Category: Economy

Hastings leads effort to protect Illinois clients and attorneys from private equity interference

May 7, 2026May 7, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hastings leads effort to protect Illinois clients and attorneys from private equity interference State Senator Michael E. Hastings advanced legislation that would safeguard the professional independence of attorneys and protect clients from undue influence by private equity investors, hedge funds and investor‑backed management services organizations. “This legislation is about ensuring that legal decisions in Illinois…

Economy, Government, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire

Hastings advances measures to simplify subscription cancellations, & fights for stronger oversight of Buy-Now-Pay-Later loans to protect Illinois consumers

March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hastings advances measures to simplify subscription cancellations, & fights for stronger oversight of Buy-Now-Pay-Later loans to protect Illinois consumers SPRINGFIELD — Subscription services often make canceling an active subscription difficult and convoluted in order to make customers give up or forget to cancel the service. To combat this practice, State Senator Michael E. Hastings advanced…

Business, Economy, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, safety, Technology

Ranking Member Markey Slams Trump’s Reckless Policies Making Life Unaffordable for Small Agricultural Businesses

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ranking Member Markey Slams Trump’s Reckless Policies Making Life Unaffordable for Small Agricultural Businesses Ranking Member of Congress Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) condemned Donald Trump’s attacks on rural communities and heard from Massachusetts witnesses about the importance of supporting small agricultural businesses at a Small Business Committee hearing titled “Growing the Small Business Agricultural Economy.”…

Economy, Federal, National, News

React to President Trump’s war on Venezuela from American leaders

January 3, 2026January 3, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

React to President Trump’s war on Venezuela from American leaders By Ray Hanania We will run statements as they are released by various American officials on President Donald Trump’s illegal invasion of Venezuela and his bombastic assertions of his greatness and plans to take over the Venezuelan Oil Field after his detention of Venezuelan President…

Crime, Economy, Government, Law, News, NewsWire, Politics

Cook County Pastors from the south and west sides and suburbs urge property tax reform

December 16, 2025December 18, 2025 News Editor No Comments

Cook County Pastors from the south and west sides and suburbs urge property tax reform Chicago, IL — A coalition of African American Pastors representing more than 100 churches on Chicago’s South and West sides and suburbs called for immediate reforms in the property tax system, warning recent tax hikes will force thousands to lose…

Cook County, Economy, elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

WalletHub releases Credit Card Debt study, shows $16 billion increase

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

WalletHub releases Credit Card Debt study, shows $16 billion increase The Federal Reserve released its latest Consumer Credit report today at 3 p.m. WalletHub’s inflation-adjusted analysis of the data reveals that consumers added $16 billion in credit card debt during the third quarter of 2025. Key highlights from WalletHub’s new Credit Card Debt Study are…

Economy, National, News

Illinois sees 7th highest rise in total household debt, ranks 29th in debt rise

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois sees 7th highest in total household debt, ranks 29th in debt rise With household debt reaching $18.59 trillion in Q3 2025, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its rankings of the States With the Largest & Smallest Debt Increases, based on new data from TransUnion and the Federal Reserve, to highlight where people may…

Economy, Illinois Legislature, National, News, NewsWire

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown

October 30, 2025October 30, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown Estimated 153,000 Federal Workers in Illinois to be impacted by government shutdown Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is committing $50 million to fund zero-interest and low-interest loans to unpaid federal workers during the government shutdown. The loans will be…

Economy, Federal, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Politics

Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families

October 29, 2025October 29, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families State Senator Michael E. Hastings was joined at a press conference Wednesday by Senators Willie Preston, Paul Faraci, Meg Loughran Cappel, Christopher Belt, and Doris Turner to announce new legislation designed to protect homeowners from excessive insurance rate increases and ensure fairness, transparency,…

Business, Economy, Government, Illinois Legislature, Insurance, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, Senator Michael Hastings

Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown

October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown FRANKFORT — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is urging federal lawmakers to resolve the ongoing government shutdown to prevent the cessation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, come Nov. 1. Nearly two million Illinois residents rely on SNAP to provide…

Baby Boomers, Economy, food, Government, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland

WalletHub releases new Credit Card Debt study

September 8, 2025September 8, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

WalletHub releases new Credit Card Debt study WalletHub’s new Credit Card Debt Study released its latest study looking at Credit Card debt, showing it is below the record high. The results of WalletHub’s new Fed Rate Survey, along with projections for how a September prime rate drop could affect our wallets, are listed here. Credit…

Economy, News

Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar Hosts Discussion on 16th District Infrastructure Funding

September 7, 2025September 7, 2025 News Editor No Comments

Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar Hosts Discussion on 16th District Infrastructure Funding On Thursday, September 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted a Facebook Live Virtual Town Hall to discuss infrastructure investment and funding in Cook County’s 16th District. Joining Commissioner Aguilar was Cook County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DOTH) Superintendent Jennifer “Sis”…

Cook County, Economy, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

State GOP Chair Salvi applauds Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill”

May 23, 2025May 23, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

State GOP Chair Salvi applauds Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” passed the House of Representatives with the unwavering support of Illinois Republicans. A big thank you to Congressman Darin LaHood, Congressman Mike Bost, and Congresswoman Mary Miller for their leadership. This landmark legislation locks in key provisions of the Tax Cuts…

Democrat, Economy, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Republican, Taxes

Lisa Hernandez Responds to Governor’s State of the State: Cost of Living is My Top Priority

February 20, 2025February 20, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lisa Hernandez Responds to Governor’s State of the State: Cost of Living is My Top Priority SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, outlined her strong commitment to cutting the cost of living for everyday Illinoisans in her response to Governor Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address. “While we again face a…

Economy, Government, Illinois Legislature, News

Serafin Power Poll shows anxiety over state economy, the issue that drove presidential election

November 20, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Serafin Power Poll shows anxiety over state economy, the issue that drove presidential election Monthly “Serafin Power Poll” puts finger on the issues driving elections, politics and public perceptions. Latest polls shows it was and is the economy, but how do influencers feel about it all. By Ray Hanania Political guru and veteran media consultant…

Chicago, Cook County, Economy, Features, National, News, Politics

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza takes tough action against Orland Park over unfiled audits

October 17, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

State Comptroller Susana Mendoza takes tough action against Orland Park over unfiled audits Comptroller Mendoza Suspends Payments to the Village of Orland Park for Failure to File Documents. The move aims to motivate Orland Park’s administration to follow the law without penalizing town residents By Ray Hanania Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza took tough action on…

Economy, Government, News, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Congressional District 6 Challenger Niki Conforti, denounces Sean Casten for helping to drive prices higher

August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Congressional District 6 challenger Niki Conforti, denounces Sean Casten for helping to drive prices higher Last week’s inflation report brought more bad news for all Americans, 6th District Candidate for Congress Niki Conforti said Monday, August 19, 2024. Prices continued to increase in July and went up again, close to 3% over a year ago….

Economy, elections, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month

November 18, 2023November 18, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named on Thursday Nov. 16, 2023 U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) its November 2023 Porker of the Month for trying to take away everyone’s credit card benefits. In 2010, Sen. Durbin led the effort to pass…

Economy, Federal, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Taxes