Category: Blogger

Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas
Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas

Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas By Maria Pappas My office redesigned this year’s property tax bills to clearly show where your tax dollars go. On the front of every bill, you can see how much of your hard-earned money goes to each taxing body What is less visible, however,…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland

The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region
The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region

The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region By Ray Hanania I was first introduced to Mike Madigan in 1978 by then Chicago Mayor Michael A. Bilandic. The mayor told me, a cub reporter at the time, to keep an eye on him because he was a “rising star.” As it turns…

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Blogger, Commentary, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 
Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 

Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person  By Maria Pappas Property owners face an Aug. 1 due date to pay their Second Installment 2023 tax bills. Many homeowners authorize their mortgage company to pay their two annual property tax installments from an escrow account….

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes
Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes By Maria Pappas Record-high increases in property tax bills have shocked and angered many Cook County property owners, especially in the south suburbs. Second Installment 2023 bills are online at cookcountytreasurer.com and arriving in mailboxes in early July. Bills are…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara
Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara

Orland’s Pekau rejects contract renewal for Village Manager George Koczwara Controversy-plagued Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau will introduce a letter at Monday’s Village Board meeting (June 17, 2024) signed by him telling Village Manager George Koczwara that his contract cannot be renewed because it would be “unfair and inappropriate to allow an automatic extension” to…

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Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Father with troubled past gains full parenting time

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Father with troubled past gains full parenting time
Father with troubled past gains full parenting time

Father with troubled past gains full parenting time By Laura Reichel  A Chicago father with a problematic past, was being kept from his son. He drank a little too much back in the day, and he had a criminal record. When he and his wife separated, he initially had limited contact with his grade school-age son,…

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Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

You may be owed a refund for overpaying property taxes during past 20 years

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on You may be owed a refund for overpaying property taxes during past 20 years
You may be owed a refund for overpaying property taxes during past 20 years

You may be owed a refund for overpaying property taxes during past 20 years By Maria Pappas My office is sitting on about $93 million in potential refunds for property tax overpayments going back 20 years. Most overpayments occurred because more than one person paid the same tax bill twice. Reasons why duplicate payments occurred…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park
What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park

What’s the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland’s suburbs? Zwar in Orland Park One of Chicagoland’s best Middle East Arabian restaurants offers a special exotic entertainment show every Wednesday, complementing their great food menu with the mesmerizing dance of Belly Dancer Tina every Wednesday from 7 PM until 9 PM. Enjoy a great show along…

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Blogger, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, food, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

Court orders divorced mother to allow son to visit dad’s critically injured relative

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Court orders divorced mother to allow son to visit dad’s critically injured relative

Court orders divorced mother to allow son to visit dad’s critically injured relative By: Laura Reichel A caring father of a 6-year-old boy shared custody of his child with his ex-wife. One day, Dad received news that a close family member had been hospitalized after a serious accident and was hanging on for his very life….

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Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions
Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions

Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions By Maria Pappas I do not determine your property taxes. My job as county treasurer is to bill, collect and distribute that money to pay for local government services. Local governments typically rely on property taxes to fund payrolls and other day-to-day expenses….

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Dad reunited with young daughter after ex-wife obtained baseless Order of Protection against him

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Dad reunited with young daughter after ex-wife obtained baseless Order of Protection against him

Dad reunited with young daughter after ex-wife obtained baseless Order of Protection against him By Kate Davis A Chicago dad had a great relationship with his 5-year-old daughter. Even after he and his wife split up, they shared parenting time, and were very amicable – that was until his co-parenting relationship with his ex-wife crumbled…

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Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information
Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information By Maria Pappas My website, cookcountytreasurer.com, offers people an easy way to correct, change or update name and address information about where property tax bills are mailed. The best option is to electronically request the change online. You may request a change in…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Local law enforcement agencies should tap into state witness protection fund to help bring victim families closure

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Local law enforcement agencies should tap into state witness protection fund to help bring victim families closure

Local law enforcement agencies should tap into state witness protection fund to help bring victim families closure By Jeffery M. Leving SM With a reported homicide closure rate of about 20% in Chicago, far too many families are waiting for justice for their loved ones and closure for their families. While there are several reasons…

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Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, Crime, Guest Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion, Police

Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront
Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront

Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau just can’t be honest. Last week, I revealed that the Village removed the sign for the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall from the front of the building. Fred Owens was a beloved mayor who helped…

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Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Senior freeze exemptions help prevent huge spikes in property tax bills

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Senior freeze exemptions help prevent huge spikes in property tax bills
Senior freeze exemptions help prevent huge spikes in property tax bills

Senior freeze exemptions help prevent huge spikes in property tax bills By Maria Pappas Many senior citizens on fixed incomes face the challenge of managing their property taxes. They may be eligible for a tax break known as the “Senior Freeze” Exemption. My website, cookcountytreasurer.com, explains the eligibility requirements and can walk you through the…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign

Posted on By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign
Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign

Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign In a pure act of pettiness, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau has removed the name of Frederick T. Owens from the signs in front of the Village Hall, for which the Village Hall has been named, without any public discussion or notice. In its place, Pekau…

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Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Robert F. Kennedy should be allowed to participate in presidential debates

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Robert F. Kennedy should be allowed to participate in presidential debates
Robert F. Kennedy should be allowed to participate in presidential debates

Robert F. Kennedy should be allowed to participate in presidential debates By Ray Hanania My most recently syndicated columns for this week, which are available to the public at www.RayHanania.com, address several issues. My latest column addresses why it is important for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be permitted to participate in any debate among…

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Blogger, Commentary, elections, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes

Can’t hide the anti-Trump spin in the new “Civil War” movie

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Can’t hide the anti-Trump spin in the new “Civil War” movie
Can’t hide the anti-Trump spin in the new “Civil War” movie

Can’t hide the anti-Trump spin in the new “Civil War” movie Although the director denies it, the new Civil War movie is a subtle but direct attack on former President Donald Trump, another effort by the media, this time entertainment, to destroy him By Ray Hanania Paid/Politics-Movie/Saturday April 20, 2024/Syndicated column. Sign up today If…

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Blogger, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Government, Movies, National, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Review