Suburban Chicagoland News & Opinion

Legislature passes budget to help victims of COVID-19

May 24, 2020May 24, 2020 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Legislature passes budget to help victims of COVID-19 Maintaining social distancing and meeting at the Bank of Springfield Building, a multi-purpose arena that holds 80,000, the Illinois House approved a $42.6 billion budget to provide support to victims of the coronavirus and ensuring that statewide services to residents continues, ending an 11-week recess forced by…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Memorial Day online

May 22, 2020May 24, 2020 Steve Metsch No Comments

Memorial Day online Virus forces communities to honor a new way By Steve Metsch With Memorial Day fast approaching, several communities have opted to hold scaled back ceremonies and in some cases are going virtual. The Village of Lyons, which normally marks Memorial Day with a ceremony at the eternal flame outside the pumping station…

Thrown for a loss

May 22, 2020May 22, 2020 Steve Metsch No Comments

Thrown for a loss Uncertainty forces star quarterback to leave Naz By Steve Metsch Tim Racki has a glittering record as a high school football coach – taking two schools to nine state title games and winning seven – but his biggest challenge may come this fall. Not only does Racki not know if there…

Lyons, Brookfield drenched

May 22, 2020May 24, 2020 Steve Metsch No Comments

Lyons, Brookfield drenched Salt Creek overflows after heavy weekend rains By Steve Metsch With more rain forecast in the coming days, residents of Lyons and Brookfield who live near Salt Creek are hoping to avoid an encore of May 17. The Lyons Fire Department was busy that Sunday helping about 50 residents and 19 pets…

News, Suburban Chicagoland

“Sweet Home Chicago” Telethon to feature Mike Ditka, Chicago “Superfans” Joe Mantegna, George Wendt and Robert Smigel

May 22, 2020May 22, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

“Sweet Home Chicago” Telethon to feature Mike Ditka, Chicago “Superfans” Joe Mantegna, George Wendt and Robert Smigel Joining host Deon Cole and a list of celebrities, the telethon will feature appearances by Zach LaVine and Patrick Kane along with sports legends Horace Grant, Joe Maddon, Ryne Sandberg, Brian Urlacher And other members of the Bulls,…

coronavirus, Entertainment, News, Television

Gov. Pritzker authorizes restaurants to operate open air seating beginning May 29

May 20, 2020May 20, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Gov. Pritzker authorizes restaurants to operate open-air seating beginning May 29 Restaurants and bars will be permitted beginning May 29 to provide open-air seating to customers as long as tables are at least six feet apart. The idea has been circulating among legislators who have been working to find ways to ease the burden that…

Business, Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Entertainment, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Travel

Illinois House adopts COVID-19 guidelines in advance of meeting

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois House adopts COVID-19 guidelines in advance of meeting House Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Tuesday: “Last week when I announced the House would return to Springfield, I asked all members to commit to safety precautions approved and guided by the Illinois Department of Public Health to help prevent the spread of…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Look who’s “grandstanding” now in Orland Park

May 19, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Look who’s “grandstanding” now in Orland Park Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is a nasty bully who can’t take any criticism but has one quality: he can turn friends into enemies faster than any politician I have met in 45 years. Monday (May 18, 2020), Pekau threatened to take Pritzker to court after bashing…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Treasurer Maria Pappas postpones collections to help coronavirus victims

May 18, 2020July 5, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer Maria Pappas postpones collections to help coronavirus victims Video Interview Below: Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has launched an initiative to help taxpayer san property owners who have been economically impacted negatively by the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The Treasurer’s office will extend the period by two months in which property owners can pay their…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Editors Pick, Government, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Videos

Coronavirus testing site opens in Orland Park

May 16, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Coronavirus testing site opens in Orland Park UChicago Medicine opens third drive-up testing clinic for COVID-19. Orland Park testing launches; Appointment-only services available to the public The University of Chicago Medicine is expanded its curbside COVID-19 testing to its Orland Park outpatient location, adding a third drive-up clinic for the Chicagoland community. The health system’s Orland…

Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, News, Orland Park

Orland home fire on Beacon Tuesday, May 12th

May 16, 2020May 16, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Orland home fire on Beacon Tuesday, May 12th The Orland Fire District responded to the 143 block of Beacon in the Old Orland Historic District for a reported structure fire on Tuesday, May 12. Upon arrival, Battalion 6 found a two-story wood frame building with smoke coming from the rear of the structure. The alarm…

Cook County, Fire, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Opinion: Easing restrictions in coronavirus wake is irresponsible

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Opinion: Easing restrictions in coronavirus wake is irresponsible Some political leaders, especially those on the extreme far right, are calling for coronavirus restrictions to be lifted, even though the number of infections continues to increase. These officials are being irresponsible. With them on the far right extreme, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker on the far left…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Health, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania

New start for Lyons motel

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 Steve Metsch 1 Comment

New start for Lyons motel Officials hope restrictions prevent seedy encore By Steve Metsch With a laundry list of restrictions and requirements, what had been called the Presidential Inn in Lyons has re-opened under strict surveillance by the village. The plans were unveiled at the village board meeting on May 5, 13 months after the…

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News, Suburban Chicagoland

‘Sewing army’ at the ready

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 Steve Metsch No Comments

‘Sewing army’ at the ready 19th Ward quilt shop among those on mask duty By Steve Metsch With Illinois residents required to wear masks when out of the house – per the order of Gov. JB Pritzker – but you might have a hard time finding one for sale in a store. With that in…

News, Suburban Chicagoland

Pritzker Announces New “All in Illinois” Kids Content Series Featuring Illinois Museums and Attractions

May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pritzker Announces New “All in Illinois” Kids Content Series Featuring Illinois Museums and Attractions Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced that the All In Illinois website will now offer a kid-friendly content series to connect children and families with educational resources from Illinois museums and attractions. The content series features videos and activities to inspire, educate…

Chicago, Cook County, coronavirus, Entertainment, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Marie Newman endorses Mara Candelaria Reardon for Congress in Indiana’s 1st Congressional District

May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Marie Newman endorses Mara Candelaria Reardon for Congress in Indiana’s 1st Congressional District Marie Newman, who won the Democratic Party nomination to replace Congress Dan Lipinski in the 3rd Congressional District, announced her support on Tuesday May 12, 2020, for Mara Candelaria Reardon for Congress in the Indiana 1st District Congressional race. Reardon is a…

elections, Federal, Government, News, Politics, Regional Midwest

Price Controls Punish U.S. Innovators and Economy

May 11, 2020May 11, 2020 Guest Columnist No Comments

Price Controls Punish U.S. Innovators and Economy By Sally C. Pipes America’s biopharmaceutical industry dwarfs most other economic sectors. It’s one of our nation’s single biggest job creators, supporting close to a million positions across the country. And its products save countless lives each year. Yet for some reason, politicians in both parties seem determined…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, coronavirus, Government, Guest Commentary, Opinion

Chicago Wolves 2019-20 Season cancelled because of Pandemic

May 11, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Chicago Wolves 2019-20 Season cancelled because of Pandemic The American Hockey League announced Monday it has canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season and the Calder Cup Playoffs. This represents the first time in the AHL’s 84-year history a season has concluded without determining a champion. “After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey…

Chicago, Entertainment, General Topics, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland