By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com With early in-person and mail-in voting now underway in Illinois, state and local election officials insisted Friday that the state’s voting system is being run fairly and accurately. Sangamon County clerk Don Gray and Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich told a Springfield
By Lori Robertson, Robert Farley, and D’Angelo GoreFactCheck.org In banning CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House, the Donald Trump administration has argued that the move is similar to actions taken by presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. But the ban goes beyond what those presidents did. In
September 24, 2026Dear editor; Please Vote “No” on the Aurora Mayoral Recall Referendum Aurora voters will decide on the November ballot whether to support a referendum to allow the recall of an incumbent mayor. A recall would not even require the mayor to have committed an illegal act, which State
In keeping with transparency, Kane County clerk John Cunningham reported that he was informed by his director of elections, Raymond Esquivel, that an issue arose regarding duplicate ballots being printed and mailed to a small group of voters. Due to processing issues when printing the ballot, the ballot printer was
DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy presented a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2027 outlining a spending plan that supports vital County services in a fiscally responsible manner. “Each year, I try to strike the right balance between our fiscal responsibilities and our social responsibilities to maintain safe, welcoming communities
As part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund, young residents aged 15-24 can now receive microgrants to design and implement projects that improve their community and support the City of Aurora’s sustainability goals. Aurora is one of only 300 cities worldwide participating in this program. Areas of sustainability
Kane County Board chairman Corinne Pierog delivered her second State of the County address, joined by County staff and officials who highlighted the work being done across Kane County to serve residents, manage taxpayer dollars, protect natural resources, prepare for emergencies and support economic growth. The address brought together elected
In accordance with the Illinois Police and Community Relations Improvement Act (50 ILCS 727/1-10), Kane County State’s attorney Jamie L. Mosser today announced her office’s determination that the January 21, 2026, Aurora police officer-involved fatal shooting of 27-year-old Temesgen Welendreyas, of Aurora, was justified as self-defense and the defense of
By John & Nisha Whitehead “National security” has become the government’s all-purpose permission slip to behave badly. They have become the magic words that can make constitutional restraints disappear—especially when the courts defer to claims of national security. Call something a matter of national security and the normal rules start
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul has claimed victory in a legal battle against the Trump administration over noncitizens’ access to a host of publicly funded health, education and social service programs. A federal judge in Rhode Island on Monday struck down the administration’s attempt to
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois has made substantial progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, but it is not yet on track to meet its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. That’s the conclusion of a new Comprehensive Climate Action Plan released this month by the
September 11, 2026Dear editor; I have a friend who is dying, but she’s a fighter. Not fighting against death, but fighting for her best life until the end. You wouldn’t know she is dying if she didn’t tell you. She is too busy living than to dwell on what is
The eighth Annual City of Aurora Pooch Parade will take place Sunday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wilder Park & Promenade, 350 N. River St., Aurora. Come socialize your pups while competing to win prizes in different categories: Biggest dog, smallest dog, best costume, twinsies (owner
Congressman Bill Foster recently visited Aurora Defense Group (ADG), a small manufacturer of mil-spec lighting, wire harnesses, and electro-mechanical systems for the U.S. military, for a shop floor tour and a discussion on how federal policy decisions can help small businesses grow. The visit was a stop on the Goldman
The City of Aurora will have its last meeting as part of the Summer Civics Series, covering a finalized 2027 budget overview and discussion. Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Aurora Public Works Facility, 2185 Liberty Street, Aurora. The final event will consist of a
By Maggie DoughertyCapitol News Illinoismdougherty@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois’ eight State-run visitor information centers, located within rest areas at interstates around the State, will be closing by the end of the month. “The role of the State’s visitor information centers has evolved significantly over the past couple of decades as the ways visitors
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker is setting up a new group within State government to explore more regulations for artificial intelligence as calls grow across the country for new restrictions. Pritzker signed an executive order September 22 to establish an AI Cabinet made up of experts and
Oh, me! Oh, my! What do I spy? Contributor to The Voice, Bela Suhayda, apparently still hasn’t read the definitions of “communism” and “socialism” yet. He still wallows in capitalist propaganda. There’s a saying in Illinois (courtesy of former president Barack Obama): “You can put lipstick on a pig, it’s
By John & Nisha Whitehead What’s the point in celebrating the Constitution one day a year if we permit the government to violate it the other 364? September 17 marked the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, a document designed not merely to establish a government, but to
The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County has announced plans for two upcoming candidate forums, which will include candidates in contested races for the upcoming November 3 General Election. The forums will give voters an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates, learn about their positions on issues affecting
