Category: Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Park Police Department Announces “Click it or Ticket” Campaign

May 15, 2024May 15, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Park Police Department Announces “Click it or Ticket” Campaign The Orland Park Police Department is stepping up enforcement for the Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” campaign running now through Memorial Day weekend. “Click It or Ticket” leverages education and enforcement to save lives. Officers will be in marked and unmarked police cars enforcing…

Crime, Law, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront

May 7, 2024May 7, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pekau hides Owens sign behind building but puts his own name upfront By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau just can’t be honest. Last week, I revealed that the Village removed the sign for the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall from the front of the building. Fred Owens was a beloved mayor who helped…

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

Senior freeze exemptions help prevent huge spikes in property tax bills

May 6, 2024May 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senior freeze exemptions help prevent huge spikes in property tax bills By Maria Pappas Many senior citizens on fixed incomes face the challenge of managing their property taxes. They may be eligible for a tax break known as the “Senior Freeze” Exemption. My website, cookcountytreasurer.com, explains the eligibility requirements and can walk you through the…

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

Owens family questions removal of name from Village Administration Building

May 2, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Owens family questions removal of name from Village Administration Building The family of beloved and highly respected late former Orland Park Mayor Fred Owens has questioned why Mayor Keith Pekau has removed his name from the outdoor sign identifying the Village Administration Building, which was placed there in 1993 following his passing the year before….

Cook County, Culture, Features, Government, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Tinley police charge Wheaton man with aggravated arson

May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tinley police charge Wheaton man with aggravated arson A Wheaton man on April 24 was charged with aggravated arson after he intentionally started a fire the week before at Menards, 6851 W. 159th St., Tinley Park. Police said Nathan Grant, 32, set fire to multiple air conditioning unit filters in the store just after 4…

Crime, Fire, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign

May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Pekau removes Mayor Owens’ name from Village Hall sign In a pure act of pettiness, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau has removed the name of Frederick T. Owens from the signs in front of the Village Hall, for which the Village Hall has been named, without any public discussion or notice. In its place, Pekau…

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

Orland Park Village Board Bans Kratom, Tianeptine, Delta 8 THC and other Novel Synthetic and Psychoactive Drugs

April 21, 2024April 21, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Park Village Board Bans Kratom, Tianeptine, Delta 8 THC and other Novel Synthetic and Psychoactive Drugs Citing concerns about herbal substances that can produce opioid-and-stimulant-like effects, the Orland Park Village Board voted to unanimously ban kratom, tianeptine, and other novel synthetic and psychoactive drugs. This ban is in addition to a ban on synthetic…

Government, Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland

Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills

April 20, 2024April 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills By Maria Pappas Senior citizens can get a break on their property tax bills, but they need to apply when seeking savings for the first time. The popular tax break is known as the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. For homeowners already receiving the…

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

Popular weekly Frankfort Country Market kicks off Sunday April 21, 2024

April 13, 2024April 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Popular weekly Frankfort Country Market kicks off Sunday April 21, 2024 The Village of Frankfort will kick off the 2024 Frankfort Country Market season with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, led by Mayor Keith Ogle and the Village Board. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 9 AM near the entrance of…

Entertainment, Events, Features, Frankfort, Health, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Drug investigation leads to multiple Felony charges in drug sales at Sandburg High school

April 12, 2024April 12, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Drug investigation leads to multiple Felony charges in drug sales at Sandburg High school In the fall of 2023, the Orland Park Police Department received information that there was a subject on snapchat selling cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms and vape pens to Sandburg students. The Orland Park Police Tactical Response Unit opened up an investigation and…

Crime, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

First Responder Mental Health Legislation Clears Senate

April 11, 2024April 11, 2024 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

First Responder Mental Health Legislation Clears Senate The Illinois Senate passed legislation today proposed by Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart that eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for first responders seeking mental health treatment. “We ask first responders to be constantly exposed to traumatic and dangerous situations to protect us,” Sheriff Dart said. “This legislation is a…

Cook County, Fire, Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Police, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Fire Protection District hosts Coffee & Conversation for seniors on lifesaving strategies for seniors

April 10, 2024April 10, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland Fire Protection District hosts Coffee & Conversation for seniors on lifesaving strategies for Seniors Fire District invites Seniors to discuss surviving hearts and strokes. Orland Fire Protection District Chief Michael Schofield hosts his “Coffee & Conversation” meeting Wed April 17 on lifesaving strategies Orland Fire Protection District Chief Michael Schofield invites the public to attend…

Baby Boomers, Fire, Health, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland

Joravsky and Hanania analyze today’s Chicago City Council with the past on podcast

April 6, 2024April 7, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Joravsky and Hanania analyze today’s Chicago City Council with the past on podcast Chicago Reader journalist and podcaster Ben Joravsky, who has covered Chicago City politics since 1981, interviews former Chicago City Hall reporter and columnist Ray Hanania on his special “Oh, What a Week” podcast which is available on most major podcast platforms. Hanania…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Culture, Government, Humor, journalism, Media Bias, News, Podcast, Politics, Radio, Suburban Chicagoland

Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park The Orland Park Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect in a vehicular hijacking that occurred on the evening of April 3, 2024. Shawn Flores, a 44-year-old Midlothian resident, faces charges following his apprehension on April 4. The incident began when a male victim was forcibly…

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

Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes

March 27, 2024March 27, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes By Maria Pappas Homeowners have taught me a few things about property taxes while I have served as Cook County Treasurer. One lesson is that the property tax system is complicated. Many people unfamiliar with the process have told me that they wished there…

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

Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias

March 25, 2024March 25, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias By Ray Hanania (Originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group newpapers): True to his colors, Orland Park’s beleaguered Mayor Keith Pekau is turning to racism and community division to base his re-election campaign. In a recent letter to “supporters,” Pekau launched his campaign using the racist slogan,…

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

Leving Firm fights to keep father and children together

March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Leving Firm fights to keep father and children together Dad’s two children, a 12-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, had been kept from him following the death of their mother. Reportedly, Dad and the mother were never married, but they had an informal agreement where Dad would have his children on alternate weekends, and he…

Chicago, Civil Rights, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Lyons officials will join St. Baldrick’s “Fight Childhood Cancer” event Sunday March 24

March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lyons officials will join St. Baldrick’s “Fight Childhood Cancer” event Sunday March 24 The St. Baldrick’s “Fight Childhood Cancer” event will be held on Sunday March 24, 2024. This annual event is organized by the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce in Chicago at at Firewater Saloon, 6689 N Oliphant in Chicago. A performance of…

Chicago, Events, Features, Government, Health, News, NewsWire, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Village of Lyons