Category: Suburban Chicagoland

Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners

June 13, 2025June 13, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Navigating the complexities of the property tax system in Cook County can be daunting for homeowners. My hope is this column makes it less intimidating by breaking down a complex process into simple concepts….

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

Southland manufacturer receives state funding thanks to Hastings

June 12, 2025June 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Southland manufacturer receives state funding thanks to Hastings State Senator Michael E. Hastings announced an Oak Forest manufacturer has been selected to participate in and receive state funding through the Made in Illinois Grant Program. “To keep up with big business, small-scale local manufacturers need support to help them thrive and achieve their goals,” said…

Business, Frankfort, Government, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, Senator Michael Hastings, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago Man Faces Felony after $400,000 in Stolen Merchandise Recovered

June 11, 2025June 11, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago Man Faces Felony after $400,000 in Stolen Merchandise Recovered A 57-year-old Chicago man is facing a Class 1 Felony Theft charge after the Sheriff’s Police Organized Retail Crime Unit recovered approximately $400,000 in stolen fitness equipment and other goods taken during area cargo thefts, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Wednesday, June 11,…

Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Law, News, NewsWire, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicago Physician Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud

June 10, 2025June 10, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Suburban Chicago Physician Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud A suburban Chicago physician has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent and unnecessary services. Mona Ghosh owned and operated Progressive Women’s Healthcare, S.C., a medical office in Hoffman Estates, Ill., specializing…

Crime, Federal, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Fire participates in Village Touch a Truck event June 12

June 9, 2025June 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire participates in Village Touch a Truck event June 12 The Orland Fire Protection District will participate with the Village of Orland Park for their “Food Trucks & Touch a Truck” night to be held on Thursday, July 12, 2025. Children and families will be able to enjoy food at the event and also…

Festival, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Southwest Regional Publishing wins top General Excellence award for nondaily newspapers

June 9, 2025June 9, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Southwest Regional Publishing wins top General Excellence award for nondaily newspapers Southwest Regional Publishing earned first place for General Excellence among nondaily newspapers in its circulation class, the Illinois Press Association announced last week. Judges praised The Regional News for “excellent community coverage through a plethora of stories, photo stories of events and sports, as…

Chicago, journalism, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Federal Jury in Chicago convicts man of robbing bank in Lake County, Ill.

June 8, 2025June 8, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Federal Jury in Chicago convicts man of robbing bank in Lake County, Ill. Francisco Martinez entered a First Midwest Bank branch in Round Lake, Ill., on Dec. 20, 2021, and handed the teller a folded piece of paper that read, “40k, 30 seconds, no tricks, go now.” Martinez then raised his shirt, showing what appeared…

Crime, Federal, Law, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Gay Community endorses Robin Kelly for the U.S. Senate

June 6, 2025June 6, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Gay Community endorses Robin Kelly for the U.S. Senate Nearly 70 leaders in the state’s LGBTQIA+ community today announced their endorsement of Robin Kelly for United States Senate. A champion of the LGBTQIA+ community, Kelly is committed to advancing legislation in Congress that ensures all Illinoisans receive the same rights no matter who they are…

Civil Rights, elections, Federal, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Regional Midwest, Suburban Chicagoland

Level Up your Reading Game with the Oak Lawn Public Library

June 6, 2025June 6, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Level Up your Reading Game with the Oak Lawn Public Library The Oak Lawn Public Library began its youth and adult summer reading programs on Sunday, June 1 under iRead’s “Level Up at Your Library” theme. Patrons can sign up at olpl.beanstack.org to earn prizes by logging their reading through Friday, August 1 and partake…

Education, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Subject Arrested in Connection with Fatal Orland Park Traffic Crash

June 6, 2025June 6, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Subject Arrested in Connection with Fatal Orland Park Traffic Crash The Orland Park Police Department Thursday, June 5, 2025, announced the arrest of Robert Barajar of Tinley Park in connection with the fatal collision that occurred in the early morning hours of May 31, 2025, at 15900 S. Harlem Avenue, Orland Park. At approximately 3:13…

Crime, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Police, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Cook County’s Annual Tax Sale to be Postponed for Seven Months

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County’s Annual Tax Sale to be Postponed for Seven Months Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas plans to postpone the Annual Tax Sale for seven months, during which time she hopes to work with legislators on comprehensive property tax foreclosure reform measures. At Pappas’s urging, the Illinois General Assembly last week passed legislation that allows…

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

Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

May 31, 2025May 31, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas The levy: It’s not a dam, but it is a word you should know! By Maria Pappas Since I first stepped into my office 27 years ago, one question has repeatedly come up: “Why do my property taxes always go up?” It’s a valid concern. At…

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

The $2 Billion Wealth Transfer: How Cook County’s Property Tax Appeals System Rewards Businesses at the Expense of Homeowners

May 16, 2025May 16, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

The $2 Billion Wealth Transfer: How Cook County’s Property Tax Appeals System Rewards Businesses at the Expense of Homeowners By Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas After analyzing over 2 million Cook County property tax appeals filed between 2021 and 2023, researchers in my office uncovered a troubling trend: the system shifted nearly $2 billion in…

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

Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager

May 12, 2025May 12, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager Mayor Pro Tem announced, Downtown Orland Park development reviewed The Village of Orland Park is pleased to announce the appointment of George Koczwara as Orland Park Village Manager, following a special meeting held on May 12, 2025. Koczwara, who previously served as Orland Park’s Village…

Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Fire District elects woman Board President

May 7, 2025June 15, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire District elects woman Board President Orland Fire Protection District Trustee Beth Damas Kaspar, who recently won re-election to a six-year term as Trustee, was elected on Tuesday (May 5, 2025) to serve as the Fire District’s first woman Board President in the past two decades. Damas Kaspar was sworn into her second term along…

breaking news, Fire, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Photos, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland

Congresswoman Robin Kelly clear leader in race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin

May 6, 2025May 6, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Congresswoman Robin Kelly clear leader in race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin Congresswoman Robin Kelly announces her candidacy to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Kelly has one of the strongest public service records, introducing legislation to support not only her constituents in the 2nd Congressional District, but is viewed as a more popular candidate…

Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, elections, News, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

The $2 billion wealth transfer: How Cook County’s property tax appeals system rewards businesses at the expense of homeowners

May 5, 2025May 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

The $2 billion wealth transfer: How Cook County’s property tax appeals system rewards businesses at the expense of homeowners Nearly $2 billion in property taxes shifted onto homeowners from businesses over just three years, with a disproportionate share of the added burden falling on lower-income Black and Latino homeowners, a first-of-its-kind analysis by the Treasurer’s…

breaking news, Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Lyons Township Democrats celebrate public support at annual fundraiser

May 5, 2025May 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Lyons Township Democrats celebrate public support at annual fundraiser Officials of the Lyons Township Democratic Organization celebrated their growing public support at a fundraiser Thursday at the American Legion Hall in La Grange. Lyons Township Democratic Committeeman Steve Landek and Township Supervisor Christopher Getty welcomed the attendees at the event, which was themed to celebrate…

Bridgeview, Events, Mike Porfirio, News, NewsWire, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Village of Lyons