Category: Commentary

Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets

August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets By Maria Pappas Illinois lawmakers have enacted significant changes to property tax exemptions benefiting veterans, including a landmark provision for those who served during World War II. These amendments, effective for the 2024 tax year, underscore our commitment to supporting our veteran…

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

Leving legal team won appeal defending falsely accused Chicago dad

August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Leving legal team won appeal defending falsely accused Chicago dad By Laura Reichel The Leving legal team won a critical decision from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in favor of an accused father they defended. It is terrifying for any father to be faced with the allegation that he neglected his…

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

Why you need to read Ray Hanania’s syndicated columns

August 22, 2024August 22, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Why you need to read Ray Hanania’s syndicated columns Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist but he needs your support. His columns reflects an honesty in political coverage that you don’t often find in American journalism. Watch this promotion on Ray’s commitment to objective journalism and commentary, “even when it hurts.” He needs your…

Blogger, Commentary, Culture, journalism, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

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

July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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,…

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

The Mike Madigan I know did much for the Southwest region

July 25, 2024July 25, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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….

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

Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade Syndicated columnist and award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter writes 5 columns each week addressing politics, slice of life and the Middle East Here is a summary of the most recent columns which you can subscribe to free of charge (or become a…

Commentary, elections, Features, Government, National, News, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Taxes

Pressure mounts on Biden to step down, fueling support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 3rd party candidates

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pressure mounts on Biden to step down, fueling support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 3rd party candidates Video Podcast: Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and columnist and award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania discuss the pressures on President Biden to withdraw from the presidential election, and the impact it will have on…

Bill Lipinski, Commentary, elections, National, News, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes, Videos

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

July 1, 2024July 1, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

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

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

Father with troubled past gains full parenting time

June 14, 2024June 14, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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,…

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

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

June 14, 2024June 14, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

June 8, 2024June 8, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

June 7, 2024June 7, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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….

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

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

June 1, 2024June 2, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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….

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

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

May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 Guest Columnist No Comments

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…

Blogger, Commentary, Jeffery Leving, Law, Opinion

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

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

May 18, 2024May 18, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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