Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Sketch Comedy Festival Jan. 10-19, 2019 SketchFest Executive Producer Jill Valentine is thrilled to announce the official line-up for the 18th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, taking place January 10 through January 20, 2019 at Stage 773. Since its inception in 2002, the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival has grown to be the largest festival of…
Video: Chicago Newsroom on CAN TV analyzes elections Veteran journalists Del Marie Cobb and Ray Hanania join guest host Bruce DuMont on this week’s episode of “Chicago Newsroom” hosted by Ken Davis. Cobb, Hanania and DuMont analyze results of the Nov. 6, 2018 General Elections on President Trump, the Democrats and Republicans. The panel also look at…
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Friends of Park opposes private use of public land for Obama library Friends of the Parks responds to the Chicago City Council adoption of an ordinance authorizing construction of the Obama Presidential Center on park land in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side. Public Pressure Ensures Movement Toward a “Park Positive” Outcome for Jackson Park Friends…
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Miriam Zayed passing mourned by Chicagolands Arab, Muslim community Local activist fought for the rights of Arabs and Muslims in the Chicagoland area and also for the rights of all in mainstream American politics. Miriam Zayed was among one of the first two Arab Americans in Chicagoland to run for public elective office in the…
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No justice in fight against crime in Van Dyke conviction Two issues continue to bother me. The first is the imbalance and lack of justice in the prosecution of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, and the lack of attention to the criminal behavior of the victim Laquan McDonald. The second is the increasing amount…
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WMAQ TV Reporter Warner Saunders passes away at 83 Iconic African American television journalist Warner Saunders dies. Saunders was a brilliant reporter who fairly covered the news and sympathized with those who were oppressed. By Ray Hanania Warner Saunders was almost one-of-a-kind. Not only was he a true journalist, he was also a genuine human…
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Race leverages next election for Chicago mayor Who will be Chicago’s next mayor? The decision will be made by Chicago’s racially divided voters, Blacks, Whites and Hispanics. The first run will see all of the racial blocks divided and the two candidates who receive the most votes — no one will win the 50 percent…
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Killing of Laquan McDonald plays into race more than facts What might Laquan McDonald have done had police not stopped him on that October evening in 2014 near 41st and Pulaski Road in Chicago? McDonald, who was menacingly waving a knife in the air as he walked in the middle of the street late at…
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Who was Chicago’s Best Mayor? With Mayor Rahm Emanuel bowing out of next Spring’s Chicago mayoral elections, it’s a good time to look at the past eight of Chicago’s mayors to decide who was the “best” in a lot of different categories including inspirational, vindictive, vision, historic, and most productive. By Ray Hanania Chicago Mayor…
Windy City Blues Society launches Blues Festival in Lyons Headliners include Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Lurrie Bell, and The Mike Wheeler Band. Tomiko Dixon (granddaughter of blues legend Willie Dixon), and Buddy Guy’s daughter Carlise Guy and the NuBlu Band along with Deak Harp & Quicksand from Clarksdale Mississippi round out the big Saturday Showcase. The…
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Speaker Madigan, Clerk candidate Yarbrough to keynote Arab American Forum The Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) announced this week that Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Karen Yarbrough, the current Cook County Recorder of Deeds and now the official Democratic candidate for Cook County Clerk, will be keynote speakers at the annual Candidate’s Brunch…
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Lipinski urges restoration of humanitarian aid for Palestinians Conservative Democrat Dan Lipinski urges immediate humanitarian aid to Palestinians living in the besieged Gaza Strip, warning of dire consequences that not only threatens the life of the nearly 2 million civilians but also jeopardizes the chances of peace between Israel and Palestine. Americans for Peace Now…
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When will people in Chicago get serious about violence? Organized protests may bring attention to the problem of neighborhood violence. But if community homeowners and families don’t stand up to the violence in their own community, they can’t make a difference and violence will continue. The past weekend when Chicago saw 74 brutal shootings and…
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Hardiman breaks ties with organizers of anti-violence protests Organizers of the Successful Lake Shore Drive Demonstration Sever Ties. Activist Tio Hardiman No Longer Sees Eye to Eye with Pastor Greg Livingston About Getting All of Chicago To Feel the Pain of Chicago’s Surging Violence Tio Hardiman, the executive director of the Violence Interrupters and one of…
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Orland Fire joins class action lawsuit to block Opioid addiction The Orland Fire Protection and 13 other municipalities including several from the southwest suburbs have filed a class action suit against Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of opioid-based prescription drugs, and 26 other defendants accused of downplaying the negative impact of opioids on users and fueling…
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Adler Planetarium to honor Astronaut Lovell, Magellan Corporation at annual Ball Adler Planetarium to Honor Longtime Partner Magellan Corp. and American Hero Captain James A. Lovell, Jr. at Celestial Ball. Annual Gala Raises Funds for Education Programs throughout the Museum. On Saturday, September 8, 2018, the Adler Planetarium Women’s Board will host their biggest fundraising…
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Pretend interview with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel I’ve covered six Chicago Mayors since 1976 including Mayors Richard J. Daley, Michael A. Bilandic, Jane M. Byrne, Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer and Richard M. Daley. But I have yet to get Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to allow me to interview him, despite numerous requests. What’s the excuse…
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McCarthy Statement on Recent Police-Involved Shooting Former Chicago Police Superintendent and Candidate for Mayor of Chicago Garry McCarthy issued this statement on rising violence in the City of Chicago: “These kinds of shooting incidents are a tragedy. As a city, we all lose when they occur. I offer my condolence to the victim’s family. At…
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