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

Aurelia Pucinski receives support for retention as Illinois Appellate Court justice

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Aurelia Pucinski receives support for retention as Illinois Appellate Court justice Illinois Appellate Court Justice Aurelia Pucinski is seeking retention on the Tuesday, November 3, 2020 General Election ballot. Her Ballot number is 201 and she needs your support. This year’s ballot is going to be very long and difficult because of having so many…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, Features, Government, Illinois Legislature, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, women

The Jews of Lebanon, special “Deep Dive” series by the Arab News Newspaper

September 12, 2020September 12, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Jews of Lebanon, special “Deep Dive” series by the Arab News Newspaper A once-thriving community with roots dating back hundreds of years, they are now a silent and forgotten minority. The Arab News Newspaper, the Middle East’s leading English language publication, tracked down Lebanese Jews in the diaspora to talk to them about their memories…

Editors Pick, Features, news release, Releases, Religion

O’Brien can’t beat Foxx as a “Republican”

September 10, 2020September 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

O’Brien can’t beat Foxx as a “Republican” Judge Pat O’Brien is in a unique position to unseat Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx who has made race and racism the determining factor in how she prosecutes crimes. But O’Brien can’t defeat Foxx if he wraps himself in the Republican Party and associates himself with far…

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

American Arab Chamber applauds Chicago compromise on flavored tobacco ban

September 10, 2020September 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

American Arab Chamber applauds Chicago compromise on flavored tobacco ban Chicago Aldermen adopted a ban on the use of flavored tobacco in vapes that appeal to children under the age of 21. The ordinance was adjusted so as not to undermine the Hookah lounge industry which provides an American Arab cultural experience to people who…

Chicago, News

8,500 Cook County homeowners are owed automatic refund for tax overpayments

September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

8,500 Cook County homeowners are owed automatic refund for tax overpayments Pappas: Are you one of the 8,500 homeowners getting an automatic refund? Find out at CookCountyTreasurer.com More than 8,500 homeowners who overpaid their First Installment taxes are set to receive $12.8 million in refunds without filing an application, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said…

Chicago, Cook County, Features, Government, News, news release, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Judge Issues restraining order to prevent Trump from moving up 2020 Census deadline

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

Judge Issues restraining order to prevent Trump from moving up 2020 Census deadline Civil Rights Groups Secure Court Order to Stop Trump’s Rushed and Incomplete Census Count. Decision Adds More Time for a Fair Counting and Will Account for Millions More People The Trump administration’s last-minute move to terminate 2020 census operations would likely lead to a…

Federal, Government, National, News, Politics

How criminals become heroes in today’s screwed-up world

September 5, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

How criminals become heroes in today’s screwed-up world The biased mainstream news media is failing at its job to report facts. Instead of reporting facts, they are reporting half truths, and politically partisan opinions. The case of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin is a good example of how only part of the…

Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Government, National, Opinion, Police, Politics, Racism, rayhanania

Firefighters respond to Orland home fire they witness from their firehouse across the street

September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Firefighters respond to Orland home fire they witness from their firehouse across the street Firefighters at the Orland Fire Protection District’s Station 5 at 8851 W. 143rd Street were conducting their afternoon exercise routines inside the firehouse on Saturday (Sept. 5, 2020) at 2:50 PM when they smelled something burning outside. The OFPD firefighters rushed…

breaking news, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Marie Newman will strive to bring activists and police together

September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Marie Newman will strive to bring activists and police together Marie Newman, who ousted Congressman Dan Lipinski from office in the Democratic Primary election last March, told a rally hosted by Arab Americans Friday that she will strive to bring police and activists together for the benefit of the community and to fight racism of all…

breaking news, Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Editors Pick, elections, Features, Federal, Government, National, News, Police, Politics, Racism, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

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