Category: Suburban Chicagoland

Village of Frankfort welcomes five new Police Officers

January 15, 2025January 15, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Crime, Frankfort, Government, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Recent Ray Hanania columns you may have missed on Madoff, Kaegi and targeting criminals

January 7, 2025January 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

breaking news, Comedy, Commentary, Cook County, Crime, Entertainment, Federal, Festival, Government, Humor, Law, National, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Police, Politics, rayhanania, Regional Midwest, Religion, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

An Arab, Middle East recipe for Stuffed Grape Leaves

December 29, 2024December 29, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Culture, Features, food, News, rayhanania, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Traffic Shifts scheduled for Winter travel configuration on central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at the I-290/I-88 Interchange

December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

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…

Crime, Festival, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

Treasurer Pappas offers ‘snowbirds’ and other Cook County property owners the option to prepay taxes due in 2025

December 16, 2024December 16, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Cook County, Crime, Festival, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Gang member arrested in shooting of Cicero Police Officer Saturday

December 9, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Town of Cicero

Pekau Allies Removed from Electoral Board by Cook County Judge

December 7, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

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…

Civil Rights, Cook County, Crime, elections, Festival, Government, Law, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans

County Treasurer Pappas can help you understand your property taxes in virtually any language

December 6, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Culture, Festival, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Illinois Attorney General slams Orland Park for withholding critical information on unfiled annual audits

December 4, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

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…

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

Jaber urges Village Board to stop undermining the Orland Park Public Library system

December 4, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

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…

Crime, elections, Festival, Government, News, news release, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Cicero President calls for tougher laws to protect police officers

November 30, 2024December 13, 2024 News Editor No Comments

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…

Crime, Festival, Government, Law, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Town of Cicero

Orland School District 135 turns sex abuse case involving 2 female students into victim shaming

November 23, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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Comptroller’s Office comments on Pekau Administration’s “resolution”

November 21, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

Taxpayer advocate Mohammed Jaber files for Orland Park Village Trustee in 2025 elections

November 18, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Candidate for Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge and slate file 4,236 petition signatures for April election

November 18, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

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…

elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Arab Americans honored by Treasurer Pappas as part of program recognizing all ethnic groups

November 16, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

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…

Chicago, Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Treasurer Pappas urges homeowners to pay late taxes and avoid Annual Tax Sale as 23,270 owe less than $1,000

November 14, 2024November 14, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer Pappas urges homeowners to pay late taxes and avoid Annual Tax Sale as 23,270 owe less than $1,000 Thousands of Cook County property owners who owe less than $1,000 risk having their tax debt auctioned at an Annual Tax Sale that begins Tuesday, Dec. 10, Treasurer Maria Pappas said today To find out if…

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

Pay your late taxes now because clock is ticking toward Annual Tax Sale

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Cook County, Editors Pick, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes