Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Everything you need to know about your Property Index Number or PIN By Maria Pappas If you own property in Cook County, there’s one number you should always know: your PIN. That’s short for Property Index Number—a 14-digit code assigned to every piece of real estate in the county. It’s tied to the legal description…
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Chicago parents and other community leaders must work together to make sure this summer isn’t deadly for our children By Jeffery M. Leving While many divorced and separated parents live with the worry that a school shooting can happen anywhere, anytime, parents in Chicago tend to worry the most when school is out for the…
How Technology Changed the Cook County Treasurer’s Office By Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer When I became Cook County Treasurer in 1998, I walked into an office stuck in the past. Boxes containing $30,000,000 of uncashed checks lined the floor, collecting dust rather than earning interest. Just four working computers and six typewriters served a…
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Honoring Fathers: A Father’s Day Reflection By Arthur S. Kallow Father’s Day is a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the men who have shaped our lives in ways both big and small. As an attorney, and advocate for fathers’ rights, I am especially reminded every year on Father’s Day of the profound importance of…
Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Navigating the complexities of the property tax system in Cook County can be daunting for homeowners. My hope is this column makes it less intimidating by breaking down a complex process into simple concepts….
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Two Guys on Politics Podcast on Elon Musk, Trump’s Parade, LA Riots, and Middle East ban 06-12-25 S4E13 Two Guys on Politics now broadcast on Detroit Radio on the US Arab Radio Network on WNZK AM 690 radio, as well as on YouTube at TwoGuysonPolitics.com with hosts Bill Lipinski and Ray Hanania discussing Elon Musk,…
Often overlooked single fathers deserve praise this Father’s Day By Jeffery M. Leving This Father’s Day I’d like to pay tribute to a certain segment of fathers that is often overlooked — single and divorced fathers who are raising their children. We often hear about single and divorced mothers who raise their children and while…
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Podcast: Musk vs Trump and the impact of media distortion on news Veteran political journalists and media analysts Thom Serafin and Ray Hanania discuss a wide range of issues on The Crisis Cast podcast including the rift between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, the transformation of newsmedia news reporting from objectivity to “perspective news,”…
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Opinion: Edgar County Watchdogs continue to exaggerate and lie for political pals The so-called “newspaper” the “Edgar County Watchdogs” (Illinois Leaks) continue to publish misleading and distorted information pimping for their political pals and cronies to attack anyone they disagree with. The website can’t get its facts right, and it twists and distorts FOIA information…
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Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez blindly defends Israel at expense of truth Once a champion of the victims of racism, defending Arab American and Muslim store owners against the discriminatory policies of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez has since flipped, replacing morality with political exploitation, blindly defending Israel’s government violence in Gaza to…
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Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas The levy: It’s not a dam, but it is a word you should know! By Maria Pappas Since I first stepped into my office 27 years ago, one question has repeatedly come up: “Why do my property taxes always go up?” It’s a valid concern. At…
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The $2 Billion Wealth Transfer: How Cook County’s Property Tax Appeals System Rewards Businesses at the Expense of Homeowners By Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas After analyzing over 2 million Cook County property tax appeals filed between 2021 and 2023, researchers in my office uncovered a troubling trend: the system shifted nearly $2 billion in…
Congresswoman Robin Kelly clear leader in race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin Congresswoman Robin Kelly announces her candidacy to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Kelly has one of the strongest public service records, introducing legislation to support not only her constituents in the 2nd Congressional District, but is viewed as a more popular candidate…
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When it comes to voting on property tax referendums, the few decide for the many There are two types of referendums — binding and advisory. The government is legally required to act on binding referendum results. Advisory referendums aren’t legally binding and are often used to measure public opinion before making a governmental decision. That…
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Illinois has many better options than Pritzker’s choice to succeed Durbin By Ray Hanania Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who believes he can buy any election, any time for any amount of money, wants to buy the seat of retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Pritzker has pushed his Lieutenant Governor, Juliana Stratton, to run for the…
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72 years around the sun, an experience that continues to grow Journalist and columnist Ray Hanania looks back at 72 years and the ups and downs of life from school to journalism, politics, cancer, legionnaires’ disease, standup comedy, and music By Ray Hanania 72 years around the sun today .., thank you everyone for the…
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You May Be Owed Money For Overpaying Property Taxes Up To 20 Years Ago By Maria Pappas My office is managing about $122 million in potential refunds for property tax overpayments going back 20 years that I’m eager to send back to property owners. But determining who’s entitled to a refund isn’t simple. Most overpayments…
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Men can be Victims of Domestic Abuse Too By Jeffery M. Leving and Arthur S. Kallow The conviction of a former ballerina who had been charged with second-degree murder and convicted by a jury of manslaughter in the shooting death of her estranged husband in Florida has generated a lot of interest, playing out like a typical…