Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, the competition is a nationwide event that allows middle and high school students from across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting a software application, or “app,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their
By Nikoel HytrekCapitol News Illinoisnhytrek@captiolnewsillinois.com The Illinois General Assembly continues to debate what to do about data centers as the artificial intelligence business keeps booming, and communities complain about their energy bills, noise and environmental impacts. Data centers are warehouse-like buildings that house computer servers and other infrastructure that power
Illinois lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton invites Illinois students in grades sixth through 12th to submit an essay in celebration of America’s 250th year. Please choose one of the following prompts for a submission:•The future I want to help build: Imagine the next 250 years.•My community’s story: How has your community
Chris Lauzen, Kane County treasurer, is inviting residents of Kane County to take part in a new effort, “Love Letters to America: Voices from Kane County for America’s 250th Birthday,” as the Nation approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026. America will celebrate her 250th birthday in 2026. For generations, people
Open Roads ABATE members and United City of Yorkville mayor, John Purcel, center, pose with a signed proclamation for Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month.
By John & Nisha Whitehead Call it what it is: A heist. The corruption, cronyism, and self-dealing that now define the American government—under Donald Trump in particular—amount to a slow-motion stick-up carried out in broad daylight. But here’s the trick: It’s a heist hidden behind spectacle. The Trump administration is
The City of Aurora government will host the Special Census Job Fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at the Aurora Public Library District, Santori Branch, 101 S. River Street, Aurora. Aurora’s Special Census Initiative has returned, as the City pursues a count of its population held
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com The Donald Trump administration’s lawsuits seeking access to sensitive voter registration data in Illinois and dozens of other states is one part of a broader effort to purge state voter rolls of suspected noncitizens, according to documents filed recently in federal court in Springfield. Those
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, honored congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and congressman Bill Foster (D-IL-11) at Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, for bringing nearly $1.1 million in federal funds to the City of Aurora. The funding, totaling $1,092,000, was part of the “Lead-Free Water Project” and will be
The City of Aurora government’s Youth Services Division will honor National Physical Fitness and Sports month by hosting the 32nd Annual Sports Festival Friday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Phillips Park, 828 Montgomery Road in Aurora. The time-honored Festival, which features more than 1,200 student-athletes competing
Naperville mayor Scott Wehrli will present the 2026 Naperville State of the City Address from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, May 7, at Embassy Suites by Hilton-Chicago Naperville, 1823 Abriter Court, Naperville. Event registration, ticket prices and more information are available https://www.naperville.net. —City of Naperville government
Kane County treasurer, Chris Lauzen, has announced the most significant redesign of the Kane County property tax bill in the county’s history, introducing changes intended to help residents better understand how their tax dollars are distributed and to improve how bills are delivered and tracked. Bills reflecting the new design
State representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) has introduced legislation to ensure local residents have a direct voice in decisions surrounding the placement of large-scale data centers in their communities. The proposal, House Bill 5755, creates a clear pathway for voters to weigh in through a referendum before a municipality approves a
Recently, Donald Trump, the man who would be king, floated a proposal which would increase the Pentagon’s budget by 50%. The Department of Defense’s slice of the overall budget is already the largest slice, and Congress does not seem to think that it is not enough and keeps on shoveling
By Bela “Bill” Suhayda Back in the day, we referred to people who were sneaky, untrustworthy, manipulative, and cowardly as weasels. These were the people who took pot shots at others in defamatory ways in the effort to lift themselves up by stepping on those around them. These were people
By John & Nisha Whitehead Everything this Nation once stood for is being turned on its head. We are being asked—no, told—to believe that the greatest threat to America today is not government overreach, endless war, corruption, surveillance, or the steady erosion of constitutional rights. No, the real threat, it
By Maggie Dougherty The Illinois Accountability Commission has spent the last six months reviewing incidents of alleged misconduct by federal immigration agents in Chicago amid Operation Midway Blitz. What it has found, commission officials said, is evidence of three major policy directives that permitted and encouraged agent misconduct, stemming from
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com A “millionaire tax” proposal floated in the Illinois House failed to gain enough traction in Springfield this week, making it increasingly unlikely that voters will be asked to approve the measure in November. House speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, confirmed to reporters on Wednesday night
Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced a resolution in support of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in the promotion of nuclear security. The resolution reasserts the agency’s position as an essential partner in ensuring international nuclear safety, and it encourages the United States to play an active role to
At the Aurora Committee of the Whole meeting, April 21, mayor John Laesch honored the Aurora Regional Fire Museum for winning two prestigious statewide awards from the Illinois Association of Museums. The museum received the 2026 Small Institution of the Year Award and the 2026 Award of Super Achievement (Exhibits),
