Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Pekau’s attacks: A personal letter from Columnist Ray Hanania By Ray Hanania I have covered Chicagoland politics since 1975, when I was honorably discharged from active duty service in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. I served 12 years in the Illinois Air National Guard and believed strongly in military service. I followed…
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Brandon Johnson owes thousands in unpaid bills Johnson’s Financial Mismanagement Under Fire After Water Bills Scandal. Ethics Concerns Also Rise After Revelations That Candidate Was Fined Almost $18K For Election Law Violations, Sued For Unpaid Credit Card Debt Brandon Johnson’s long term refusal to pay his city water bill is opening up new questions about…
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Palos Park board’s personal attacks continue on social media By Ray Hanania When a group of residents went to the Feb. 27 Palos Park Board meeting to express their views on the expansion of a parking lot for Wu’s House at 123rd and LaGrange Road, several of the trustees personally attacked them. It was a…
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Realtors twisting facts on Home Rule referendum By Ray Hanania If you live in many of the Southwest suburbs, you might be receiving election mailers from the powerful realtors association urging voters to vote NO on referenda that would give local communities Home Rule powers. The realtors don’t like it because Home Rule gives local…
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Paul Vallas is clear choice for mayor over Brandon Johnson By Ray Hanania As much as he tries, Brandon Johnson can’t get away from comments that he made about the most important issues facing Chicagoans, his support to “defund” the Chicago Police and comments he made defending looters, criminals who destroyed and robbed hundreds of…
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Arab Americans oppose “MENA” bill and urge “ARAB” be recognized as an MBE and in Census Arab American leaders are pushing back against legislation that would designate the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) category for the Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and the U.S. Census arguing that the MENA Category will only help fuel more…
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is such a liar: He exaggerates criticism claiming that — the poor little baby — he is being attacked “personally.” Pekau is the mayor, paid for by Taxpayers like you and me. As for my “blog,”…
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Writing my very first news story that ran in the Messenger Press By Ray Hanania The Southwest Messenger Press and publisher Walter H. Lysen gave me my very first opportunity as a professional journalist in 1975 after I had been honorably discharged from military service with the U.S. Air Force. I was living in Burbank…
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Paul Vallas calls out Johnson’s lies walking back calls to defund and undermine police Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas accuses Brandon Johnson of lying and falsely claiming he “never said Defund the Police.” Only Paul Vallas has a plan to make Chicago safer. Video of commercial addressing Johnson’s actual statements on defunding the police and undermining…
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Whoa is Wu’s House in Palos Park Residents in Palos Park thought they had the backing of the Plan Commission which voted twice to block the parking expansion of the huge new Wu’s House restaurant at 123rd and LaGrange Road. But in a mysterious move, the Commission recommended approval at the Palos Board meeting where…
Lopez and O’Shea endorse Vallas in Chicago mayor race Aldermen Raymond Lopez and Matt O’Shea endorse Paul Vallas for mayor against Brandon Johnson Alderman Ray Lopez (15th) is announcing his endorsement this evening for Paul Vallas for Mayor of Chicago, joining a diverse and increasing group of elected officials and community leaders who are supporting…
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Former Mayoral Candidate, Business Leader Dr. Willie Wilson Endorses Vallas for Mayor Wilson Supports Vallas’ Call to Make Public Safety a Civil Right Mayoral candidate and business leader Dr. Willie Wilson is endorsing Paul Vallas in the runoff election. Wilson is now the second former opponent to support Vallas, joining Alderman Roderick Sawyer who endorsed…
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Vallas Endorsed by Mayoral Candidate and Alderman Roderick Sawyer Roderick Sawyer, who ran in the Feb. 28 Chicago Mayoral election, endorses Paul Vallas in Runoff Election, Sawyer joins a growing list of African American leaders to stand with Vallas including former Secretary of State Jesse White and Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. Paul Vallas was endorsed…
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Valles receives endorsements from education leader Gery Chico and Alderman Walter Burnett Former CPS Board President, State Board of Education Chairman Gery Chico backs Vallas. Chicago Walter Burnett of the 27th Ward endorses Paul Vallas in his run-off election April 4, 2023 against rival Brandon Johnson Vallas for Mayor is announcing its second key endorsement…
Former Secretary of State Jesse White Endorses Paul Vallas for Mayor Venerated Public Servant Says Vallas Will be a Mayor for ALL Chicagoans Fresh off his first place showing in the Mayoral primary, Paul Vallas is announcing the endorsement of former Illinois Secretary of State and venerated public servant Jesse White. The longest serving Secretary…
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Vallas Finishes in First, starts mayoral runoff as clear frontrunner Candidate Pledges to be a Mayor for All of Chicago Paul Vallas is the clear first place finisher in the election for Chicago’s Mayor, with early results showing him far ahead of his nearest opponents. While results will likely not be certified immediately, it is…
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Pekau silences accountability to expand his political power By Ray Hanania Mayor Keith Pekau has launched a campaign to silence his critics and expand his power by reducing accountability in Orland Park, the largest municipality between Chicago and Joliet. His most recent effort to expand power is to remove Orland Park from the “confines” of…
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Getty celebrates 14 years as Lyons Mayor at packed fundraiser at Gibsons By Ray Hanania Honored at a fundraiser on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 for his 14 years as a public official, Lyons Mayor and Lyons Township Supervisor Chris Getty thanked residents and local business owners for their support and cited a range of achievements…
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