Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Ray Hanania’s columns this week on Chicago, Orland Park and the Arab American community A look at some of the most recent columns published by award-winning political and satire columnist Ray Hanania. The columns examine the political war at Chicago City Hall between aldermen and Mayor Brandon Johnson, and the continued financial exaggerations and political…
Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn re-elected leadership position at MWRD MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, President Kari K. Steele and Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia were elected by their peers on the Board of Commissioners to serve as officers. On January 9th the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater…
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Lisa Hernandez to Serve as Deputy Majority Leader, Continuing Fight for South Suburban Communities State Rep. Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez, D-Cicero, will continue in her new term as Deputy Majority Leader, fighting for south suburban communities in upcoming budget and legislative talks. Hernandez issued the following statement: “I am honored to serve my community as Deputy…
Hastings thanks the community for their support State Senator Michael Hastings released a statement expressing his gratitude to voters for returning him to the legislature. “Life has a way of testing our resolve, but in those moments, we discover our greatest strength. Faith keeps us moving forward, family keeps us grounded, and friends like you…
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Village of Frankfort welcomes five new Police Officers The Village of Frankfort is proud to celebrate the ceremonial swearing-in of five police officers—Dylan Beattie, Tyler Schuerg, Kyle Graff, Brett Miller, and Joel Wick—during the January 13, 2025, board meeting. Initially hired in April 2024, these officers have successfully completed their field training and are now…
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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…
An Arab, Middle East recipe for Stuffed Grape Leaves #Read @RayHanania I love #MiddleEastern #Arab food recipes in addition to politics. Here’s my how to make Stuffed #GrapeLeaves with diced #lamb #steak #wariqDuwali #OxTail and #rice Read Ray Hanania’s columns on politics, life in general and his love for Middle East and Arab food. In…
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Traffic Shifts scheduled for Winter travel configuration on central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at the I-290/I-88 Interchange Traffic shifts between the Cermak Toll Plaza and North Avenue will accommodate ongoing winter construction as weather permits DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway is preparing to shift traffic into winter configuration on Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at…
Treasurer Pappas offers ‘snowbirds’ and other Cook County property owners the option to prepay taxes due in 2025 Treasurer Maria Pappas is offering Cook County property owners the option to prepay their 2024 property taxes that will be due in 2025. Pappas’ office will mail taxpayers with an early copy of their First Installment tax…
Gang member arrested in shooting of Cicero Police Officer Saturday Second non-random assault still under investigation Cicero, IL — A 19-year-old known street gang member has been arrested and charged in the shooting and injuring of a Cicero Police Officer in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 7. Suspect Giovanni A. Saldivar, 19, has…
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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…
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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…
Illinois Attorney General slams Orland Park for withholding critical information on unfiled annual audits By Ray Hanania In another major setback for Keith Pekau, the besieged MAYOR of Orland Park in suburban Chicagoland, the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul ordered the village to release the correspondence between the village and its auditors. The issue surfaced…
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…
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Cicero President calls for tougher laws to protect police officers Cicero, IL — Town of Cicero President Larry Dominick, a former career police officer, urged the Illinois Legislature to adopt tougher laws to punish individuals who injure or kill Police Officers and to reinstate the Illinois death penalty. Dominick, said he and many members of…
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Orland School District 135 turns sex abuse case involving 2 female students into victim shaming By Ray Hanania Everyone remembers in January 2015 when an Elementary School District 135 teacher, Cara Labus, was arrested on charges of sexually abusing two young school girls, aged 14, beginning in 2008 in suburban Orland Park. The case was…
Comptroller’s Office comments on Pekau Administration’s “resolution” Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza responds to lies and exaggerations made by beleaguered Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau and his rubber stamp board which has mishandled the village’s finances distinguishing themselves by being among only a few governments that have failed to file two annual financial audits in…
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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…