Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Urges Seniors to Take Advantage of Property Tax Deferral Program Amid growing concerns that increases in property tax bills are pushing senior citizens to leave their homes, Cook County Treasurer María Pappas reminded senior homeowners today of a state program that allows them to defer paying their property taxes. The…
Recent Ray Hanania columns you may have missed on Madoff, Kaegi and targeting criminals How is it that members of Congress can far exceed the profit performance of the stock market when it comes to their own investments? Why did Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi artificially increase the assessments of suburban homes, thereby dramatically increasing…
Court restores candidate Michael Maloney and the Tinley Together Slate on April 1 election ballot Candidate Michael Patrick Maloney and his slate of candidates, the “Tinley Together Slate,” were restored to the April 1, 2025, Tinley Park Village election ballot after a judge Friday ruled that efforts to remove them had violated the law. Maloney placed…
Top Winter Fire Hazards in America, According to New Study Fire numbers are lowest in December compared to the rest of the year, so January is a good time to start being more cautious. Cooking equipment ranked highly among the greatest fire hazards in winter. The clothes dryer ranked as the fourth most reported home equipment…
Read More “Top Winter Fire Hazards in America, According to New Study” »
Denied Insurance Claims: Where Car Owners are Being Rejected, Expert Suggests Solutions Insurance companies reject car owner claims: 5-15% of auto insurance claims are denied annually in the U.S.; California, Texas, and Florida lead the nation with the highest volume of denied claims; Common reasons for denial include insufficient or inaccurate information, policy lapses, and…
Pekau Allies Removed from Electoral Board by Cook County Judge Two of the most vicious and controversial members of the Orland Park Village Board, Cindy Katsenes and Bill Healy, were ordered removed by a Cook County Judge from serving on the Village Election Board named by Mayor Keith Pekau to oversee a faulty challenge to…
Read More “Pekau Allies Removed from Electoral Board by Cook County Judge” »
County Treasurer Pappas can help you understand your property taxes in virtually any language By Maria Pappas The property tax system can confound lifelong Cook County residents. Assessments, appeals, exemptions and other parts of the process can be difficult to understand. Now imagine you immigrated from a place that didn’t have property taxes. Many countries…
Jaber urges Village Board to stop undermining the Orland Park Public Library system Mohammed Jaber, Candidate for Orland Park Trustee in the Feb 25 and April 1 elections, steps up to defend the Orland Library from attacks by the Orland Park Village Board and Mayor Pekau. Orland Park, IL — Orland Park Trustee candidate Mohammed…
Read More “Jaber urges Village Board to stop undermining the Orland Park Public Library system” »
Video Podcast: Two Guys on Politics: JFK, Ukraine and ICC Arrest Warrants for Putin and Netanyahu Co-Hosts Ray Hanania joins former Congressman Bill Lipinski on Two Guys on Politics to discuss Trump’s cabinet appointments and the decision by Matt Gaetz to withdraw as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney and to be replaced by…
Taxpayer advocate Mohammed Jaber files for Orland Park Village Trustee in 2025 elections Orland Park, IL — Education leader Mohammed Jaber Friday announced he is running for Orland Park Village Trustee to break the “rubber stamp” that has driven increased village fees and property taxes and to restore the publics participation in local government that…
Candidate for Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge and slate file 4,236 petition signatures for April election ORLAND PARK, IL – Mayoral candidate Jim Dodge and his slate filed 4,236 petition signatures today to nominate their new Orland Park for All Party for the April 1, 2025, municipal elections. This total significantly exceeds the required minimum…
Arab Americans honored by Treasurer Pappas as part of program recognizing all ethnic groups By Ray Hanania Chicago, IL — Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, honored a dozen Arab Americans for their leadership and positive contributions to the community as a part of an overall commitment on her part to…
Lipinski and Hanania discuss Trump cabinet appointments on Video Podcast Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and coumnist and political writer Ray Hanania discuss Trump’s cabinet appointments and name the news media bias as “the biggest losers” in the presidential election battle between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. View Youtube video podcast below. 11-14-24 Co-Hosts Ray Hanania…
Read More “Lipinski and Hanania discuss Trump cabinet appointments on Video Podcast” »
Stein/Ware Campaign Demands Equal Time After Harris SNL Appearance As the Green Party presidential ticket of Dr. Jill Stein and Dr. Rudolph Ware prepares for Election Day here in Dearborn, the campaign demands that NBC provide equal time and placement for Dr. Stein following the opportunity provided to Kamala Harris on the “Saturday Night Live”…
Read More “Stein/Ware Campaign Demands Equal Time After Harris SNL Appearance” »
Pay your late taxes now because clock is ticking toward Annual Tax Sale By Maria Pappas If you still owe property taxes that were due in 2023, you’re running out of time to avoid the Annual Tax Sale. State law requires that my office conduct an annual sale of delinquent property taxes. To find out…
Read More “Pay your late taxes now because clock is ticking toward Annual Tax Sale” »
Seasons 52 restaurant arrives in Orland Park Restaurant Offers Seasonally Inspired Dining with Every Menu Item Under 595 Calories, opens Orland Park location officially Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 Seasons 52, a fresh grill and wine bar, is opening in Orland Park on Monday, November 4. The restaurant offers guests a better way to eat and…
PRESS RELEASE: Town Hall meeting in Orland Park Wednesday to address 3 NEW TIFS and impact on taxpayers, homeowners Town Hall meeting will explain and identify issues with Orland Park’s current Triangle TIF and 3 New TIFs being considered by Village of Orland Park Tom Tresser, a recognized authority on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts…
Tresser to lead Town Hall on damage Orland Park’s 3 New TIFs will have on taxpayers A Town Hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 beginning at 6:30 PM to help homeowners and taxpayers in Orland Park understand the negative impact on local governments and schools that the three NEW TIFs that…
Read More “Tresser to lead Town Hall on damage Orland Park’s 3 New TIFs will have on taxpayers” »