More cannabis and COVID-19 concerns discussed at Aurora City Council Committee of the Whole
By Jason Crane – At the Aurora city government Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conferencing platform, the City Council discussed an ordinance granting additional time for compliance of the Special Use for a cannabis dispensing facility at 1415 Corporate Boulevard that was granted in January.
Remembering Sandra Bland in Naperville
Mourners gather on Rotary Hill in Naperville Monday, July 13 for a Vigil for Naperville native Sandra Bland.
Kane County recycling collection August event
The next one-day event will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 9 at 540 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Electronics, books, and latex paint will be accepted at this event. There is a fee for TVs and computer monitors, both tube and flat screen, of $25 for screens
Pet of the Week: Steve: Laid back cat, likes dogs, cat, and kids
Steve is a male Domestic Shorthair Orange Tiger who was born in January 2018. Steve is a laid back, cool cat. He enjoys soaking up the sun in a window or laying in the middle of the floor. He will come when called and he loves belly rubs. He gets
Intolerance, vitriol, fear-mongering, knee-jerk reactions, again
By John W. Whitehead For those old enough to have lived through the McCarthy era, there is a whiff of something in the air that reeks of the heightened paranoia, finger-pointing, fear-mongering, totalitarian tactics, that were hallmarks of the 1950s. Back then, it was the government, spearheaded by senator Joseph
A Focus on History – July 23 through July 29
July 23 In the early-morning hours of July 23, 1967, one of the worst riots in U.S. history breaks out on 12th Street in the heart of Detroit’s predominantly African-American inner city. By the time it was quelled four days later by 7,000 National Guard and U.S. Army troops, 43
Illinois eviction rule change to benefit tenants, landlords
By Rebecca Anzel The Illinois Supreme Court announced last week that it approved a change to rules governing eviction proceedings that will simplify the process for both landlords and tenants. The rule change mandates that property owners must file all related documents simultaneously when they file a complaint. That includes
Teachers’ union urges most schools to not reopen for in-person learning
By Peter Hancock One of the State’s largest teachers’ unions said Monday that most schools in Illinois are not yet ready to reopen for in-person teaching in the fall and it urged schools to continue operating remotely until the safety of students, teachers, and staff members can be assured. “At
Aurora Public Art Announces Lineup for Free Youth Summer Programming
Aurora Public Art announces lineup for next week’s free virtual programs. Aurora Public Art announced the lineup of free virtual art classes for students sheltering in place amid COVID-19 cancellations. Summer programming includes sessions across many artistic media. Drawing, painting, music, dance, drama, and culinary arts are among the many
The Venue host to events July 20 and Grateful Dead August 1
Scott Tipping and Ellie Kahn will have a livestream Monday, July 20 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. at www.facebook.com/TheVenueAurora. Scott Tipping and Ellie Kahn met as working musicians on a theater run. Their individual musical lives kept them from collaborating much outside of a gig here or there. During
Governor hits the road to make census push
By Jerry Nowicki Governor JB Pritzker encouraged Illinoisans to complete the 2020 U.S. Census and touted a State investment in youth employment programs Thursday during two public appearances in Rockford. The state has a 66.9% census self-response rate currently. That’s nearly five percentage points better than the 62.1% national rate,
Heat Advisory Issued for Saturday Cooling Centers Open, Farmers Market to Close Early
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the area in effect from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 18. The heat index temperature is expected to reach as high as 106 degrees during this time period and can be extremely dangerous to humans and pets. While the
Beat the Heat in Kane County: Extreme Temperatures Forecast This Weekend
The Kane County Health Department is urging everyone to take precautions during the period of high heat forecast for this weekend. • Stay in air-conditioned buildings such as Kane County cooling centers. Due to COVID-19, facilities may have limited capacity and additional restrictions. Please contact your municipality for details. •
Court document shows utility agrees to pay $200 million, admits attempts to influence House Speaker
By Jerry Nowicki Hours after filing a court document implicating, but not charging, Illinois’ house speaker Michael Madigan in a years long bribery scheme, federal officials took to the courtyard of the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago on Friday to deliver a message to those engaging in public corruption: “We
Aurora City Council seeks sworn statement for redevelopment
By Jason Crane Discussions at the Aurora City Council meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conference platform, included requiring a certified statement of expenses detailing line items to a contractor’s statement and an owner’s statement to be included as part of an amendment to a redevelopment agreement before the City
Rally signs in Oswego
A unity rally in for racial equality Saturday at the Oswego Village Hall reveal a call for togetherness and not divisiveness.
A hit: Outdoor dining
Outdoor dining has become a hit in downtown Aurora. Since being allowed to open by State directives for outdoor dining May 29, downtown restaurants and patrons alike are enjoying the option. “Our sales have increased, and we’re looking at ways to offer permanent outdoor dining,” said Dan Emerson, owner of
Aurora, Elgin Host to Caravans, Joint Rally Tomorrow to Promote the Census
As part of the National Census Surge Week, Aurora, Elgin, and cities in Kane County are joining forces to literally make some noise about the importance of completing the 2020 Census. With lights, sirens and horns activated, a caravan of vehicles from the Aurora Complete Counts Committee will make a
State’s COVID-19 steady
By Jerry Nowicki The State’s COVID-19 test positivity rate remained at three percent Monday when the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 883 new confirmed cases of the virus. The 30,012 test results reported Monday followed more than 70,000 total reported the previous two days, driving Illinois to more than