Orland Park Archives

Arab American Democratic Club hosts candidate leadership forum

March 25, 2021March 25, 2021 rayhanania No Comments

Arab American Democratic Club hosts candidate leadership forum The Arab American Democratic Club hosted its 2021 Candidate and Leadership Forum on Thursday March 25 featuring a long slate of candidates for local elective office and elected government officials and speakers. The event was held to commemorate April Arab American Heritage Month and to encourage Arab…

American Arabs, Arab American History, ArabAmerica.com, Civil Rights, Congress, Culture, Election, Events, News, NewsWire, Politics, Ray Hanania, Social Media, The Arab Street, US Arab Politics

Arab Democratic Club to host Zoom candidate’s and leaders forum March 25

March 13, 2021March 13, 2021 rayhanania No Comments

Arab Democratic Club to host Zoom candidate’s and leaders forum March 25 The Arab Democratic Club will host its pre-election Forum for Democratic candidates running in the April 6 election and for elected public officials in a special celebration of Arab American Heritage month on Thursday March 25. The forum will again be held Virtually…

Activism, American Arabs, Election, Event, Events, mainstream, News, NewsWire, Politics, Spotlight, US Arab Politics

Chicagoland Arab, Muslim community mourn passing of Miriam Zayed

October 28, 2018October 29, 2018 rayhanania 1 Comment

Chicagoland Arab, Muslim community mourn passing of Miriam Zayed Local activist fought for the rights of Arabs and Muslims in the Chicagoland area and also for the rights of all in mainstream American politics. Miriam Zayed was among one of the first two Arab Americans in Chicagoland to run for public elective office in the…

American Arabs, Christian & Muslim, Features, News, Obits, Palestine & Jordan, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, US Arab Politics

Kennedy defends Illinois Muslims in opening mosque

September 1, 2017September 25, 2018 rayhanania 1 Comment

Kennedy defends Illinois Muslims in opening mosque Christopher Kennedy, the candidate for Illinois Governor in the March 2018 Democratic primary and the son of the late U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, this week denounced plans to block the opening of a mosque in a suburb of Chicago. By Ray Hanania Christopher Kennedy is someone who…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, mainstream, Opinion, Politics, racism, Video

Trump movement for “change” awakens Reagan Democrats

May 8, 2017May 23, 2017 rayhanania No Comments

Trump movement for “change” awakens Reagan Democrats Published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group April 27, 2017 By Ray Hanania The major news media all seemed to focus on one election story on April 4, a story they spun to falsely suggest that President Donald Trump made Republicans vulnerable. But if you look past the…

Commentary, Editors Picks, Election, Journalism, mainstream, Opinion, Politics, Ray Hanania

Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost

April 6, 2017March 24, 2021 rayhanania No Comments

Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost A poorly run re-election campaign by seven-term incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin combined with a hot-topic issue of salary and pension hikes, and a laser-focused issues campaign of a non-political challenger, Keith Pekau, running on the Republican Party banner did what no one thought could happen April 4 in Orland Park….

Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, mainstream, News, Politics, Ray Hanania

Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections

April 4, 2017April 5, 2017 rayhanania No Comments

Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections Two Muslim candidates who had strong political backing lost their bids for election on Tuesday in Suburban Chicago contests. Dave Shalabi, who was appointed to a position on a local school board two years ago, lost his bid to remain on the influential school board. Bahira Karim fails in…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, Editors Picks, mainstream, News, Politics, Ray Hanania, religion

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race

April 4, 2017April 5, 2017 rayhanania No Comments

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race Republican challenger Keith Pekau easily unseated 23 year incumbent Dan McLaughlin as Mayor of Orland Park in a contest that focused on the mayor’s bid to boost his salary by more than 375 percent and to spike his pension from $30,000 a year to $110,000. By Ray Hanania…

Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, Election, mainstream, News, Politics, Ray Hanania

