Category: Suburban Chicagoland

School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees

October 2, 2024October 2, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees Students from across Consolidated High School 230 are adding their voices to Board of Education committee meetings. Specifically, three students from each school have been selected to serve on each of the three Board of Education Committees – Education, Student Support & Development, and Building…

Education, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns

October 1, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns Mayor Keith Pekau used his eNewsletter to defend School District 230 President Lynn Zeder who attacked a school colleague for raising concerns about the impact Pekau’s 3 new TIFs will have on schools and property taxes By Ray Hanania Mayor…

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

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way

September 29, 2024December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way By Ray Hanania Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, 14651 S La Grange Road, has a fantastic menu with a great tasting Korean Chinese fusion food menu. But it goes one step further offering a fun way to enjoy it allowing…

Blogger, Commentary, Features, food, Orland Park, rayhanania, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board

September 27, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board Opinion: District 230 President Lynn Zeder was aware of plans involving three TIF districts that will siphon hundreds of millions in property taxes from the district’s three high schools, but she has been publicly silent about it. Instead of addressing these TIFs, which…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Conforti Calls Out Congressman Sean Casten for Standing Against Women, Repeatedly

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Conforti calls out Casten for standing against women, repeatedly Sean Casten votes NO on law to deport illegal aliens who engage in sex offense, especially against women, Casten regularly votes against women, putting them in harm’s way, candidate rival Niki Conforti alleges This week, Congressman Sean Casten voted ‘No’ on H.R. 7909, the “Violence Against…

elections, Federal, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, women

District 230 Board of Education appoints new member

September 20, 2024September 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

District 230 Board of Education appoints new member The Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education appointed Orland Park resident Chris Kasmer to serve out a vacant term of office until April 2025. Kasmer serves as president of Carpenters Local 1027 and is in his 14th year as a trustee to the Chicago Transit…

Education, News, NewsWire, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park

September 16, 2024September 16, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park On June 6, 2024, the Orland Park Police Department responded to a call of an aggravated vehicular hijacking at the Mercedes-Benz of Orland located at 8430 W. 159th St. The victim, a vehicle transporter, was preparing to load a black 2021 Mercedes-Benz onto…

Cook County, Crime, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities By Maria Pappas State lawmakers have made it easier for people with disabilities to continue receiving property tax relief on an annual basis. Cook County homeowners who receive the Persons with Disabilities Exemption no longer have to reapply for the benefit every year….

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

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

September 4, 2024April 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers By Ray Hanania 09-04-24 The dangers of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s secretive TIF district proposals I am not surprised Orland Park Trustee Cindy Katsenes, a local realtor with Village Realty, attacked me personally at the Village Board…

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

Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations

September 4, 2024September 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations The Orland Fire Protection District will host its annual Open House on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 11 AM until 2 PM featuring live demonstrations in fighting fires and engaging in life-saving rescues. The Open House is one of…

Cook County, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted By Ray Hanania Former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody had a bad habit of lying about how he would act on controversial policies from the prevailing wage to the one-cent per-ounce tax on soda pop. Published in The…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits

August 29, 2024August 31, 2024 Ray Hanania 4 Comments

Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits Orland Park, IL — Plans by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau to create three TIF districts to address “blighted land developments” should be put on hold until after he releases two delinquent financial audits detailing the true nature of the…

Education, Government, News, news release, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

August 25, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move Residents of Unincorporated Orland Township blast Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau for trying to grab their land and violate their rights. Residents say Mayor Pekau failed to properly notify them of his plans that began quietly in 2022 and continued to 2023 before residents could address the board…

Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Videos

Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets

August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets By Maria Pappas Illinois lawmakers have enacted significant changes to property tax exemptions benefiting veterans, including a landmark provision for those who served during World War II. These amendments, effective for the 2024 tax year, underscore our commitment to supporting our veteran…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Why you need to read Ray Hanania’s syndicated columns

August 22, 2024August 22, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Why you need to read Ray Hanania’s syndicated columns Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist but he needs your support. His columns reflects an honesty in political coverage that you don’t often find in American journalism. Watch this promotion on Ray’s commitment to objective journalism and commentary, “even when it hurts.” He needs your…

Blogger, Commentary, Culture, journalism, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Videos

Congressional District 6 Challenger Niki Conforti, denounces Sean Casten for helping to drive prices higher

August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Congressional District 6 challenger Niki Conforti, denounces Sean Casten for helping to drive prices higher Last week’s inflation report brought more bad news for all Americans, 6th District Candidate for Congress Niki Conforti said Monday, August 19, 2024. Prices continued to increase in July and went up again, close to 3% over a year ago….

Economy, elections, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Senior rescued while sleeping in a 4 unit Orland Park townhouse as fire spread through walls and attic

August 11, 2024August 11, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senior rescued while sleeping in a 4 unit Orland Park townhouse as fire spread through walls and attic Two of four units in Orlando Park townhouse were severely damaged an uninhabitable, including the senior’s unit The Orland Fire Protection District responded at 6:51 pm to reports of smoke coming out of the eves of a…

Baby Boomers, breaking news, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Quick News, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments

August 10, 2024August 10, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments By Maria Pappas Property owners who were unable to pay their tax bills in full by the Aug. 1 due date need not worry about losing their home – at least not right away. As a homeowner you have time to pay off…

Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes