Month: January 2021

15-point plan, six concerns

Second of two parts First part is at thevoice.us/state-law-enforcement-leadership-a-15-point-plan A coalition representing Illinois law enforcement leadership and rank-and-file officers issued a 15-point plan for a safety strategy. Here is the second part of that strategy. • School Resource Officers: Many school districts in the State are adding School Resource Officers

Congressman Bill Foster favors impeachment

Monday, congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement on the Article of Impeachment introduced in the U.S. House charging president Donald Trump with incitement of insurrection: “The facts are clear: The president of the United States incited a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn

Linda Chapa LaVia resigns as State Veterans director

By Sarah Mansur Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs director Linda Chapa LaVia resigned Monday, more than two months after a COVID-19 outbreak was first reported at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home that has killed more than a quarter of the facility’s residents. Chapa LaVia, from Aurora, is the second high-profile departure

Aurora Civilian Review Board moves ahead at City Council

By Jason Crane Forty Civilian Review Board semifinalists were announced at the Aurora city government City Council meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conference platform. Communications director Clayton Muhammad presented a Civilian Review Board update. The establishment of the City of Aurora’s Civilian Review Board (CRB) is a result of

Debbie Smith: 33 years, five directors; rewarding ride ends

Debbie Smith began her career as a preschool teacher to put her double-major in education to efficient use. So, here’s a pop quiz in math: Question: What’s the difference between December 31, 2020 and August 21, 1987? Answer: 12,187 days. And despite weekends, holidays and vacations sprinkled throughout, not one

Statewide seven-day rolling COVID-19 rate takes a dip

By Grace Barbic The Statewide seven-day rolling COVID-19 case positivity rate remained below eight percent for a third consecutive day Tuesday after decreasing for a fourth straight day. Tuesday’s seven-day rolling positivity rate was 7.5%, a decrease of one-tenth of a percentage point from Monday. Illinois reported 6,642 new confirmed

Souper Bowl fundraiser virtual February 4

The Greater Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry will be host to its first Souper Bowl fundraiser as a virtual event at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4. Tickets are on sale now at aurorafoodpantry.org. Attendees will be among the first to meet the new Executive Director, and can bid on live