Orland Park mayoral race centers on pension grab

April 2, 2017October 2, 2018 rayhanania No Comments

Orland Park mayoral race centers on pension grab Orland Park is a fast growing suburb of Chicago but a recent grab for a huge pension increase by the village’s 23-year incumbent mayor has voters angry and on edge. The controversy is making the April 4 battle between Mayor Dan McLaughlin and Keith Pekau one of the…

American Arabs, Editors Picks, Election, Features, mainstream, News, Politics, Ray Hanania, US Arab Politics

Voters inundated in Orland Mayoral election battle

March 31, 2017June 12, 2019 rayhanania No Comments

Voters inundated in Orland Mayoral election battle The battle between Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin and challenger Keith Pekau has the attention of the entire state apparently creating a wild election contest filled with a lot of unusual issues, supporters and claims By Ray Hanania The battle to lead Orland Park, one of the fastest growing…

American Arabs, mainstream, News, Politics, Ray Hanania, Spotlight, US Arab Politics

Fires Damage two homes in Orland Park, Il

December 27, 2016December 27, 2016 rayhanania No Comments

Fires Damage two homes in Orland Park, Il Fires hit two homes in Orland Park over the Christmas Holidays, one on Christmas Day related to a fireplace and a second one the following day linked to a Christmas tree Orland Fire Prevent District officials reported. Here are the two reports: Fireplace fire in Orland Park…

mainstream, News, Ray Hanania

Syrian refugees: heroism of Rev. Jesse Jackson

November 23, 2015November 28, 2015 rayhanania 1 Comment

What many Americans want to do to Syrian refugees, America did to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution just prior to the start of World War II. One civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson believes that it is “unAmerican” to prevent Syrian refugees from seeking refuge in America By Ray Hanania There is a running…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Editors Picks, News, Ray Hanania, Syria

Threats against Bridgeview Mosque investigated (Updated)

January 22, 2015September 24, 2018 rayhanania 3 Comments

By Ray Hanania UPDATE 2, Friday: Bridgeview Police released the following statement: Bridgeview Police today interviewed two individuals believed to be involved in an exchange of comments on Facebook that involved allegations of threats made against the Bridgeview Mosque. Both suspects were interviewed at the Bridgeview Police Headquarters. The names of the persons of interest…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, News, Ray Hanania, religion, Spotlight

American Arabs Celebrate Arab Heritage Month (November) in Orland Park

November 12, 2014November 12, 2014 rayhanania No Comments

Local officials and community leaders celebrated Arab Heritage Month in Orland Park Tuesday Nov. 11 recognizing contributions of American Arab veterans By Staff Reports Officials from local and regional government attended an Arab Heritage cultural event Tuesday night in Orland Park held to recognize the achievements and contributions American Arabs have made to America. The…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, News, Ray Hanania

Bullet hit Orland Mosque dome, Orland Park police confirm

March 26, 2014September 24, 2018 rayhanania No Comments

Bullet hit Orland Mosque dome, Orland Park police confirm Hunt for suspect(s) continues, police say By Ray Hanania Orland Park Police said they are aggressively investigating an apparent gunshot that penetrated the golden dome of the Prayer Center of Orland Park early Tuesday morning as about 40 members of the Mosque congregation were conducting their…

American Arabs, News, Ray Hanania, Spotlight

Bullets fired at Dome of Orland Park Illinois mosque

March 25, 2014September 24, 2018 rayhanania 1 Comment

Bullets fired at Dome of Orland Park Illinois mosque By Ray Hanania A single gun-shot was fired through the Golden dome of the Prayer Center of Orland Park, a mosque that opened to much community opposition and controversy in the Southwest suburban community in 2004. The Orland Park Illinois Police Department, which has taken strong…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, News, Ray Hanania

Suburban Orland Park’s ethnic diversity comes out at Taste of Jerling event

February 22, 2014September 24, 2018 rayhanania No Comments

Suburban Orland Park’s ethnic diversity comes out at Taste of Jerling event By Ray Hanania A woman came up to me who has been reading my columns since the 1980s said she has been living in Orland Park more than 35 years, and that during that time “It really has changed.” I was at the…

American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Ray Hanania