Day: February 14, 2023

State laws tackle tourism funding, prison reform

By Nika Schoonover Governor JB Pritzker Friday, Feb. 10 signed 15 bills into law, tackling policy areas from tourism to prison reform and making it easier for those previously convicted of felonies to legally change their names. The laws passed the General Assembly in their recently concluded lame duck legislative

Victor Martinez leads AARTA members in a group performance

Aurora retiree Victor Martinez handcrafts guitars from cigar boxes. While he has given away 30 to 40 guitars, he is starting to offer them for sale. He performed vocals in English and Spanish and instrumentals on guitar, harmonica and Native American-style flutes, at the February 7 luncheon meeting of Aurora

Aurora City Council receives safety technology funds

By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council received both a visit from congressman Bill Foster and $2,280,000 in Federal funding for the city of Aurora public safety technology project at the Tuesday, Feb. 14 City Council meeting. Congressman Foster said, “This funding will help provide holistic upgrades to the police

Montgomery history lesson for Diabetes Club of Fox Valley

By Russ George The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley (DCFV) enjoyed a history lesson from Jeanette and Denny Lee, the Village of Montgomery historians, at the Club’s February 9, membership meeting. Jeanette Lee spoke on the first European settler, Jacob Carpenter, who arrived in November 1832, from Ohio. Nicholas Gray

Author Jane Austin proper English woman, developed characters

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading.” —Jane Austen The author Jane Austen was born December 16, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire, England. Her father the Reverend George Austen was rector. Her elder sister, Cassandra, was her closest companion in a family of eight children. Her mother, Cassandra

Reader’s Commentary: Special salute for special 100-year-old Ray Moore

By Karen Nielsen Lorence It was many years ago that we met Ray Moore working out at the Prisco Center. He was a regular and a charming one at that! The intriguing thing is that Ray had a history that included World War II and I couldn’t get enough of

Aurora Public Library District frank, weird, wonderful, world of science March 1

Ever wonder how much you can eat before your stomach bursts? Or, if it’s possible for the human body to survive a bailout in space at 17,000 miles per hour? How do medical professionals uncover the details of a plane crash by examining recovered bodies? If you’re feeling curious about

Another success Aurora Sunrise Rotary goal

By Charlie Schmalz In the Rotary Club of Aurora Sunrise’s 20th year of the Wine & Chocolate Extravaganza, the aim is to make it another success story. Our success depends on community participation. The theme this year is “Imagine Rotary”, which is the International theme for 2022-2023. The Rotary Club

Aurora Police Department releases video of Feb. 5 incident

Hello, I’m Chief Keith Cross of the Aurora Police Department. This week, we are releasing portions of the 911 call and body-worn camera footage from the officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday, Feb. 5. In compliance with the Illinois Law Enforcement Worn-Body Camera Act, the faces and identifying characteristics of the