summer season, auditors from StarGuard Elite randomly visit the Village of Orland Park’s Centennial Park Aquatic Center (CPAC) to evaluate staff and facility operations. On Sunday, August 9, the organization awarded CPAC staff a 5-star safety…

Briefs, Government, News, Orland Park, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Lottery Lawyer, three co-conspirators indicted in $107 million scheme to defraud lottery-winning clients

August 19, 2020August 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

“Lottery Lawyer,” three co-conspirators indicted in $107 million scheme to defraud lottery-winning clients Two Defendants Also Charged with Threatening to Kill Recipient of Usurious Loan The U.S. Justice Department announced on Tuesday August 18, 2020 that an indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging attorney Jason Kurland, Christopher Chierchio, Francis Smookler, a former…

Crime, National

Apple bullies sue company for using a fruit as its logo

August 18, 2020August 18, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Apple bullies sue company for using a fruit as its logo Apple is suing a small food business of 5 employees named Prepear. Why? Because Prepear’s logo is fruit-shaped, but it’s clearly a pear. That’s outrageous to Prepear. They say they’re being bullied by Apple. “It is a very terrifying experience to be legally attacked…

Business, food, News, news release, Technology

Pritzker Administration Extends Deadline to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance

August 18, 2020August 18, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pritzker Administration Extends Deadline to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Applications for Rental Assistance now Available until August 28th at era.ihda.org Today Tuesday August 18, 2020, Governor Pritzker announced the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has extended the deadline for Illinois renters to apply for aid by one week to 12:00 p.m. on August 28th…

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

O’Brien calls on Kim Foxx to resign as Cook County States Attorney

August 17, 2020August 17, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

O’Brien calls on Kim Foxx to resign as Cook County States Attorney State’s Attorney Candidate Judge Pat O’Brien Calls for Kim Foxx’s Resignation in Wake of Special Prosecutor Report Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Judge Pat O’Brien will hold a press conference at 4 pm today at the Daley Center to discuss the results of…

Chicago, Cook County, Crime, elections, Government, News, Police, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Political Pundit: Mayor Pekau’s strategy to lower the rising COVID-19 infections

August 16, 2020August 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Political Pundit: Mayor Pekau’s strategy to lower the rising COVID-19 infections Mayor Keith Pekau in his Village of Orland Park Youtube Channel video assault on truth, the facts and his critics, argues that the driving force behind rising COVID-19 numbers is “testing.” He says testing is inconsistent and that we should not be misled by…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Political Pundit, Politics

Dist 230 Supt Dr. James M. Gay announces intent to retire

August 13, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Dist 230 Supt Dr. James M. Gay announces intent to retire District 230 Superintendent Dr. James M. Gay shared with staff on Monday his intent to retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Dr. Gay joined District 230 as Assistant Principal at Andrew High School and then was Principal there for four years. In…

Education, Features, Government, News, Orland Park, Releases