Category: Government

Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services

February 4, 2024February 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas My office recently mailed property tax bills to owners of nearly 1.8 million parcels in Cook County. First Installment tax bills are due March 1. Local governments, such as school districts and municipalities,…

Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Taxes

New state funded EMS Comms system will reduce response time and save lives

February 1, 2024February 1, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

New state funded EMS Comms system will reduce response time and save lives The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) on Wednesday (Jan. 31, 2024) announced that a new CAD-to-CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) technology that will significantly reduce time it takes for firefighters and paramedics in 40 south suburban communities to respond to emergencies. OFPD Fire…

Fire, Government, Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland, Technology

The battle for justice in the Chicago City Council, ceasefire and release the hostages Jan. 31

February 1, 2024February 1, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

The battle for justice in the Chicago City Council, ceasefire and release the hostages Jan. 31 Posted are three columns looking at the hypocrisy of a Chicago aldermen who is more concerned about a foreign country, Israel, than with morality, principle or what’s best for the City of Chicago. The first column looks at the…

Blogger, Chicago, Civil Rights, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Supervisor Paul O’Grady’s 5th Annual Souper Bowl Challenge

January 17, 2024January 17, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Supervisor Paul O’Grady’s 5th Annual Souper Bowl Challenge Supervisor Paul O’Grady is excited bring back the Annual Souper Bowl Challenge at Orland Township! Warm up for the Super Bowl LVII by joining Orland Township at the 5th Annual Souper Bowl Challenge! Guests will have the opportunity to sample a variety of soups before casting their…

Events, food, Government, News, Orland Township

President Dominick, Town Board organize drive to help families impacted by Friday’s fire

December 2, 2023December 3, 2023 News Editor No Comments

President Dominick, Town Board organize drive to help families impacted by Friday’s fire More than 14 families were forced to leave their homes when the 18-unit apartment building where they lived was destroyed by a massive fire on Friday Dec. 1, 2023. The Cicero Fire Department fought the blaze which lasted more than five hours,…

Cook County, Fire, Government, News, NewsWire, 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

Sheriff Dart and Friends of the Chicago River Join Forces to

November 10, 2023November 10, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Sheriff Dart and Friends of the Chicago River Join Forces to Clean-Up the Ford Heights Community and River The Cook County Sheriff’s Office co-hosted a volunteer community clean-up of the Deer Creek River in Ford Heights Village Thursday, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Friday Nov. 10, 2023. Approximately 30 volunteers from the Sheriff’s…

Cook County, Environment, Features, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses

October 30, 2023October 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses An analysis of Cook County’s 1.8 million property tax bills for 2022 shows that school districts are chiefly responsible for hefty tax bills that are due Dec. 1, according to Treasurer Maria Pappas. The median residential tax bill in the north and northwest…

Chicago, Cook County, Education, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

The Maine massacre & gun control, & the election of Rep. Johnson as House Speaker

October 29, 2023October 29, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Maine massacre & gun control, & the election of Rep. Johnson as House Speaker Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and columnist Ray Hanania discuss the massacre of 18 people by a gunman in Maine this past week and the politicization of “gun control” and the failure to impose harsh penalties for killers of all sorts….

Bill Lipinski, Blogger, Commentary, Crime, Government, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, walk-in clinics

October 24, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, walk-in clinics Orland Township residents can now receive their seasonal flu shots and pneumonia vaccines at the Township offices on select Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. The clinics are walk-in, with no appointment necessary, and are open to anyone 3 years of age or older. Additionally, a drive-thru Saturday clinic…

Government, Health, News, Orland Township

The Importance of Checking Your Furnace, Winter is Coming!

October 21, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Importance of Checking Your Furnace, Winter is Coming! The weather might be crisp and lovely right now, but Chicago’s fierce winter winds and snow are on their way. Before it gets colder, take this time to check your furnace and any other appliances that may have been damaged in the June 29 – July…

Cook County, Flooding, Government, Health, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed

October 21, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed Cook County property owners who don’t want to wait until their property tax bills arrive in the mail may now view, download and pay their Second Installment bill for the 2022 Tax Year online at cookcountytreasurer.com, Treasurer Maria Pappas announced…

Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Grasso responds to Pekau’s pathological lies and abuse of his village office

October 20, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Grasso responds to Pekau’s pathological lies and abuse of his village office Real Republican Gary Grasso responds to Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s vicious political lies and mischaracterizations. Pekau made his political attacks in his taxpayer funded position as Mayor of Orland Park, something Pekau does quite often. By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith…

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

Spyropoulos seeking election as Cook County Clerk

October 17, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Spyropoulos seeking election as Cook County Clerk For the past 13 years, you’ve known Mariyana Spyropoulos as a commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. But she began her career as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney before moving to private practice. There, she saw firsthand how vital it is for our courts to be…

Cook County, elections, Government, News

Ouster of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy focus of political Video podcast

October 6, 2023October 6, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Ouster of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy focus of political Video podcast Two Guys on Politics weekly video podcast features analysis from former Congressman Bill Lipinski and award winning political columnist Ray Hanania Two Guys on Politics weekly video podcast features analyses from former Congressman Bill Lipinski and award winning political columnist Ray Hanania Chicago —…

Bill Lipinski, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Videos

Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need

October 3, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need By Ray Hanania Last week, I wrote about how Fritz Kaegi artificially increased assessments on properties across Cook County in order to protect business property owners who are big donors with political clout. Kaegi knows voters have no lobbyists and are easily forgotten in…

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

Pappas helps phone bank caller receive whopping $11,870 property tax refund

September 30, 2023September 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas helps phone bank caller receive whopping $11,870 property tax refund By Maria Pappas “Your Property Taxes” column with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Helping taxpayers obtain refunds for property tax overpayments is one of the most rewarding parts of my job as Cook County Treasurer. My office recently helped a south suburban resident receive…

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

Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses

September 27, 2023October 28, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses By Ray Hanania Last year, a report was issued that showed that a major tax burden would slam commercial properties in Cook County. Cook County Asessor Fritz Kaegi reassessed properties in 2021 claiming it would ease the burden on homeowners. But in fact, it has…

Blogger, Business, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes