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

Coronavirus COVID-19 infections continue to surge in Orland Park: Opinion

January 2, 2021January 2, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Coronavirus COVID-19 infections continue to surge in Orland Park: Opinion The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase, not dissipate in Orland Park in part because of the failure of the Mayor to serve as a role model for strong anti-infection practices including the wearing of face masks. Pekau has opposed efforts to require the wearing…

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

Redbox lists top movie rentals and streams for 2020

December 31, 2020December 31, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Redbox lists top movie rentals and streams for 2020 With the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic suppressing entertainment and public activities during most of 2020, Redbox lists the movies that were most popular for their customers, through Redbox rentals and also through Redbox Streaming. Here are the lists of the Top 10 films of 2020 including rentals…

Entertainment, Features, General Topics, Movies, Technology

Facebook censors video of fight at Orland Park Mall

December 28, 2020December 28, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Facebook censors video of fight at Orland Park Mall A fight at the Orland Park Mall in southwest Suburban Chicagoland has become the focus of a debate over censorship by social media giant Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram. The video attracted many comments including some that turned the video into a symbol of racism and…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Features, General Topics, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

The courage of standing up for our Police

December 25, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

The courage of standing up for our Police A student athlete at the University of Illinois stood tall and proud recently while all of her teammates and coaches took a knee during the singing of the National Anthem. That student, who I know but won’t identify, has true courage and is the symbol of what…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Education, Opinion, Police, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Township Provides Gifts and Meals for Over 200 Families

December 23, 2020December 23, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township Provides Gifts and Meals for Over 200 Families Generous community supports Holiday Program. Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and the Township board distributed food and toys to more than 200 needy families during the Township’s annual Holiday Program Through many acts of kindness and generosity, the holidays were made a little brighter for…

coronavirus, Government, Health, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Marie Newman Appointed to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

December 19, 2020December 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Marie Newman Appointed to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure On Friday, Dec. 17, 2020, Congresswoman-elect Marie Newman (D-IL) announced her appointment to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Committee has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation, critical aspects of our nation’s infrastructure system, as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation, Amtrak…

Chicago, Cook County, Federal, Government, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Abir Othman named next Principal at Andrew High School

December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Abir Othman named next Principal at Andrew High School The High School District 230 School Board unanimously approved the hiring of Abir Othman as Principal of Andrew High School, in light of the promotion of Dr. Robert Nolting to the role of Superintendent beginning on July 1, 2021. “Abir is a strong and compassionate leader…

Education, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Reckoning over media’s biased coverage of Trump is due

December 17, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Reckoning over media’s biased coverage of Trump is due Whether you supported or opposed President Trump or President-elect Joe Biden is irrelevant to the problems that this country faced int he recent elections. The real challenge was the failure of the mainstream news media is maintain is professionalism and to denigrate into a partisan organization…

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

Former Mayor Dan McLaughlin announces bid in Orland Park

December 16, 2020December 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Former Mayor Dan McLaughlin announces bid in Orland Park After consulting with thousands of Orland Park residents, business owners, and community leaders, former Mayor, Dan McLaughlin, will be challenging incumbent mayor, Keith Pekau, in the April 6, 2021 election by continuing his commitment to serve the working families of Orland Park. McLaughlin’s priorities will…

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

Orland Township Strike Force ready to oversee COVID-19 vaccine

December 16, 2020November 9, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township Strike Force ready to oversee COVID-19 vaccine Team on board and ready to administer COVID-19 vaccine Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady announced at the Township’s December Board meeting that the Township has a plan in place to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents, if called upon to do so by state and local…

coronavirus, DuPage, Government, Health, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Township Helping Protect Residents During the Holidays

December 15, 2020December 15, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township Helping Protect Residents During the Holidays 500 bags of PPE/cleaning supplies to be distributed at Dec. 22 drive-thru Orland Township will hold a drive-thru to distribute bags of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to Township residents who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the office of…

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

Media must change its focus from Chicago to the suburbs

December 11, 2020December 13, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Media must change its focus from Chicago to the suburbs The news media needs a reboot, especially in Chicagoland. I’m tired of seeing Chicago news dominate the TV stations in Chicago when the real news stories are out in the neighborhoods and in the suburbs. The TV News Media needs to change its focus on…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, General Topics, Media Bias, Opinion, Racism, Radio, Suburban Chicagoland, Television

Orland Park Village Trustee Daniel Calandriello Will Not Seek Another Term

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Village Trustee Daniel Calandriello Will Not Seek Another Term Trustee Thanks Supporters and Provides Thoughts about Village’s Future After more than 7 years of public service on the Orland Park Village Board of Trustees, Dan Calandriello announced today that he will not run for re-election. In a message to supporters, Calandriello stated, “…after…

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

Pappas: Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose residents, pay larger tax increases and have the most violent crime

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose residents, pay larger tax increases and have the most violent crime Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today released a study which shows that the areas in Cook County where delinquent properties are a severe problem are losing population, experiencing larger property tax increases, and confronting high levels…

Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Park Village lacks experience to manage COVID-19 vaccine distribution

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Orland Park Village lacks experience to manage COVID-19 vaccine distribution Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau claims he is readying to distribute the COVID-19 vaccinations but with no real experience in health care services, the Village is not the best qualified source to manage this important need. That responsibility should go to Orland Township Supervisor…

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

Memoir: “Stories My Father Told Me” Available Now

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Memoir: “Stories My Father Told Me” Available Now Memories of a Childhood in Syria and Lebanon By Elia Zughaib, Illustrated by Helen Zughaib In a world driven by power, money, and the pursuit of personal success, Helen and her father Elia have given us a glimpse of an intact society stretched to the limit, yet…

Books & Films, News

17 GOP States and President Trump Seek to Overturn Election

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

17 GOP States and President Trump Seek to Overturn Election By Aron Solomon This is the type of headline we know has been brewing since election day. Now that the day is here, let’s unpack the events of this remarkably interesting legal and political week and what it might actually mean for the next four…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, National, Opinion

Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., sworn-in to the Illinois Supreme Court

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr., sworn-in to the Illinois Supreme Court On December 4, 2020, after his November 3, 2020 election, Justice Neville, the second African American to sit on the Illinois Supreme Court, was sworn in by Chief Justice Anne M. Burke, with his wife and staff in attendance. Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr….

Crime, elections, Government, News, Quick News